The Topeka state journal., 1919-04-12
PAY UNION SCALE.
City Commissioners Plan To
Increase LabOrers' Wages.
Salary Ordinance Will Undergo
Complete Revision Monday.
HAYDEN WORKING OUT PLANS
Engineer of Street Department
May Get a Raise.
Pay LabOrers 1920 a Day Is
COrwine's Plan.
HAYDEN WORKING OUT PLANS

The city salary ordinance will un-
dergo a complete revision at the meet
ing of the city commissioners to be
held Monday morning.
In line with prominent plank in
Mayor Corwine's campaign program,
the wages paid laborers in all depart
ments will probably be raised to the
regular union wage scale. At present
laborers are receiving SO per day. The
union scale calls for 1920 per day,
When Jay E. House first went into
office as mayor of Topeka, laborers
were receiving 50 per day. April 20.
1917, the scale was raised to $2.25; in
August, 1918, the scale was raised to
$3.50 and in October, 1918, to SO. The
creased 81.
Hayden Works on Plans.
Commissioner Hancock consulted
with George Hayden. city attorney,
this morning, as to ways in which the
wording of the ordinance could be
changed to bring in the increases
deemed desirable. Commissioners
Stanfield and McGiffert have not ex-
pressed their views on contemplated
changes. Mayor Corwine does not an
ticipate any changes in salaries paid
In his department.
Wednesday the commissioners re-
nance. The changes affected only the
street department. An increase in SAL
ary is being figured on for the engi-
neer OF the street department. In the
section adopted Wednesday the salary
OF the assistant engineer was raised
from S125 to $3.50; draughtsman, from
500 to $l25; and a Stenographer was
granted the department at SIS per
month; the salary of the street super
intendent was also raised from SI25 to
n n a rfe fO
tor car maintenance. The salary of
the engineer is the only office in this
department where the salary PROPOSE
tion is still in the air.
Two New offices.
other contemplated changes in the
pay roll of the street department will
affect excavation men, rodmen and
by the day and do not form part of
the departments regular force. Sal
aries for two new offices at the
crematory will have to be created. 1t
is Hancock's intention to operate a
repair shop there in connection with
the plant to take care of city ma
chinery.
1t is anticipated that there will be
a number of changes in salaries in the
departments of McGiffert and Stan
field. They. however. have not desig
mated what these will be.
No salaries in any of the depart
ments will be decreased. Whatever
changes are made will be in the way
of raises, altho the question cannot be
designated as a general raise, as it af-
fects only certain classes of employees
considered underpaid.
Chief among these are the laborers.
1t is Mayor Corwine's hope that all of
these men can be raised to the present
union scale of 1920 per day for the
class of work they are doing. No
definite assurance that this will be
done can be given but the commits
sioners seem to be agreed that it is
a desirable action.
1t Is Up to Hayden.
1t will be up to Hayden to frame
up the ordinance to make available
the transfer of money from one de-
partment where it is not so badly
needed to another where there is a
more urgent necessity for the cash.
Under the present ordinance there is
no way in which this can be done.
A commissioner may shift the money
available in his own department
branches, but cannot make it avail
able for the use of the commis-
sioner of another department in case
If necessity. The new arrangement
will not cost the city any more. but
will result in a more equitable dis
tribution of the city funds, and pro-
vide greater facility for handling the
money thru channels where it is
needed most.