The Detroit times., 1910-03-24
SALARY BOOSTS ARE
CUT OUT BYC0UNC|L
Times Tip As To Refusal To Make
Increases, Except in Case of Teach
ers, Proves True.

AS forecasted by The Times sew
eral days ago, the aldermen have de-
cided To cut out practically all OF the
oaiary increases asked by city EN-
ployes this year. The only set OF en-
ployes who appear 10 have chance
10 get their salaries boosted are the
school teachers, for whom a fight will
be made In committee OF the whole.
This agreement as to policy came
out In the discussion OF the health
board estimates In committee OF the
whole, Wednesday afternoon. II would
appear that the health committee OF
the council had not been In on the
general agreement, and number oil
increases mad been allowed. Several
of these were passed, but Aid Konkcl
started a battle when the item OF a
500 increase In the salary OF the
smoke inspector came up.
IF this Is allowed | am going to
fight for allowing the increases asked
by every policeman, fireman and other
city employee" declared Konkel. And
then he said some more to the same
effect and in stronger terms. Aid.
Vernon reminded the council that a
total of $257 900 In salary increases
is asked. and that these are almost
equally worthy. He likewise warned.
Aid. Reinhardt came In as the third
exponent OF economy. Against this
trio. Aid Rutter and Ellis fought In
vain to save the smoke inspectors
salary. That salary was cut down to
It's former proportions, and then the
other increases that had been approx
ed were taken up for the second time
and pared down to the 1909 figures
News of what was going on got out
through the city hall and even to the
board OF health and there was big
gathering OF interested city employees
in the council chamber before many
minutes. Needless to say. there was
lobbying. But it did no good. Fifteen
aldermen stood Arm on the policy OF
cutting out increases and only SIX
voted for the higher pay.
More hot times are In view. how
ever, before the committee OF the
whole finishes its deliberations.
The committee took up the grade
separation, public health and bridge
estimates and passed everything ex-
cept the garbage fund portion OF the
health estimates. Supt. Aldrich ex-
planned that he asked for 5000 more
principally because he had arranged
to add FIVE new collection routes. and
had also reached an agreement with
the drivers by which they would work
ten hours a day for % cents an hour.
the same rate as at present, but two
hours longer work, and that no extra
pay would be given for Sunday and
holiday work. The aldermen took
this matter under consideration.
While the majority OF the council
was meeting In committee or the
whole, the streets committee was
touring the east side of the city. Here
the paving estimates were cut as
heavily as had been the case the
previous day on the west side. Old
cedar pavement will be LETT wherever
IL shows any possibility OF holding TO.
gether for another season.
The total cuts in the paving budget
are more than a million and may run
get together and check up their esti-
mate books.
New foundations and paving for the
three-cent car lines will be refused IN
most cases where asked for by Public
Works Commissioner Haarer. This
is due to the hope of the aldermen
that a street railway settlement will
be reached this year by which the ID.
u. r. will do this work. II settle
mcnt Is not reached, the city Will
have to do all the work next year at
a large cost, as 1t Is bound under the
Detroit railway franchise to maintain
the roadway and paving.