Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1918-04-30
10 PER CENT INCREASE
VOTED CITY EMPLOYEES
Finance Committee Favors Raise for
All Drawing Less Than
$500.
scHooL.rEAcHERs INCLUDED
Raise Also Applies TO Fircmen, Pc.
liCemcn, Gas, Water and Electric
Workers, Street Cleaners and
Many Other Grades OF City Labor.


Carrying with it an appropriation of
approx imatcly 100000 from the cmcr-
scncy fund, the Council Committee on
Finance last night recommended 10 the
city Council for adoption an ordinance
providing for 10 per cent increase
in salary for all city employees. at
present receiving Ices than Sl.SVO per
year effective June |. The motion AS
finally adopted by unanimous vote WAS
introduced by Colonel Barton III. Grun-
dy. and as amended by Captain Nor
gan II. Mills. will include the seven
police headquarters detectives. who
arc to bc classcd as scrgcants at the
time tho increase becomes effective.
Just prior 10 the final vote on the mat
Ger. Il substitute ordinance. submit
ted by H. wavcrly Melton. has been
rejected
There was no doubt from the begin
ming that 1t was the committees in
tcntion to find a solution to the prob
lem that would prove Satisfactory to
all concerned. the main problem be-
Ing the source of funds available TO
meet tho Increased demands on the
city treasury Although several pos
Sible sources OF revenue had been suS
Scstcd. MIR. Powell called to the at
sources mentioned were rs yet prob
lcmatical. or in the air, and for this
reason the committee should adhere
TO the old adaEc--bc sure you're riSht.
then go ahead. This brought the mat
ter to q head and it was pointed out
that the emergency fund had been cs-
tablished TO meet just such a crisis
as now confronted the city. and as all
were agreed that the increase in pay
was justified withou; doubt or rcscr-
walton, and furthermore, that mmc-
date action was Imperative. tho con
sensus of opinion was that the emcr-
Gcncy was now at hand. and the blanket
increase as recommended by Colonel
Grundy was adopted.
POSSIBLE SOURCES OF
NE" REVENUE SUGGESTED
Among the possible sources Of rcvc-
nue. that 1t was stated the city might
depend on to countcrba balance the in
crease in pay were mentioned the con
tract recently entered into by the .Ad-
ministratire Board for the sale of tho
city garbage. which IL was cstima ted
would net the municipality a return
or 100000. including the gain result
ing from the abolition of the two in
Generators. But although the arrange
incnt Is practically completed. the con-
tract has not as yet been returned
bond for the performance of the con
tract. although Mr.. Ilrschberg as
sured the committee that he had re.
te!Ncd word that the papers would he
iii his hands before the expiration ~,
the week.
The attention Of the committee was
also called to the proposed ordinance
recently recommended TO the Council
Tor adoption. permitting the Admin
Tor the sal" OF surplus electric currcu,
ana "hIch II WAS estimated would re-
lihhurSe the city TO the extent Of
$4,000
ANOTHER suggestion that had been
ih"hc 10 the committee at its mcctiuc,
las; Wednesday was that the Fire Do
lnItmeht would be able to Offset any
additional expense by the colnDIeta
'ho'"r!Hation OF it's apparatus. and W
y. Chcatwood had at that time bocn
requested 10 communicate with the dir
tcreht automobile manufacturers 10
s.aFh what the additional expense for
inns inproNcmnt would be. and how
soon II could he done However ms
only i've days had elapsed since ,hu,
."te''lS' Tue hrc commissioner had
oeen unable to get the rcuuircd dat,
The scheme OF motoriza,iou hnd
originally hccl suggested as = mc,,s
OF overcoming tho long hours that arc
al present the rule in the Fire Dcpart
ment. but ii WAS felt by all thai ,b..
hre-hShtcrs We're entitled to an ~,
crease III pay together with all Other
employees. and that the other matter
could be adjusted later.
WILL MEET SERIOUS CRISIS
IN CITN'S DEPARTMENTS
III The ordinance as approved passes
inc council, as there is every reason
10 expect viii he the case, a serious
CRISIS III the cItN'S Nnrlnn.s hnna.1,,..,.