The Leavenworth echo. [volume] (Leavenworth, Wash.) 1904-current, 1914-01-30
SPECIAL AND REGULAR
MEETING OF COUNCIL
MayOr VetOeS Two 0rdinanCeS-PasSed
Over His head-fiS Nomination
For Marshal Rejected

COuuCIIi HCIu last OotuAooy S'ShAH ~
sitting as a board Of equalization to
consider the assessment roll in i'm
provement district No. 4, the council
by vote decided TO reject the assess
ment roll fled by the city engineer,
which amounts to $2,527.65. The
original estimated cost of the improve
ment $1,522.15, to which must be
added the cost OF engineers services
and other Incidental costs, which
amounts to S151.62, making the sum
total $1673.77. A resolution was
adopted confning the cost to this latter
sum and ordered a new assessment
made, based on $1,673.77. The in
creased amount claimed by the con-
tractors grows out of changes in the
original plans and additional work,
which the engineer allowed and took
into account in making his final esti-
mate OF $2,527.65.
On Tuesday evening the council
met again. In regular session this
time. Councilmen Close and Jones
were absent. After allowing some
minor bills and reading some unim-
portant communications Mayor Wal
denberg announced his veto of Ordi-
nances l31 and 1913. The first re-
ducing the salaries of the marshal and
his deputy. Reducing the salary of
the marshal from 500 to 800, and his
deputy from 800 to $50. Ordinance
No. 1872 provided salary of SIS per
month for the police magistrate in lieu
of fees. Accompanying the veto the
mayor submitted his reasons in writing
why he opposed the adoption Of the
ordinances as read at the last previous
meeting, as follows:
1st. That I am strongly opposed
to the reduction of salaries or wages on
general principals. That the city can
not afford to pay present salaries has no
foundation in fact.
2nd. 1t is claimed by you gentle
men that the reduction is required as a
matter Of economy, but insomuch as
no attempt has been made to reduce
the salaries of elected officials, it would
be unjust discrimination to reduce those
of appointed officials. 1t is true that
an ordinance reducing the salaries Of
elected officials would not become ef-
fective until 1915, vet if you desire to
economic along salary lines you should
pass such an ordinance this year.
3rd, II is true statistica!ly that the
cost of living in the past ten years has
increased from 43qo, the lowest on
some necessaries, to 104& on others
and that it is still increasing while
wages during the same time have fuct-
uated and have not increased to ex-
ceed 1910 on an average. Every stu
dent Of economics knows that it is ab-
solute folly 10 attempt to reduce wages
while the cost of living is rising. (Note
the increase in strikes and labor troub-
les thruout the country.
4th. The Chief marshall and his
deputy work 43S 10 hour working days
per year for which the Chief would re-
ceive under this ordinance $1080. per
wear while a common laborer at $3.50
per day would receive Sl085. for the
same time. The wages of the deputy
would be less than common labor or
less than s2.25 per day, 1t is true
that the position Of marshall does not
call for any great strain upon his physi-
cal powers, but in protecting the lives
and property of the citizens (as is his
duty) his life is continually in danger.
II he commits an unlawful act, either
thru ignorance or other causes by which
the city might become liable for dam
ages he is liable on the bond which he
is compelled to give the city. He
should be competent, fearless, courte-
GUS, honest and sober, and should also
have some knowledge OF the law.
Those responsibilities placed upon him
by yourselves and the law ought to en-
title him to at least the present salary