Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1917-10-01
COUNCIL TO ACT ON PLAN
FOR WAGE INCREASE.
Administrative Board Proposes Spe-
cial Committee to Consider Gem
eral REIMBURSEMENT.
POINT TO SOME INEQUALITIES
Men Doing Practically Same Sort of
Work Paid More in One Depart
ment Than in Another-Turnpike
Resolution Up Tonight.

Action on the resolution OF the Ad-
ministrative Board providing for the
appointment OF a special committee to
wors out IL plan for the equalization
of wages OF city employees. to become
effective next year, Is expected to be
taken Tonight at the regular meeting
ot the Common Council. at which time
the measure from the board Will BIO
received. The suggestion contained in
the resolution adopted last week by
the board is said to have been made
In view of the unsettled conditions. and
because of tho increasing cost of liv-
Ing.
Probability Of opposition in the
Council. because Of the belief In GER
tain circles that the board was assum-
Ing tho initiative in matters OF which
1t had no control, was discussed yes
terday In official quarters. 1t is not
believed, however, that members Of
either branch will oppose the measure
1t Is expected that the special COM
mittee VIII BIO named in the next few
weeks to take up the matter.
The committee will be composed Of
three members of the Common Coun-
ell, two members of the Board Of AL
dcren and two members of the Board
OF Fire Commissioners. One man from
each branch of the Council will be
member of the Finance Committee, and
the body Will confer either with tho
entire board or a subcommittee. With
temporary increase of 10 per cent in
salaries to all city employees for the
remainder of the fiscal year already
granted. the committee will work out
plan for a general increase for tho
coming year.
SEE NECESSITY FOR
REIMBURSEMENT OF WAGES
Members of the board said yester-
day that the resolution had been
adopted only after mature considera-
ton. and because of tho realization
that some REIMBURSEMENT in wages must
be made to employees in the various
departments under It's control. In
view of this fact, the board believed
II advisable TO take up the question
for the entire city government at the
same time. Since the Council alone
has the authority to authorize any
change, the board requested the APP
pointment Of special committee that
members may familiarize themselves
with conditions.
There is said to be considerable dis
satisfaction among employees of diff
ferent departments. who feel that merit
and efficiency have not been given
proper consideration in fixing salaries
and wages. The statement was made
yesterday that men doing practically
the same work In two different depart
ments were receiving widely different
salaries for their services, and there
is natural discomfort.
In councilmanic circles 1t was said
that tho Council would probably choose
to deal with the matter in It's own
way. and would decline to accept tho
suggestion of the Administrative Board.
Several other important matters will
be considered ut tns ,egular meeting
or the Council tonight, among them
concurrence on the resolution an
propriating 10000 for the Improvement
of the Petersburg Turnpike from Hun
street for distance of ten miles
This stretch of roadway will he re-
paired by the city in cooperation with
business men who have subscribed
about $4,000 for the general improve
ment of the turnpike that better facili-
ties between Richmond and Camp Lee
may be obtained.