New Britain herald. [microfilm reel] (New Britain, Conn.) 1890-1976, 1917-02-07
Salary COMMITTEE Generous,
SepeTal Increases Allowed
Mayors Salary 81 $780, Prosecutors 81 800 and Plumbing
Inspectors $1,500-C. J. Dehm Charges Police
Department Heads With Favorits1n

Generosity was the keynote of the
| salary committees meeting last night
and that body voted to recommend to
| the council salary boosts and one new
salary which will total s2,s40. In ad-
dition to this a request for raise of
1875 was not ACTED upon and the pay
for supernum erary policemen who do
the work of regulars was Increased
twenty-five cents per day. An other
wise routine meeting was enlivened bv
the 1ns1stent and sweeping charges
made against the heads Of the police
department by Councilman Cornelius
| j. Dehm, who declared that fayortisrn
IS played In assigning the supernum-
erartes to their beats and the men ara
entitled to flair play" which he said
they do not get. Albert F. Eichste edit
also made an Interesting statement
| when he said that he was SURPRISED RI
learn that the girls in city hall work
but six and one-half hours a day.
This Is pretty SOFT" he said.
Mayor Gets 5000 Raise
| The petition asking that the mavor's
salary be increased from $1,000 per
year to $4,000, introduced in the
council by Aldermen Jester, Sta ller
and Anderson, was given some consid-
| Grafton before final action was taken.
| Mr.. Dehm remarked that there had
been some question as to whether 1t
would be legal to increase a MAYORS
salary while he was In office, to VIII, III
Mr.. Eichstaedt replied that the cor
poration counsel had ruled that it
would be perfectly legal if the increase
so worded that it would apply to fu-
ture mayors. That is, the mayors
| salary can be increased, to date from
| the fiscal year. Mr.. Dehm thought an
$500 increase was too much and
moved that the salary be increased to
| $500. Councilman McDonough
| amended this to make the salary ST.
500, although he said he did not think
$4,000 was too much for the position.
He reminded the mem bers that the
mayors job is a responsible one and
takes considerable time and unless the
| financial end Is worth while it will be
impossible to get capable men for it
unless they are fortunate enough to be
men of means. He said he thinks the
| dignity of the position demands S2.-
600 for 1t then gives men who are not
financially we'll oft an opportunity to
seek the office and does not make it
necessary to seek candidates from the
| ranks Of the well-to-do entirely. Mr..
Dehm would not agree to $4,000 and it
| was finally voted to increase the
q
Maher Also Gets Raise.
John Maher for twenty-five years a
| foreman with the water department,
| applied for an increase in salary from
$1,000 to $4,000. Commissioner E. N.
Humphrey sent in communication
| stating that Mr.. Maher is worth all
| that he asks and has always been a
faithful and efficient employe. On
| motion of Mr.. McDonough the raise
| requested was granted.
Two Girls Get Advance.
| Clerk II. A. Emmett of the board of
! public works appeared in behalf of
| Miss Grace Riley, stenographer in
| that office, who sought an increase In
| pay from $500 to $3.50. Mr.. Emmett
said Miss Riley is a very capable en-
! ploye and has been employed in her
I
| years. year ago she asked an in
crease in salary from $500 to $3.50
| and was given $500. This year she
asked $3.50 and the board agreed that
she ought to get $3.50. Mr.. Eichstaedt
| remarked that If Miss Riley has been
employed in the one Office for six
! years she must have her work well in
hand and ought to be worth what she
asked. On motion of Mr.. McDonough
| the increase was granted.
City Clerk A. l.. Thompson sent in
written statement recommending a
raise in salary from $500 to $500 for
| Miss Gertrude Benz third clerk in his
office 1t was stated that the first
clerk gets $3.50 and the second clerk
1925 while the third clerk receives
only $500. Councilman Merriman
thought the difference in pay between
the three clerks was too much and on
motion Of Mr.. WALL Miss Benz's in
crease was granted.
s'Pretty Soft,''-Eichstaedt.
During the discussion on the in
creases in the two young women's SAL
airy Mr.. Eichstaedt remarked that he
was "much surprised to learn that the
girls in city hall work only six and
one-haR hours per day. T think that's
pretty soft position for what they
do" he said.
Prosecuting Attorney Raised.
The members of the committee were