The Lake County times. [volume] (Hammond, Ind.) 1906-1933, 1909-12-08
ARREST is
THREATENED
Mayor Becker Calls His City
Clerk a Crouch After
\ Lie Was Passed.

Diplomatic relations between May
or Becker of Hammond and City
Clerk Otto Duelke were broken off in
the matter of the latter's salary ques-
ton last night, at the regular Ham
mond council meeting and the breach
will not be repaired very soon.
It was a regular little Nicaragua
of time
You are lying" a charge made
by the city clerk. and Il ought to
have you arrested, an implied threat
by Mayor Becker, brought the scene
to climax.
The chill air of the Hammond council
chamber in a moment had been sur
charged until it fairly tingled with
pent-up excitement. The clash came
like fhunderDolt into what had been
up to then one OF the most harmonic
and peaceful sessions Of the year Tie
storm passed as quickly as it came, not
because the dove Of peace had flown in
unexpectedly, but because a chorus of
voices moved to adjourn"
CLERK ASKS FOR MORE HELP.
It was at the close of the evening
session. when the council was about to
adjourn, when City Clerk Otto Duelke
rose in his seat to address the council
Your honor and members of the
council" he said, before you adjourn
l have a request which / would submit
to your consideration. Ny work as city
clerk has grown to such an extent that
it is an impossibility for me to con-
tinue alone with it. The time of the
office girl in our office IS practically
all taken up with the work of the city
controller. I have taken the matter VI
with the mayor and lie said that II
would be agreeable TO him If the eoun-
Gil sees 1T to give me additional help
MAYOR QUESTIONS STATEMENT.
When Mr. Duelke resumed his seat il
wcs generally expected that owing Il
fact that he had already presented
the mayors alleged sentiment in The
matter that Mayor Becker would EN-.
dorse the employment Of additiona
help His first question TO the city
clerk az to how much work he had a
paid clerk for the water department dlC
contrary. he gave it as his opinion tha-
the work of Mr.. Duelke as clerk for tn,
council and the board of public work.
was not so onerous that one man could
not accomplish it. He said that tn,
printing Of the new city ordinances il
book form had saved the city clerl
much work, and that at this time ther,
was not much Improvement going OF
and that the clerk had sufficient tim,
now to record the improvements pend
ing.
CAST DIPLOMACY TO WINDS.
To this the city clerk answered tina
an investigation Of the city clerk sal
aries in cities of Hammonds class il
this part Of the state or anywhere ii
Indiana would show him to be the leas
paid. and Furthermore. that it was tn
first time that he had appeared befor
the administration to ask favor
This brought the retort from MAYO
Becker that in his opinion he though
the city clerk was well enough pai
fo rthe amount Of work he did. -
this time Otto Duelke had thrown diplo
macy to the winds and 1t was merely
question as to who was to have III
last word.
j
that you raised your salary to tn
limit"
Yes. and as accounts now stand 70
have received 5000 more than 1 have
and what is more. I earn every cent @
what I get" came back the chief ex
esutive
CLOSE TO SHORT AND UGLY.
Then why did you lead me to be
,iaxe that Won would favor additions
help IL you want to turn me down now
why don't you stick to your word?' ar
u swered Duelke.
~ i never told you anything OF II
kind" answered Mayor Becker
merely listened TO you as you state
YOUR case. 1 think we have done We
enough by you. After the first Of II
year you need not do the work in q
water department. and we have raise
your salary TO $1,000
You are lying when you ssy th'
(Continued on PEge six.)