The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1918-04-29
ALL CITY EMPLOYEES
TO GET MORE MONEY
Charter Gives CCunciI Power to In
crease Wages and Salaries When
ever Occasion Warrants.
FINANCE COMMITTEE TONIGHT
VIM Acs Upon Figures and SugGos-
lions Received Prom AdminIstra-
tive Board and Fire Commissioners.
To Make Recommendations

The finance committee VIII be call
cd upon tonight to determine ways
and means for the increase of salaries
for men in city employ. Petitions
from every branch OF the government
have been sent 10 the committee.
Heads of the departments have ap-
peared before the committee with the
urgent request that the pay Of city
employees he raised.
The startling condition confronts
The committee Of possible closing
down Of utility departments, particu-
larly the gas department, because the
men employed there feel that they
are not receiving salaries sufficient to
keep them in comfortable living cir
cumstances- and the further fact that
men from many Of the departrn enta
arc leaving in mum bers to take UP po-
sitions elsewhere that pay better. and
offer more attractive surroundings.
Under the charter the salaries of
the employees under the sdministra-
tive board. which may be raised hy
that body. cannot become effective dur
ing the fiscal year, but council itself.
under the charter, can fix salaries. ~
crease or decrease them at will That
Is why. in It's receat petition tn coun-
ell for salary increAses, the admins
tratfve board made go mention Of
figures
The committee, however, reQu ested
the administrative board and the fire
board 20 submit figures at the meet
ing tonight, so that como basis may
be fixed upon which TO act.
II is generally understood that there
will he little street Improvement dur
ing the year. There will, also. be III
tie Improvement to the gas and cleo
trio plants At both places il had
beer planned to enlarge and install
modern appliances, but the abnormal
conditions have interfered with these
plans. and now what money can be
saved in such expenditures, will he
placed to the credit OF pay roll. and
the finance committee will help the
departments TO maintain their ef-
hciency.
This can only be done" said a
member of the administrative board,
by paying the men what they are
worth. and their worth is increasin &
day by day, as the demand for good
men is increasing. This demand does
not alone come from the govern
ment, but all employers are paying
more money. realizing that living con-
tlitions are very high and workIncu
must live
So. II was said last night the finance
committee viii tonight In all lfkeli-
hood. adopt a resolution recommend
ing increases all along the line. Ev-
cry man receiving less than 81, 900 a
year, it is said, viii be given '.fust q
little more" 80 that he may be able
to live at least fairly well,
II is pointed out by Chairman
Iirschherg, of the administrative
board, that the income from the sale
OF garbage and surplus electric cur
rent. will alone net the city abou
800, 900 annually. This. he says, vii
prove an unexpected addition to tbs
revenues. and with the eTnergenc!
FUND, there will be at least $30O, 900 tC
be placed to the credit of the paI
roll account
When the figures are presented thu
finance committee tonight, that body
viii have something tangible to &C
upon But, IL is said. members Of tn
committee have already seen the ne
cessity of raising the pay of city EN-
ployes and little time VIII be taker
in discussion, the facts already nav
ing been presented