New Britain herald., 1918-12-31
$4,000 IN SALARY
BOOSTS REQUESTED
Committee Gives Hearing for
Those Seeking Increases

The first meeting of the salary
committee was held last night and
the committee settled down TO the
big task before 1t. Chairman A T..
Iichstaedt presided. He said that the
increases asked for exclusive of the
police department. amounted to $27.-
| 600. That of the police departure nt
amounts to $14 900 which will make
the amounts about $4,000 in all.
Councilman NJ. IT. J<crwin acted as
clerk OF the meeting. Chairman
Efchstaedt explained "a schedule he
had drawn up showing the amounts
being paid IN other Connecticut cit
les. The members of the committee
agreed shat hearings should be Civ
Ell and Chairman Eichstaedt stated
that the f1remen In particular had
asked for hearing. The city Off
Gals, executing those in the tax col
lectors office, asked for q 20 per
cent. increase.
A hearing was given to City Clerk
A. L. Thompson as representative of
that office. His salary Is $4,000 and
the increase asked is 20 per cent. III
reply to Councilman Gorbach he said
that the income from fees last year
WIS ABOUT 44sUUU. RE Saiu lildC un-
der the fee system the rumors were
that the fees, which the town clerk re-
ceived amounted to from $4,000 to
$1,000. No remuneration other than
salary comes to the city clerk. In
some cities the clerks charge q fee OF
Is cents for working certificates.
That Is not charged here. City Clerk
Thompson said the work has in
creased one-tIird In ten years. The
clerical force Is the same. The clerks
should have an increase and the 20
per cent. Is little enough. Regarding
the increase in the duties he cited
facts concerning the vital statistics.
Councilman Eichstaedt inquired about
the working hours and he explained
that they work from to o'clock
with about an hour and one-half for
luncheon. Councilman Eichstaedt
said tho hours were not as long as in
factories, City Clerk Thompson said
the clerks are interested in their
work and are as anxious to have their
work correct as he IS.
The increase for the electricians of
the city were recommended by the
chairman Of the fire commissioners,
who spoke of the efficient services
rendered by the incumbents. And in
crease for the clerk of the board OF
fire commissioners was urged. The
chairman said that the clerk has
proven efficient and his work has
been increased.
The committee voted to meet again
next Monday evening and hearings
will then be given to the f1remen,
sealer of weights and measures, as
sistant prosecuting attorney, assess
ors, building inspector, water depart
nnent superintendent. chairman and
clerk. chairman Of board OF charities
the conufroller and registrars of vo-
tiers.
The members present last night
were Chairman Eichstaedt, Council
men.. Byett. Wall, Johnson and Cor
bach
Mr.. LOOMS was called upon to speak
before the salary committee last night
and it was then that he made the
statement which brought out the fact
! that he was resignfng. Despite the
fact that he Is resig1ing the position
Mr.. LOOMS showed the salary COM
naitteo just why the salary of the city
tax collector should be raised. The
amount asked for is $4,000 as COM
pared with s2.20o paid at the present
time He submitted statement
showing the amounts aAio"ed AZ >oh
necticut cities.
Some of these are: Hartford,
$4,000; New Haven, $4,000; Norwich,
1851: Bridgeport, $500; Torrtag-
ton, $4,000; Waterbury $4,000. Mr..
Loomis said that Oh q basis OF one
half of one per cent. he could afford
to pay his own salary and the sal
aries of his clerks on the fee basis.
He explained\the am cunt of detail
work involved in the new itemized tax
bill work. New Britain is the only
city in Connecticut having this prac-
tice.
Tax Collector LOOMS showed the
collections made In the office for the
past ten years were as follows: