The Detroit times., 1916-03-25
Salaries of City En-
plOyes Increased All
Along Line
ESTIMATORS
MERELY SMILE
Wholesale Slashing Is
Sure to Follow
SOlOns' Action

Unable to longer bear the strain
II economizing with the taxpayers
money. the aldermen, In committee
Of the whole, Friday afternoon,
broke over the traces and went wild
on salary increases. Before going
into the committee OF the whole q
iacit understanding existed among
the aldermen that there would be
no salary Increases otner than those
recommended by the various budget
committees anu later Endorsed by
the special committee on salary
equalization. Like flock Of sheep.
one alderman followed another with
salary boosts once the barrier 10
the pie counter was down.
The action OF the aldermen. de-
spite good promises. was a repeti'
ton of what took place a year ago,
and the same cure Is threatened.
60 as far as you like" Aid. Sher-
man Littleneld told his council col
leagues. And when you get all
through you will find that you have
bumped your nose again. The result
OF this orgy will be another blanket
resolution that will wipe out all the
salary increases. A couple OF city
employees who are honestly entitled
10 more pay will suffer by your ac-
tons"
Aid. Jacob Guthard entreated the
aldermen 10 go slow" when the sal.
AIRY boosts started coming in so fast
that the aged Third ward alderman
could not keep his entries up.
Chairman Bob" Rutter. who turned
the chair over TO Aid Allan, leaned
against the rostrum and murmured:
"A fine bunch of four-nushers."
The storm broke when Henry w.
Busch. secretary OF the park depart
ment, was granted $4,000 a year in
stead OF $4,000. The aldermen have
placed most OF the other secretaries
In the 5000 class.
and told the aldermen that he had
not intended TO ask for a single in
crease in his department, but seeing
others get salary boosts. he had de-
cided to ask more pay for his sec.
rotary. While he was on his feet
the commissioner asked $500 more
for his superintendent Both in.
.creases were granted.
Mayors secretary and George
Finn. secretary OF the fire depart.
ment. came next Then Aid ed
die" Barnett and others proceeded
10 All the salary budget for the pur-
pose OF killing of all the increases.
Burnett asked that Guy ingalls,.
deputy city clerk. be given $500 n
year more. The request was speed
lily granted and a $500 boost was
given Joseph Lougheed, clerk OF
council committees. A stenographer
in the city clerks once was raised
from $1,000 to $1,000 Another at
tache Of the same once was elevat
ed from Sl.034 to $1,000.
The straw that broke the camels
back was when City Controller En-.
gel. who has been watching the
city's funds with the constancy and
faithfulness OF a Swisf guard. blush
ed rosy pink ana meekly asked
that the city auditor in his depart
ment be given a 5000 instead OF
$500 increase.
Hes the best servant the city
has In It's employ" said the con-
troller. The request was granted
by the aldermen with considerable
gusto.
Let's raise them ALL insisted
Barnett. gleefully.
The farce continued half way
through the general fund budget.
then Aid. Littlefeld disgustedly sug.
gested that the committee arise and
report progress. Put In the form OF
n motion, II carried. Several mem.
beers of the board of estimates were
present and smiled at the conduct
NJ the aldorcnu