New Britain herald., 1916-03-02
COUNCIL APPROVES
SALARY INCREASES
All Permanent Firenen Will Now
Benefit By Raise

ehiploSes was a subject on which the
common council spent most of its time
at the adjourned meeting last night.
BESIDES acting on the recommended
tons of the salary committee. the
council received several new petitions
for salary raises. Among tho new
petitions is one from Assistant Pros
ecuting Attorney J. c. Woods for an
increase from S275 to $500 as he feels
the pay is insufficient for the amount
of work required.
Salary Increases.
Adoption of reports of the salary
committee with recommendation for
raises were made as follows: increas-
ing the salary of Assistant City Engi-
neer Mccarthy from $1,4OO to ST.
600; H A. Emmett, clerk of the board
of public works from ST 1000 to ST.
200; T. J. Egan, clerk of the water
board, $50: Mrs. Gertrude Bowen,
clerk in the health department to
$500; clerk in the tax collectors office
to 5000.
Debate Half Cent.
The ordinance committee reported,
presenting ordinances giving the pc
lice and fire departments the ten per
cent. increase voted by the council at
it's last meeting. 1t caused consider
BILE debate. Councilman Stad Ter
moved to amend to cut out the frac-
tiOnal cent in the pay of the police. eX-
planning that it caused considerable
trouble in preparing the payroll. The
question thus raised, which meant Il
cut of half a cent for second grade po-
licemen, developed considerable ora
tory. Some of the council members
felt that the police were entitled 20 the
half cent as in the course of a year it
meant about $1.S5. Councilman
E,ichsteadt thought it might be dropped
from the monthly payroll and given
the firemen at the end of the year
and he moved an amendment TO the
amendment, but finally agreed to
Withdraw Councilman Stadler sail
it was not the practice in shops to
give the half cent and COuncIlman
Mueller said it was the custom in bus
mess to make it a whole cent. Mr.
Stadler's amendment dropping the
fraction was finally adopted after
Clerk Magnel had explained to the |
council members the trouble it caused !
in bookkeeping.
FirenGcn's Pay Wrong.
Another argument arose over the |
Most of the council members thought !
all the permanent men including the
first year men would get the full ten
per cent. increase when action was
taken at the last council meeting. but
it developed that first grade men be-
gan at 500 and were not erected by
the raise. Councilman May raised the
question and it was freely debated.
Clerk Magnell explained that the city
was giving it's first year men on the
average he same as 119 other cities
and quoted figures. He explained
there was no difficulty in getting mCn
at the figure. Councilman Curtis ad-
mitted he had been dull in not under
standing the situation at the last
meeting He thought the propositions
unfair A man serves here one year
as a substitute and two years as call
man. In this way he gets his real
training. He learned from the cler!.
that there are fifty-seven callmcn
and only two are appointed a year. 1t
might take man twenty-eight years
to become a permanent man and then
he would begin at $500.
He offered an amendment which
would cut out the proposed fourth
grade and allow the increase for all
men in the three grades and after
more explanations and additional dis
cussion it was adopted. The change
gives the first grade men raise from
$3.50 to $2.42; second grade from
$40 to $2.64 and third grade from
$3.50 to $2.S4. Councilman Steiner
was especially anxious the nlatrer
should be thoroughly understood and
this proved quite a task The mayor
said it reminded him Of the story
GLOW Old is Ann? - and Councilman
Paonossa expressed fear lest tho wholc
business would have to be gone over
at the next meeting. y roll call vote
t:,l -n,a on I he aLlAnt ION of II or :!