Evening journal., 1916-07-21
council DEMANDS
FIRE Chiefs FEES
Says City Ordinance Re-
quires Return of All Col
lectionS TO the Treasury
ROUTINE WORK
OF THE SOLONS

All fees collected by Patrick Col
den. chief engineer Of the city fire
department for inspections must he
TUNED over to the city treasu cer,
according to a decision of City Coun-
I'll lats night. On motion Of Coun-
Gilman Draper, chairman Of the
finance committee, Homer c. Sim
mons, clerk Of the Council was au-
tAorlzed to notify Chief Golden to
turn over TO the city treasurer all
fees collected by him for inspections
Of fire escapes or for other work. Mr.
Draper explained that the city ordi-
nances expressly declared what shall
be done with all fees collected for
performance of city business by EN-
ployes of the city. In as much as
Chief Golden was a city employe he
declared. he was in duty bound TO re-
turn all fees collected for inspec-
hons even though these fees were
permitted by a State law.
The motion was made in reply to
communication received by the
Council from Chief Golden declaring
hat he had collected no fees under
the city law"
Councilman McGoldrick concurred
in what was said by Councilman
Draper and said he understood that
Chief Golden had appeared in print
10 the effect that he would make him
(Mr. McDermotD retract what he had
said about retaining fees. He said
he was glad the matter had been put
in such a way that it appeared likely
% be settled justly.
Councilman McGoldrick moved that
City Solicitor Daniel o. Hastings be
asked what constituted fire escapes and
also what should be done with the fees
collected by the chief for their inspec-
tion.
Councilman Draper replied to Nj.
McoldrickG that he already had asked
Mr.. Hastings about the matter and had
been told informally that a city employe
should turn over all fees collected to the
city treasurer whether collected under
q State law or net.
Councilman McDermott said he
thought no city employe should take
advantage Of a State law 10 collect fees
for any purpose.
Following adjournment of Council
several councilmen expressed themselves
as satisfied with the trend affairs had
taken McDormott declared the action
taken by Council seemed the only proper
action to be taken. He declared he
could not understand how a city en-
plove could have any right TO perform
duties called for by his Office and collect
fees for the same and retain them for
himself
"The fees" Mr.. McDermott said.
"belong to the city and not to Mr..
Golden Under the State law, the chief
is required to make certain inspec-
tions and is permitted TO charge a
fee Under the city ordinance, all
fees collected by city employees must
be turned over TO the city treasurer.
Under the circumstances there should
be no doubt as to what becomes of the
fees. The office of chief engineer is
not a State office. The State may
have a right to require that certain
inspections may be made and may fix
fees for those inspections. But a city
employe certainly has no right to take
those fees for his own use. They be-
long 10 the city
The matter OF fees was considered
and came near the end Of the session
after lot of more OF less routine bust
ness had been transacted by the
Council.
The request of the Board of Educa-
ton that City Council take such steps
as might be necessary toward install
lation of sanitary plumbing arrange
ments for certain school houses of the
city during the vacation period, was
referred to the finance committee OF
Council
The matter Of rebate of taxes
on the properties Nos. 211, 213
2l5. 217 and 20 Pine street. the prop
erty of the Benjamin F Shaw Com
pany. was also referred to the finance
committee. Councilman Draper asked
for authority TO have the clerk Of
Council request the company to for
ward to the committee the tax re
ceipts in order that a proper adjust
ment of tax rates might be made or
the basis of the old tax receipts. Mr.
Droper said this was the usual pro
ceeding in such cases. II was point
ed out in q communication asking fol
the rebate that the buildings which
formerly been upon the property hat
been removed and the value of the
property accordingly reduced.
Attention was called to the fac
that the property at No. 200 West Sew
enth street, which had been rented by
the city for the use of the chief pro
baton officer for purposes connected
with the Juvenile Court would be turn
ed over TO the owner on August 25.
II was announced that the records
of the city, which had been remove'
from the old city hall had been care
fully sorted. those OF no value Dc
stroyed and others stored in steel III
ing cases where they would form
valuable addition to the city's archives
A big batch of bills presented b!
the finance, public buildings, hre, po
lice, printing and parks committees