Daily press. [volume] (Newport News, Va.) 1896-current, 1910-12-06
'CounciImen Will Fight Amend
meht to "Pay Day" Ordinance
PROPOSED BY COMMITTEE
Health Department Officials cls'm
Their Men Lose Time Going TO
Treasurer's omee-Former EN-
ployes' Statement.

Much opposition 10 the measure
proposed by the health committee
resembling in so far as IL applies To
the health department the ordinance
compelling all city employees 10 20
to the city treasurer's office and re-
ceive their money in person was
manifest in municipal circles yester-
day and some of the councilmen were
predicting the defeat Of the commit
tees recommendation tonight by the
common council.
The ordinance making employees OF
the health street. fire and almshouse
and poor departments go TO the treas
urer's office for their money on pay
day" instead OF having the heads OF
the department make out pay roll
get the money from the treasurer anu
| paying the men in their department.
was adopted by the council two
months ago at the recommendation
of the finance committee. The meas
ure has worked satisfactorily. 1t is
said. in all departments except the
health department.
Wants It Changed.
Superintendent OF Garbage r. II.
! Harris. who is in charge of the labor
ers of the health department, says
that the new measure works a hard
ship on his department because his
. men have to stop their work of gath
ering garbage an hour or two hours
before noon each Saturday so that
10 tha 70 HftiRR
before noon to get their pay. He de-
clares that this loss of time means
loss of $500 in cash TO the city. IL
was upon his statement that the
health committee recommended the
amendment TO the ordinance.
Several of the councilmen are IN
alterably opposed TO any change IN
the system of paying as worked at
present except in that instead oil
making the men go TO the treasurer
for their pay the treasurer Issue war
/ rants 70 each mans salary. payable
10 that man. and deliver the warrants
to the head of the department VINO
, shall deliver them 10 each man under
him. This system has been suggest
ed by some and objected TO by others.
Could Have Stolen $4,000.
Alderman Grimes, of the finance
committee. is violently opposed TO any
change in the ordinance as 1t no"
exists. He says that former CITY
emp'oye tolds him that while he was
working for the city he could have
stcIen $50. 900 under the old system
and no one would have been any the
, wiser"
City Engineer Pearse is pleased with
the new arrangement and says that
unless bonded by the city he would
not again handle another five+cen
piece for the city Mr.. Harris says
that he will be glad II the city Will
bond him and allow him to pay his
men as heretofore so as not 10 handi-
cap his department in the work OF
taking up the garbage.
Another measure of interest that
will come before the lower branch
tonight is the ordinance reducing the
advance payment by water consumers
| from 81 a quarter to $3.50 a quarter
The health committee. after hearing
statement from Mayor Jones and rep
resent atives OF the Newport News
Light 4 Water Company. sent the
measure to the council with the rec
omnendation that 1t be not adopted
II is expected that Mr.. Harris will
make a strong fight for the passage
of the ordinance tonight and other
members will make equally as strong
fight for its defeat, as they do not
think IL will be wise 10 adopt II just
now