The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1913-08-03
SALARY TANGLE
STILL UNSOLVED
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Board came to head Friday, when
the former declined to honor the re-
questions OF the board for the salaries
of Knowles and the dozen or moro
deputies in the Water and Gas De-
partments whose salaries had been
raised. He had previously. on the
same day. notified tho board that he
would not regard the payroll az cor
rect unless the allowances for officers
salaries were at tho rate OF salary
hNcd by the present ordinances. The
board ignored the warning and sent in
payroll carrying all increases
Upon the failure OF tho board TO
follow his suggestion. Mr. Crenshaw
was left no recourse except to hold
UP the pay Of the officers until such a
time that the board will see it's way
clear TO send over n corrected roll
Checks were issued for the salaries Of
all employees. the salaries OF officers
alone being neld up.
Carries Large increases.
The payroll of the Gas Department
for the month of July carries increases
for the employees and officers ranging
from 5i2 TO 90 per cent. Under Section
20 OF the amended charter. the board
is given authority TO fix the pay Of all
employees In the departments under its
control. and from thine to time to in
crease or diminish it. The pay of Of
IS the board only with the consent O.:
the Council.
The total increase OF pay in the Gas
Department was placed last week By
Acting Auditor Crenshaw at between
$4,000 and $4,000. No criticism would
board In allowing the increases but
for the fact that II undertook arbi-
trarily 10 raise the salary OF Superin-
tendent Knowles from $4,000 to $500
year. The raise was ordered by the
Administrative Board without consult
ing the Council. as is provided by the
charter in the case of departmental Of
fcers under the boards control.
Doubt About Employer Pay.
Out of the publicity that the whole
affair has attained has arisen a new
doubt TO the legality Of the Increase
and Water Departments. The charter
provision bearing on the boards func-
tons in this regard reads:
The pay of all employees Of the city
shall be fixed by the Administrative
Board, and may. from time TO time.
he Increased or diminished by said
board
The last time the pay OF the en-
ployes of the departments in question
We're fixed" they were fixed by the
City Council. Since the creation OF the
Administrative Board this function has
been delegated TO the new arm of the
city government. The board has. how
ever. at no time passed an act. resolu
ton or order liking the compensation
of these employees at an increased rate.
Instead. II merely, on July /. drew up
n payroll carrying total $4,000 in
crease distributed in accordance with
the boards notion of what was right
and submitted II to the Acting Auditor
without previous notice.
COnsults City ATTORNEY.
Mr.. Crenshaw consulted City Attor-
ney Pollard yesterday with regard to
the payment of the salaries now held
up. Mr.. Pollard has already on n pre-
vious occasion involving the identical
point, declared his belief that the Ad-
ministrative Board has right to
raise officers salaries without au-
thorty from the Council. II remains
to be seen how he Will rule in the
matter of the Increase granted by the
board to the employees.
Despite the unfortunate difference Of
opinion between the Acting Auditor
and the Administrative Board on the
salary matter, there has been no abate-
mcnt of the cordial relations between
the two. 1t is entirely a matter of
insisting upon the strict Interpretation
of the law, with the board on one side
and Crcnshaw, City Attorney Polla I'd
and the City Council on the other.
Tomorrow is expected to bring a
be the boards move. Whatever that
move will be. 1t will be watched by
official Richmond with deep interest.
One thing appears certain-Crenshaw
will not pay until corrected payroll
is submitted TO him. In this position
he is supported by the best legal opin-
ion in the city.