The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1917-09-01
Provides Ten Per Cent Tenn
porary Increase of City EN-
ployes Pay. Where They
Draw Less Than 800
OIL AND COAL PULL
CITY TREASURY
Additional Sum of $4,000 Is
Voted Gas Department to
Meet High Costs of Manu-
facture Due to Advanced
Prices

By the vote of seven 70 one the e.
nance committee last night adopted
the Mills resolution approprtating
sJ5s05l2l providing for an increase
Of 10 per cent in the salaries and
wages OF all city employees now Tece!y-
Ing $500 or less per annum. The
resolution was recommended TO coun-
ell for passage.
The committee also recommended
to council an appropriation OF *b\eo
for expenses at the gas plant for the
remainder Of the year
This money will be available from
the emergency fund, there now be-
ing IN that fund the sum of 1871, 0oe,
derived frem the reserve Of per cent
81 the annual revenues. With the two
sums mentioned deducted from the
fund. but s4,9+5,7e remains.
The increase will become effective
September is. or as soon as council
adopts the resolution.
OIL and Coal soar.
Nearly two hours were devoted 10
discussion OF the propositions. su-
perintendent Knowles of the gas de-
partment. was present TO tell the com
mt,tee OF his needs, He showed that
the price Of oil had increased ia per
cent over last year. and coal had in
creased s. per cent. He had figured
that the department would need SAL
ss2 for oil and sl7.5 500 for coal 10 run
10 the end OF the year
IL was found that If the Mills reso-
luton appropriating s77,o5i2l for the
temporary increase In wages were
adopted. there would not he n sniff
cient amount in the emergency fund
to cover that asked for by Mr..
Knowles, so II was determined to
recommend an appropriation of $50
600. the committee feeling that II
more were needed before the close OF
the year the funds would be forth
coming. II having been shown that
there was already a large increase ap-
parent IN the consumption OF gas.
just Temporary Increase
Before the Mills resolution was
adopted 1t was clearly pointed out by
Captain Mills. Mr. Jones and Mr. Mel
I'm, that the appropriation was clear
~ for temporary relief and that II
could not be looked upon as per
manent increase in salaries. II was
Shown by the patron OF the measure
that this sctton Of council would ala
materially in the adjustment OF sala
ries and wages as contemplated by
the committee before the budget for
1918 is reported
Under no circumstances explain
ed Captain Mills. should the empires
sion get abroad that the temporary
Increase is to be made permanent.
This is simply to help the employees In
these times Of stress. when men in ev-
cry line Of work are getting more sal
aries in order to meet the increase In
living expenses
1T should be looked upon" said
l.
the purpose OF helping keep the wolf
from the door"
Mr.. Seaton and MFR. Powell thought
the committee should so slowly In dis
posing of the emergency fund. and
both were inclined to oppose the Mills
resolution, until it was shown that
the chances were that the gas depart
ment could get by with an appropria-
ton of $500
Suggests lump sum
Superintendent OF Schools Chandler
was present TO give information con-
corning the amount to be given the
schools in the proposed increase. He
preferred that this portion Of the fund
be given in bulk to the schools. but
this suggestion was opposed by
Messrs Jones, Gilman. Mills and Mel
ton.
OF the amount recommended s2s.-
600 in round figures goes TO the de-
partments under the administrative
board. $4,000 to general departments.
Ss6S TO the courts, and $4,000 to the
schools.
The committee recommended
resolution directing that the auditor.
city attorney and other official con-
FER as 10 the destruction OF old pa
pers and documents now in the vaults
of the City Hall. SO that room may be
had for valuable and new papers
letter from Justice Crutchtcid
asking that the committee determine
the status OF automobiles owned ny
business houses whose city drummers
used them for conveying samples, as TO
taxation. was referred TO the city at
torney.
Table Bridge Proposition.
The request from the administrative
board for an appropriation OF $4,000
for repairs to Ninth street bridge. was
tabled II was understood that when
bills for the work were presented they
would be taken care OF.
Auditor Crehshaw was notified that
the ordinance increasing the pay tenn
poraruy OF all city employees included
every man in the employ OF the city
whose salary or wage was $500 or
less. embracing school teachers, police
men, fremen. clerks, laborers court
attaches, and in fact men In every ed |
pacity who were paid in full or in part
by the city,
1T must not be forgotten" warned /
Captain Mills. as the committee was
about to adjourn, that this increase
IL but temporary and provides for an |
Increase only until the end of the As
cal year"
CAsirmaa Grundy. Aavias vstsd