Evening journal., 1911-08-04
COUNCIL DROPS
ONE JANITOR
Despite Action Mr.. Kane Says
Mrs. MCGrath Is Still in
City Employ
Mr.. BILDERBACK EXPLAINS.
HIS POSITION IN MATTER


services of Mrs. Anna McGrath. jani-
tor of the Council chambers, was ap-
proved by the majority Of the mem-
bers of Council last night.
The matter was brought up by
Councilman Haney, of the Tenth
ward, in whose ward Mrs. McGrath
lives. He asked Mr.. Bilderback if it
were true that the woman has been
dismissed. The Ninth ward council
man replied that he, Mr.. Haney,
ought to know. The latter then in
formed the members that Mrs. Nc
Grath was a widow with six children,
the youngest of whom Is two years
old, and he considered it an act Of
charity to retain her. Mr.. Haney
made a motion to this effect, but be-
fore 1t was voted upon there was
discussion on the subject. Mr.. Bilder-
back said:
II would like to state that have
no personal feeling against Mrs. Nc
Grath. On the other hand l would
like to say that she has done her
work thoroughly and to the satisfac-
tion of all. But, when I was elected,
promised to do my best TO give the
city an economical government. l
cannot cut expenses over which I
have no control and for which / am
rot responsible, no matter how much
! may desire so to do. The reason
we don't have an economical govern
ment is, no matter where you start
to cut, be it large or small, you tramp
i on somebody's toes.
CAS- chairman of the public build
ing committee knew that something
ought to be done to better conditions
in the police station. If our people
4 realized the conditions existing there,
4 they would not tolerate them very
4 long. / had hoped by making a saw
4 ing, wherever possible, to save suf-
ficient to pay for putting this place
B in proper sanitary condition. NV
reasons for starting. o economic by
q dispensing with the service Of a jani-
tress will be found on page 577, of
the City Laws and Ordinance.
These rooms are no larger than
4 when that order was passed, the
\ membership of Council no larger, and
7 don't imagine they meet any Of
tener."
Thought BaiIiif Sufficient.
Mr.. Bilderback read from the city
charter, laws and ordinances the du-
ties required Of the bailiff of Council
a which require him TO sweep. clean and
4 keep in order the Council chambers
lMr. Bilderback thought the bailiff
should do the work. and added that he
3 was actuated in doing what he aid
4 i.n1rIrr from an nnnnnmif.Ql NIRVUn0Inf
. and that it was a small beginning
with other economies to follow.
Mr.. Kane, a member of the public
building committee. said he was not
aware that the chairman of that COM
mittee could dischargs anyone with
q out consulting with his committee He
for one, said he knew nothing of the
McGrath affair until the woman re-
B ceived her notics TO quit.
He said: 1T is indeed. q small be-
ginning, and very small one, TO start
on a widow with several small chill
lren TO support" He said ths bailiff
could not do the work alone.
Mr. Downs, of the Eighth ward asked
Mr.. Kane if a resolution had ever pass
& ed Council providing for the appoint-
ment of Mrs. McGrath.
Mr.. Kane said that the committee
appointed her with the knowledge of
Council and at the request of former
Mayor Spruance, who seemed to think
that a woman was needed to keep the
! Council rooms clean Mr.. Kane said
the rooms never were clean until Mrs
AlcGrath came.
Mr.. Zimmerman, of the First ward
said:
Il am surprised that the Ninth
G" IA
deprive a widow of her livlihood. '
Mr.. Zimmerman characterized the dis
missal of the woman as the smallest
thing he had ever heard Of He chal-
lenged the authority Of Mr.. Bilder-
back to dismiss the woman and asked
President of Council, if a chairman OF
any committee of Council can call q
meeting of his committee without
first notifying all of the members
of it.
Mr. Benson said he would give an
answer at the next meeting.
Conner With Republicans.
When the vote was taken on the
motion, President Benson said he was
Whdecided as to the result.
Mr.. Zimmerman called for an aye
and nay vote which resulted in tic
vote, to 6, the Republicans with the
exception of Mr. Conner, Of the Sec
ond ward, voting against Mr. Haney'i
motion to retain the services of the
woman and the Democrats voting II
the affirmative
Mr.. Conner did not vote and Mr.
Haney insisted that he should. The
Second ward Councilman was unde
cided what to do. He finally saiC
that he had been assured that tht
q matter would be Strengthened out anC
81 in consequence he would vote no. This
gave the Republican members a ma
jority of one.
Mr.. Conner was asked after thu
Council meeting what he meant b.
his statement and replied that h'
thought Mrs. McGrath would be re
tanned. He said he also voted against
the motion so as to spare Mr.. Bil
derback any humiliation.
Following Council Mr.. Kane made
the statement that the woman wal
still in the employ of the city as Mr.
Bilderback had no authority TO dis
miss her without consulting with thu
& other members of the committee.