The Detroit times., 1915-03-29
COUNCIL IS
JOLTED ON
SALARIES
Final Word Rests With
Estimators, Atkin-
son Rules
ALDERMEN CUT
OUT MANY BOOSTS
Give No Increase To
Anyone Drawing
$1,000

kinson exploded a bombshell in the
council committee or the whole,
Saturday morning, when. In answer
TO question from Aid. Heating, he
informed the aldermen that the
Board OF Estimates will have power
to pass on all salaries not fixed by
ordinance or statute. Under the re-
Gently adopted charter amendment
only the salaries OF certain elective
and appointiye officials have been
fixed by ordinance, SO that the esti-
majors will enjoy almost complete
jurisdiction over the salary list, as
the council cannot. after the budget
Is finally passed, restore a salary
boost by ordinance before July /,
the beginning OF the fiscal year,
where specific increases have been
disallowed.
Previous to this startling informa-
ton from the assistant corporation
counsel, Aid, Vernon had presented
"A resolution providing that all sal
aries OF $500 or less stand as re-
ported out by the various council
committees, while all above that
figure remain at their present figure.
exception being made for those fixed
by ordinance or statute. The mo-
ton. when 1t was put to a vote. car
ried. only five Gilman,
Wartell Robinson. Lempke and
Wenzell-voting against IL.
The adoption OF the resolution
wipes out a number of big salary
increases. including the $500 salary
boosts for Edward T. Fitzgerald,
mayors secretary: Deputy Control
Ter William e. Dever. Secretary
Charles A. Gadd. of the school
board; Supt Thomas Dolan. OF the
poor commission; Secretary George
A. Walters. OF the police depart
ment; Secretary Jay G.. Hayden, Of
the street railway commission; Sec
rotary Henry Busch. OF the parks
and boulevards department and Sec
rotary Fred w. Smith OF the civil
service commission, all loss their
chances for $500 increases. Porter
y. Murphy. secretary of the depart
ment OF public works. is also refused
an increase by the belated action
OF the committee.
Aid Vernon. Lodge, Littlefeld,
Iarnett and others opposed to whole
salee salary increases busted them
selves Saturday morning with a plan
to kill the work of the committee
of the whole on the salary budget.
When the meeting opened Aid.
Dingeman was called to the chair.
The report OF the health and city
hospital committee on the poor
fund was taken up.
The bubble OF the salary grabbers
broke Unexpectedly when Aid. Lodge
opposed a $500 increase for Supt
Dolan, OF the poor commission. Aid.
Gilman. as chairman OF the commit.
tee. stood for the increase and Aid.
Barnett also expressed the convic-
ton that Supt. Dolan was worthy
OF the increase.
1T is time that the members of
this council awaken from their ter
rible sleep OF yesterday" said Aid.
Lodge, arguing against the in
crease.
Let us get back to normal
state OF mind. There is no question
In the minds of the taxpayers as to
what they think OF our action--a
farce and an outrage on the people.
and an insult to the intelligence of
the common council"
Aid. Vernon followed Aid. Lodge.
He stated that In order to reduce
friction and needless discussion he
wished to present resolution cut
ting out salary increase over $1,000,
except in specific cases.
81 make my motion at this time
In the hope that nothing will go on
the records OF the council to be
pointed to in years to come with
finger OF scorn." said Aid. Vernon.
During the discussion which fol-
lowed Aid vernor's motion, the
question OF increasing salaries by
ordinance after the budget is finally
allowed and before July /, came up.
The legal department was consulted,
and Assistant Corporation Counsel
Atkinson proceeded to give the al
dermen more information than they
had bargained for.
Following his statement that the
Board of Estimates Is entitled to a
"whack" at the salary budget Aid.
Littleheld urged his colleagues to
pass Aid. vernor's resolution.
I'VE have our duty TO perform.
the same as the estimators," he said.
we don't want to hand out salary
increases by the bushel."
Aid. vernor's resolution easily
carried.
Then the committee of the whole
proceeded with the health and city
hospital budget. Supt. Dolan was
denied the $500 increase.
At the request OF Aid. Charles w.
Burton. OF the ways and means COM
mittee. the salary OF an investigator
for the recreation commission was