The Leavenworth echo. [volume] (Leavenworth, Wash.) 1904-current, 1914-03-13
CITY COUNCIL MEETS
IN REGULAR SESSION
Volunteer Fire Department Ordinance
Takes Up Much Time-MOtteler Named
as Purchasing Agent

One Of the most important matters
taken up by council Tuesday evening,
was the ordinance relating to the Vol
unteer Fire Department, which has
been on the table for several weeks.
Mayor Woldenberg reported that at the
meeting last Thursday evening, called
for the purpose of talking over the Or
ganization of the department, there was
about thirty young men who offered
their services. In communication to
the council, the volunteers thought
that the compensation should be fixed
at 81 for every fireman who answered a
call and so an hour or fraction thereof
for actual time put in fighting fires.
At meeting OF the council several
weeks ago, an ordinance was passed
fixing the pay of the 6remen at so cents
an hour, but not allowing anything for
answering call Of fire. This. however,
the Mayor refused to sign and it never
became effective. The volunteers
thought that they should be allowed
the selection of their own chief, but
were willing that the council should
confirm their choice, and if the man
chosen was not satisfactory, they would
make another selection.
In regard to the salary that the chief
should receive, there was lengthy
discussion. Mayor Woldenberg thought
that the head of the department should
get at least $25 month, as on his
shoulders would fall most of the work.
He further stated that the chief would
be expected to drill the boys, take care
of the hose, look after the hydrants,
and $25 month was little enough.
Councilman Wheeler was of the opinion
that the hiring of chief on monthly
salary, would be throwing away money
in a city OF this size and suggested that
the Chief Marshall be instructed to look
after the hose and the fire equipment,
as the former police officer had done.
This suggestion did not meet with the
Mayors approval, as he said, he
thought the marshall had enough to do
without looking after the fire apparatus. -
Mr., Wheeler believed that a chief
should be appointed, but his compen-
sation fixed at IS for every fire he at
tended. The council finally decided
that this would be the best way to fix
the pay of the chief and to cut the
story short, the city attorney was in
structed to draft new volunteer fire
department ordinance for the next meet
ing night.
The proposition Of Clarance Cunning,
made last week, in which he agreed to
handle the city's garbage for $40 a
month, was taken up again at this meet
ing: but it was the belief Of the coun-
ell that the city could not afford at this
time to enter into such an agreement.
Mr.. Jacobsen suggested that he see the
property owners and make some ar
rangements with them.
Green Miles, police judge, was pres
ent and thought that some action ought
to be taken in regard to his salary,
which was to have been $25 month.
II was discovered that the ordinance
had been passed by the council several
weeks ago, but never became effective
on account of the Mayors veto, who
favored salary of $35 month. The
ordinance was reintroduced and will
probably be passed next week.
The salary of the police officers still
remains at 500 and $85 month, due
to the Mayors veto Of the ordinance a
month or so ago, which called for re-
duction in the wages to $40 and $50 a
month. The council vas still in favor
of cutting the salaries, but were inform
ed by Attorney Fox that under the
present conditions, it could not be done.
It was moved, seconded and carried
that the street and alley committee see
a number of the property owners and
have them clean up the street in front
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