The Hattiesburg news. (Hattiesburg, Miss.) 1908-1917, 1909-04-08
WATERWORKS employees
ARE ASKING TOO Much
Declares Council Had no Intention to
Ignore Petition, and That a SIS Ad
vance in Salaries Would Have
Been CheerfulIy Granted.

Alderman c. F. Lasseter, of the
Third Ward, was seen by a reporter
of The News and Progress this morn
ing and consented to an interview re-
garding the failure of the city coun-
Gil to raise the salaries of the engin-
eers and firemen at the waterworks.
Mr.. Lasseter said:
Il am afraid that the employees of
the city waterworks department, as
well as the engineers of the city who
have entered their vigorous protests,
did not take the precaution that they
should have before they made their
kick The petition presented asked
that the wages of the engineers of
the city waterworks be made $500,
or tin other words, to be restored
this would have been a raise Of $500
pear month on each of the engineers,
as they are now receiving $4,000.
when the present board assumed
control of the city government we
found that the engineers were being
paid $65.0O and firemen $4,000 per
month. A reduction of $500 per
month was made on each engineer
and fireman; $1,000 per month on
superintendent; $1,000 on collector,
and as you will see, if the present
board had restored the wages and
based them on the payroll of Deem
ber, 1908, there would have been only
a $500 raise on each of the four EN-
ployes in question, equaling $4,000
per month, which l think would have
been allowed. On account of the dis
cussion as to the claim of the pc.
titioners as to whether it be a $500
raise or a $500 raise on the engin.
GERS and a raise of the firemen as they
asked for, the board though it besst to
defer the matter until their next meet.
ing. which is next Monday night, the
18th
1t was not the intention of the
board to ignore their petition, and
there is no doubt but what the board
would have voted them a $500 pei
month increase in pay. We recognize
that experienced and skilled labor is
required to handle the positions which
they were filling, and that as the
board had restored the wages of the
firemen and raised the policemen
$500 per month, that it would be in
line to allow them the same amount OF
increase; not that the financial con
dition of the city would justify it, but
only to be in keeping with the treat
ment of the other employees. The
public, l think, is familiar with my
views in regard to salaries that we
could afford to pay. I do not believe
in scaling one man or set of men t.
panic wages and allowing increase il
others pay. therefore I was, and an
yet, in favor of restoring the pay t,
where we found it. We recognize,
that these men are handling the city
property which cost thousands @
dollars; did they show their good wi
and loyalty to the numerous good cit
zens who had so willingly signed thei
|
petition? Did not they leave thei
post of duty, subjecting the city to fiji
hazards, and insufficient water DR.,
lection? Did they give their superb
officer notice and time enough FOR hi
to be prepared to take care OF tn
situation in case of fire and hreal
downs? Was this due him " them
Were they loyal to their lcAuee{ Al
they men that the public c1o]1 <8pen
| on? Did they show dtaoozI - thi