The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1913-08-02
POLLARD RULES
AGAINST BOARD
Passes on Point Involved in
Knowles Matter Last
Month.
CRENSHAW HOLDS UP PAY
Declines to Honor Rcquisition of
Board for Superintendent
Salary.

City Attorney Pollard, In written
opinion on file in the Office of Acting
Auditor Crenshaw for more than
month has ruled on case involving
the same principle as the one in ques-
ton in the knowles salary mix up,
that the Administrative Board is
without power to increase or diminish
the salaries of city officers without
authorization from the City Council.
The matter OF the Knowles Increase
was brought to the attention of the
City Attorney. who saw necessity
for ruling anew on n question upon
which he had already delivered an
opinion.
THE point came up more than Il
month ago. said Mr.. Pollard yestcr-
day, lin connection with similar
case My opinion on II was submitted
to Mr.. Crenshaw and, l have no doubt,
is also on file in the Office of the Ad-
ministrative Board. Mr.. Crenshaw can
doubtless supply you with n copy Of
it,
Holds Up Knowlcs'r Pay.
The showdown In the Knowles mat
ter came yesterday morning, when
Acting Auditor Crenshaw addressed a
letter to the board-the second letter
within two days-declaring that ne
would recognize as the correct salary
for Superintendent Knowles. of the
Gas Works. only the semimonthly al
lowancc at the rate of $4,000 year
the salary fixed by the present ordi-
nance. and requesting the board to
see that the allowance for the latter
half of the month of July is fixed at
this rate.
Ignoring the Acting Auditors letter.
the board approved the pay roll for
the Gas Works. which included an
allowance Of $50 for Mr.. Knowles. or
payment at the rate of $4,000 n year
Mr.. Crenshaw promptly entered a mo-
pay" notation against the Knowles
item. holding up the salary check of
the superintendent as well as the sal
aries of two deputies in his office. who,
according to the Acting Auditor, are
affected in the same manner as their
chief.
Guessing at Outcome.
AS the matter stands there appears
to be deadlock between the Admin
strative Board and the Acting Aud
itor. The latter officer is, under the
charter. held responsible for the legal
disbursement of the funds, and refuses
TO conform to the boards instructions
unless proper authority is adduced.
The board, in the light Of it's letter
to Mr.. Crenshaw Thursday, continues
in the opinion that il is endowed with
the power to regulate the salary of
all officers in the department under
its control.
To the board s claim is opposed prac-
tIcally every member of the City Coun-
ell who has been willing To discuss the
matter. The Acting Auditor is of the
opinion that the board is clearly in err
ror. and is supported in this opinion
by the City Attorney. President Pc
tiers. OF the Common Council, and Vice
President Powers, of the Board OF
Aldermen.
In the meantime, Superintendent
Knowles is minus n July salary check
The opinion yesterday was that he will
waive his claim to the increase until
II is given TO him in the manner pre-
scribed by the statute. and will accept
payment at the rate of SIS, 900 year
the salary he was drawing until the
board discovered that his pay was too
small.
Board Hires kessnich.
BY vote of 4 to Henry p. Beck
alone voting no-the Administrative
Board yesterday directed Joseph Kess-
nich to continue until further notice
the band concerts authorized for the
city parks this summer His service
began last night at Riverside Park
There Will be no concerts tonight or
tomorrow night.
The board approved the pay roll Of
Moses Stein, the bandmaster whose con-
tract was last week annullcd. amount
ing to S233.33. The payment was for
the last four concerts. No contract
was entered into with Mr.. Kessnlch
The board merely directed him 10 con-
tinue the concerts with band Of
twenty pieces until notified TO stop
He will receive $3.50 a week.