The Barre daily times. (Barre, Vt.) 1897-1959, 1914-04-01
City Council See No Reason
for Reducing Munich
pal Expens
BUT MAY DT = JSE OF
FREE G ( HEARSE
Some Salaries Increased,
No Restriction of Seek
ing Legal Advice

Definite proposals to reduce the city's
living expenses in two departments were
turned down by the city council last
night and a heated debate over the des-
ignation of a state-paid grand juror
served to intensity the atmosphere of
the most animated meeting since the
present administration assumed charge
of municipal business. Yeas and nays
We're called on two burning questions of
the session and for once the lines of de-
marcation were visible to all. Proposed
reductions in both the legal and the en-.
gineering departments were lost in a
majority of votes, but apparently for
the purpose OF proving that a recently
announced program of retrenchment in
city affairs was not promulgated in bad
faith, resolution was introduced to
save the city 1928 a year by selling the
municipal hearse.
For all its somber association with
the fraility OF this transitory life and the
material certainty of the grave, the old
city hearsc as an institution did not
lack for loyal supporter in trying
moment. Probably the resolution tas
framed by the property committee
would have been hustled through but
for the timely remonstrance of Alder
man Keefe and +. G. Howland, one OF
the listeners. The latter lifted his voice
against abolishiug free hesrse service
and spoke, as he said, for hundreds OF
people of average means whose funeral
expenses are to be lightened by its re-
tention. Alderman Hoban evidently
questioned the right of an outsider to
speak on the measure, but he was in
formed that it yitally concerned each
and every taxpayer. The committee jus
titled the resolution by asserting that
the hearse is costing the city 1925
year with an annual expenditure for re-
pairs. In their number were those who
thought the city had been behind the
times in providing hearse for those
who must use it. Alderman Keefe want
ed more time to consider the matter and
to that end he moved that it be laid on
the table for week His motion was
seconded by Alderman keast and car.
ried.
Tilt Over Salaries.
The first brush came when the salary
reported on the stipends to
be paid the city officials in 1914. With
two or three exceptions their reeommen-
dations would leave the salaries as they
were in 1913. The chief of police is to
receive $50 more this year and regular
officers with record of two years serv-
ice are to receive S75 per month, an
increase of S. per month. The street
recently appointed by
the mayor. is to be paid $500 for the
first six months of the year and 5000
for the second half, which means 800
per year less than has been paid the
The salaries as recon.
mended are as follows: Chief of police,
81 050; regular police, $40 per month and
IS increase after two years; fire chief,
81 coo per year; call men, $35 per year;
,verseer of the poor, $500 per annum;
.ity engineer, 81 $50 without assistants,
unless authorized by the council; wa
.er superintendent, $1,000, city to fur
lish team street superintendent, $500
or first six months and 5000 for sec
md half; superintendent of fire alarms,
$50; assistant to the water superintend
mt. SAP per month to be divided between
,alary and water account in the proper
ion of $32 and $40; building inspector,
30 cents per hour; board of health mem
,ers, 80 cents per hour; city physician,
300 per year; inspector of paints, 30
ents per hour; inspector of wiring, 80
ents per hour; health officer, $500 per
'ear. The assistant to The water super
ntendent is granted raise of 81 per-
month.
Alderman Cook fired the first gun by
skiing why the salary committee had
hanged its mind in the matter of fix
ng the city engineers salary. Receiv-
ng no reply at the moment he contn-
led when the mayors nomination of
he present engineer was voted on it
vas understood that he was to receive
500 per wear. Alderman Hoban favored
he plan and even the mayor thought
hat the work required this year would
'e worth no more than $500. There
Gems to be a considerable disparity be-
etween $500 and 81 $50"
Alderman Bancroft set the pace for
theirs who favored the retention of the
ngineer at his present salary. He said
e had been of the same mind at the
utset. but a second survey of the work
o be done had convinced him differently.
alderman Keast's explanation was an
cho of the first one. There was much
mapping, etc, to be done. Alderman
ook thought that Barre could do as
ell as Burlington and get along on $500
Or an engineer.
Alderman Bancroft feared the new
treet superintendent might need the
Dnstant assistance OF an engineer. To
,hich Alderman Cook rejoined that it
ere better to have retained the former
treet superintendent than to pay the
ngineer 81 $50 to teach him the ropes,
r words to that effect. Then the mem
er from ward two turned to Mayor
Yard and asked him to explain the diff
,rence between $500 and $3.50. The
layor laid his change of opinion TO the
ame second survey that moved Alder
ian Bancroft TO reconsider his first
pinion He quoted the water super
ltendent as saying that he could use
he engineer one-hslf Of the year in his