The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1914-03-27
SALARY RAISES
GRANTED GAS MEN
CANNOT Be PAID

the same apply to increases OF com
pchsation TO employees and of the sai-
ment. and beg now to answer Your in
quirics in the order made
l. The section of the amended char
following languages:
. Section 2G,-The City Council shall
TX i;S., the pay, of all officers appointed by
Shall fix the pay of all officers (whom
they are now or may be hereafter au-
thorized to appoint) subject. however.
wages OF all employees of tho city In
departments under their control shall
oe fixed by the Administrative Board.
ana such wages may, from time to
time. be Increased or diminished by
said board. any increase not TO take
effect. however. until the expiration or
the fiscal year during which such in
crease IL made
The most cursory reading of tho Ian
distinction Is made between the neces-
safE procedure in order to accomplish
INC increase Of wages of employees and
TO increase the salaries of officers. as
wcli rs the distinction made thereby
as 10 me time at which such increases
may pc enective II goes without say
inS th3t q distinction so palpable as
The one here found In tho language OF
thg section must be given effect.
the Administrative Board went into
oiiicc ON the nrst day of January. 1913.
and under their powers, which they
were then authorized to exercise they
could only increase tho compensa ton
to employees to take effect at the be-
Einnlng of the next fiscal year. except
Atom sn' had Gas sire as
Council 10 meet such increase tSee
opinion Of the city Attorney dated May
10, 1913. addressed to the Committee
Council Asked for Change.
IN Greer evidently TO make uniform
IN. NE iime when Increases of wages
ministrative Board the exclusive con
troll as 10 the increase OF waCcs Of
employees except as To tho date when
touncii OF the city OF Richmond recon
mcnded TO the last session OF the LcgiR-
Ia, me change in section 90. where
ny Inc Administrative Board were
given exclusive control in the matter
OF inc increase OF the wages OF en- :
limitation thereon. viz: that any In
crease not TO take effect. however. mn :
III INC expiration OF tho fiscal year
during which such increases is made .
|. therefore, feel constrained To- hold
that at the time that the said amend
mcnt became effective. to-wit. on Feb
Board by the certihcation OF numerous
nayrolls OF employees under their con
troll, from their entering upon their
uuties on January /. 1913. until tho Ger
tincation of the last payroll. the ono
which you inCloSo me. was a fixing OF
ne, pay OF cmpioyes in the respective
J..
ana that in the absence OF any change
granting AN Increase until after the
beginning OF the fiscal year 1914 Deb
ruarE lsD made IL impossible for the
board legally To increase the wages
"i employees TO take cncct prior to the
beginning OF the next fiscal year. name
~ February !. 1915. without VIOLATING.
INC express language or section %,
which became effective on February
=, 1914. which was previous 10 the
action OF tho board In attempting to
increase the wages Of employees
Mnst Have Approval.
.. Ry section -. hereinbecorc quoted.
me Administrative Board are author
iZcd to fix the pay OF all officers whom
,ncY are now or may hereafter he au-
thorizcd TO appoint, subject however
70 the approval OF the Council The
the wages Of employees. viz: that thci.
cannot take effect except at tho begin
hlng OF the next ensuing fiscal year. Is
not placed by said section 20 upon nix
ing the compensation OF ohicers-that
being authorized TO. be done. with the
consent OF the Council. such increase
may take place ut any time during
the fiscal year. Whether or not in any
given case tho board has actually made
an Increase on the salaries of officers
under their control and the Comncii
has given their consent. examination
OF the records OF the board and cotln-
ell Will show
The question, however. as to what
persons in the employ OF the city arc
o!lccrS Is Il question not always easy
TO determine. and must be settled Is.
an examination of the charter and Or
Hl!'ahccS OF the city passed in pursu-
hnCe thereof in tho light OF the prn-
c!plcs laid down by law writer's
edged 10 be the most COMPREHENSIVE
and reliable OF all works on the sub