Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1917-06-18
215 CITY HALL CLERKS
TO GET HIGHER PAY
Ten Per Cent Increase Voted by
Councils COmmittee-Me-
chanics Must Wait

Salary increases for two hundred and
fifteen City Hall clerks were approved by
the Finance Committee of Councils this aft
ernoon, but the increases asked for m'chan-
| les in the employ of the city were held
over until next fall.
The men whose salaries will be increased
are men who are now receiving less than
$1,000 and the increases will average about
10 per cent which will cost the city S36,S53.
S36S53.
Immediately after the increase for clerks
was approved. Charles Seger, Of the Seventh
ward made a motion that all other salary
increases be held over until next fall to
give the Civil Service Commission time to
Investigate the necessity Of an increase.
Fred Schwarz, Common Councilman from
the Forty-fifth Ward. pleaded for an in
crease for the mechanics.
"Men are leaving the citys employ every
day and the city is being crippled" he said
Chairman Joseph Z. Gaffncy told the
members of the committee that increased
salaries could not be considered because
they would cost between 100000 and S400,-
600 and it was impossible to get the
revenue.
"You had a chance to raise the tax rate,
said William McCloskey, Of the sixteenth
Ward but you fixed it at S1.75 and now
you see what you are up against"
Councilman Bailey, of the Thirty-nnth
Ward, warned the committee that unless
they granted the mechanics an increase
many would leave the city.
IF they do" replied Mr.. Gaffney, well
have to get men to take their places, IL they
can't wait"
A new plan to raise money was tried to-
day by the committee. They transferred a
loan for other purposes than that for which
II was borrowed. If certain amount has
been borrowed for certain purpose and a
balance is found, the balance is to be put
to another use. This plan will be submitted
to city Solicitor Connolly, who will pass on
its legality.
The total needs Of the city until the end
of the year are estimated at $2,4O0,000.
The amount required by department heads
is augmented by many items that mu-
nicipal fnanciers deem essential In this
number is the appropriation bill that will
provide the $4,000 needed this year To
start work on the Pennsylvania Nautical
School, a bill for the creation of which is
Ne Hrly ready for the Governors signature
c. lmon Councilman John Bailey and
many others interested in the port and
familiar with the demand for officers for
the new merchant marine early made de-
mand for the favorable report on this
measure. It's fate, so far as the summer
months are concerned must be settled with
out delay
Another matter of unusual importance
that will add to the financial mix-up is
the bequest of the late John G. johnson of
the johnson house, $40 South Broad street
with it's collection Of valuable paintings
upon condition that the city accept within
six months. The condition makes actor
imperative today or next week, as the city
viii be required to appropriate $4,000 &c
naintain the house and pictures. Other
Tse the paintings will pass to the Metro
politan Museum in New YORK.
AS an offset to the apparent shortage
that the city will face the fnanciers have
nest eggs" that are being held back to the
last minute in an effort to permit the
Smith administration to make some sort o
a showing I'm the first year that the city''
added taxes and other charges have in
creased the ~~"enues by between S5,000,00
nd S7000,000.