The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1909-12-14
Firemen Salary Raise Obtains
Recommendation.
Ways and Means Committee Fa.
vOr $40 Increase.
SNYDER MEANTsWORK'
Street Commissioner Busiest of
City Officials.
Other Items of Interest Around
City Building.

The firemen salary proposition
which has been a means OF conten-
ton before the ways and means COM
mittee of the city council for num-
Der of weeks came to an END last
night when it was decided that the
members of the Topeka fire depart
ment with the exception Of Chlef
Wilmarth and the watchmen, should
receive a raise in salary of $40 per
month. The original petition sent to
the council by the tax payers OF the
city asked for a SIS raise but 1t was
split by the committee and made into
$40 raise.
It is planned by Councilman How
ard, who has been at the head of the
movement, to present the matter at
the next meeting of the council Mon
day night, December 20, at which
time the ordinance will be ordered
drawn up at once and a resolution
presented to grant the increase to the
firemen on their January payments.
The discussion over the advisa bill
ity of passing this matter up to the
council for approval lasted until mid
night last night. The fight was long
and fierce with Councilmen Howard.
Funk, Simpson and Lannan fighting
for the increase and Chairman
Hughes, Councilman Drew and Mayor
. Green against the proposition. This
is the same line np that has been ar
rayed before the matter since it was
first introduced.
There was some surprise expressed
at the city hall today that Chief Will
marth was not given a raise, while
the rest of the members of the de-
partment received more money for
their work The fire marshal has
never asked for a raise and the mat
tor oh tUhi1n tho chief
was in California on his vacation.
But it was taken for granted that he
would receive the raise with the rest
of the men.
| marshal, fire chief, building inspector
and also attending to all of the work
of these offices. I think he deserves
a raise also" said one of the mem
| bers of the city council in speaking of
the matter this morning. HE has
always done the work Of three men
/ in the office and through his efforts
| for the last thirty odd years he has
saved the city thousands Of dollars
/ both by his personal influence, his
perienced business like methods and
his conscientious work in the depart
ment." r.. a.
Towards Explanation.
There were a number of arguments
presented against the matter by
Mayor Green, COunc1lmen Hughes and
Drew last night, all of which are
answered by Councilman Howard who
| stated today:
4 ''It was said last night that this
/ raise would mean an expenditure OF
about $4,000 to the deficit of the
city treasury I want to say that this
will only mean s5,4O0 annually to the
treasury. raise of ten dollars tc
each man-there are forty-f1ve men
is $3.50 per month. Does this lool
like $4,000? 1t is long distance
from it.
i ut has also been stated that there
was a deficit in the treasury at thi!
time. I desire to state that believe
there will be no deficit whatever a
the the end of the year when every
thing is checked up.
"It has also been said that the ole
men in the fire departm ent-the ex
, perienced men-were not the one
who were leaving the service-alst
that the designations were the sam'
as usual I want to subdue thes'
: arguments by stating from facts ant
figures. During the last year ther'
/ were more men who left the service
than the two years previous. Las
year nine experienced men quit. Tn,
two years before only seven resigned
1t is costing more to live and the mer