The Detroit times., 1916-06-28
Council Adopts Altered
Report of Equaliza-
ton Committee
CITY DADS TAKE
CARE OF FRIENDS
Engle Doesn't Know
Where Funds Are
Coming From

Controller Engel may have trouble
obtaining funds with which to pay
the salary increases that become
effective July l. under the salary
equalization plan adopted by the
council. Tuesday night. The con
troller says there are some balances
In salary funds which can be used
TO pay Increases, but not all the de-
only other ready money source is
the contingent fund. which Is rap
idly becoming depleted The ways
and means committee is carefully
The salary equalization committee
has been at work on the lists for a
year. and the increases can hardly
be classed as contingencies, many
upon before the departmental
budgets were prepared in the
spring.
Il don't care what they do with
creases are deserving" said Aid
Charles W, Burton, chairman OF the
ways and means committee. But
do not see how the ways and means
committee can allow any depart
ment TO draw against the contin-
gency fund 10 provide money for
these increases"
Controller Engel is inclined TO
think that every lucky city employe
can be taken care OF by the careful
manipulation OF salary fund bal
ances.
The report OF the salary equalizs,
ton committee was adopted by the
council. Tuesday night, only after II
had been altered TO take care OF the
40 city employees whose salaries
were temporarily reduced under the
new classification II can be said
for the 10 city employees that they
pulled every possible string 10 make
the aldermen Jig" and as usual ire
city dads put on a satisfactory per
Torrance. Aid. Eddie" Barnett,
who as member OF the salary
equalization committee, saw that his
friends in the employ OF the poor
board and the FIRE department, as
well as his Third ward constituents,
were well taken care OF. was large
Iy instrumental In helping 10 put
over" the altered committee report.
He did not want TO see the report
returned 10 the committee for fear
he would lose some OF his political
pap.
For two hours the aldermen strug
gled with the report while gal
lery OF city employees watched and
encouraged their champions. Aid.
Bob" Rutter. president Of the coun
Gil, turned the chair over to Aid
George Field. the Fifteenth ward
alderman being actively interested
In two city employees who were not
included in the list OF increased sal
aries.
The idea OF the committee was to
properly grade all city employees.
providing a minimum and maximum
salary for each grade, those under
the maximum 10 receive their in
creases at the rate OF 10 per cent a
year. The new classification provid-
ed lower salaries for some employees
than were included in the annual
salary budget.
The first attack on the salary or
dinance was made by aldermen who
wanted all the departmental secre-
taries to get $4,000. the limit for
that classification. Aid. John Kronk
made a motion TO this effect. Then
Aid. Alexander Dill, as substitute
for the whole, asked to have the en-
tire report sent back to the COM
mittee. Aid. tom" Gilman elected
himself into the argument. and
through him Aid. James Vernon
agreed TO offer an amendment TO
the ordinance giving the maximum
salary to all city employees that
have been In their positions for
three years. On reflection. Aid Yer.
nor withdrew his orfer. He discov-
cred that many city employees would
obtain immediate increases ranging
from 800 to $1,000 year.
Aid. George Ellis. Rutter's col
league, volunteedlo renew Aid. Yer
nor's motion, but all motions were
withdrawn when Aid. Barnett after
consultation with Assistant Corpora
ton Counsel Atkinson offered an
amendment to the salary ordinance,
stipulating that nothing In the or
dinance would be construed to az
feet reduction in the salary list
as allowed by the common council
in the annual budget This little
play seemed 10 take care OF every
body and the amendment was pass
ed unanimously.