Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1917-08-25
CITY EMPLOYEES
GET TOPPER CENT
Salary Increase to All Drawing
$1,000 Per Year, or Less,
Is Recommended.
INCLUDES SCHOOL-TEACHERS
Probably 1900 or 1000 Affected.
Pension for Krengel
Is Approved.
INCLUDES sCHOOL-TEACHERS

An increase OF 10 per cent in salary
TO all city employees receiving $500
or less annually. for the remainder of
tho present fiscal year. which ends
January 81. was recommended last
night by the Council Committee on
Finance in executive session, and the
resolution will be forwarded to the
Council at once. City officials last night
expected action by both branches of
the Council in time to make tho in
crease. which affects between 1,7oo and
l.s00 employees. effective not later than
September Is. No estimate Of the added
expense this action would mean to the
city was available.
In addition to granting this increase
to employees. the committee also voted
to recommend that former Detective
Sergeant Fred L. KrengeI. who was re-
tired some months ago because Of ply
sical disability, be pensioned at $40 per
north. In certain circles this action
came as distinct surprise. in view
Of the expressions recently made in
various quarters The resolution carry
iEg out this Recommendation will be
considered by the Council at the Same
Time as that affecting the majority of
municipal employees.
NECESSARY TO PAY MORE
IN ORDER TO HOLD MEN
Before taking final action on the
wage increase. the committee consid-
cred the matter for some time and con-
ferred with various department heads
In connection with their recommends :
tions. 1t became known that in some
departments. notably tho Fire Depart
r1ent. 1t has become absolutely neces-
sary to pay higher salaries In order
to hold the men. The labor situation
has become acute since the beginning
Of operations on the numerous army
camps located In Virginia. and the city
&C Richmond has suffered the loss Of
many of It's employees. some Of whom
had been in the service for a number
of years.
1t was because Of this situation that
members OF the Council and depart
ment heads brought the matter Ito ,
read. with the result that several reso.
lutions were introduced in the Council
daring the past month. When the mat.
ter was discussed by the committee%it,
members without exception favored
higher wages for employees, since ths
cost of living has been steadily ad
vancine for the past three years. There
was. however. some doubt I'm the mind:
of several members OF the committed
as to where the funds necessary for ar
increase would be secured.
Wind DIFFICULTY IN
FILLING VACANCIES
Councilman Morgan r. Mills, of JEFF
ferson Ward. led the fight for Increased
salaries. while Fire Chief W. H. Joynes
in his. recommendation to the Board
Of Fire Commissioners. said that unles:
members OF his department were
granted an increase 1t would be al
most impossible to maintain its present
personnel. Difficulty has been expert.
enced in recent weeks. members of the
Fire Board told the committee. In fill
ing vacancies In the department that
have resulted for any reason, while a
number Of men have resigned to &C.
cept more lucrative positions.
Chief Of Police Werner was also per-
sistent In his request that police Of
ficers be granted an increase. The reso-
luton Of the Finance Committee last
night includes all these departments
every school-teacher in the city whose
salary is less than $1,000. members OF
the Street-CleaninG Department, opera
tives at the Gas Works. repair men, and
all other employees In ev"ry depart
ment who are earning not more than
$1,000 annually.
It was impossible to secure an esti-
mate of what this blanket increase
would cost the city of Richm mond. but
Councilmen said the amount would be
large figure. The resolutions will be
forwarded to the Council mediately
and action will be taken in the next
few days. 1t was not believed. how
ever. that the necessary legislation
could be completed sooner than Sep
tember Is. but no doubt was expressed
but what the increase would become
effective on that date. This would give
the employees the benefit of the higher
wages for four and one-half months.
In official circles the belief was ex-
pressed last night that the Council
when 1t takes up the annual budget
in December, would include In the ap-
propriation for the coming year suffi.
cient funds to continue the higher
wages. Members of the Council said
that such action would be necessary
If the city expected to maintain the
present standards in, it's departments
With positions. many OF which offer
at this time great inducements to work
men. open In all sections of the country
and especially in various parts Of Vir.
ginia. the city has not been. able to
keep it's workmen. Tho number Of
employees in the city's service is about
as small as possible for the volume
Of work that must be done. Council
men declared. and men could not be
expected to continue in their present
positions. Certain employees Of the
city have been granted small increases
in recent months. but these have not
kept pace with the steadily soaring
cost of living. and provision in the
budget to meet this situation is an.
| ticipated. .5s, -..
RECOMMEND PENSION
FOR SERGEANT KRENGsI
Fred L. Krengel. former detective
sergeant. who is recommended for q
Il Dapstou aS mar 81