South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1921-07-02
SALARY INCREASE
AWARDED JUDGE BY
BOARD OF ACCOUNTS
Bench to Pay $4,000 Each
Year, While City Clerk
Also Gets Raise.

The Judge OF the city Of South
Bend viii receive an annual salary
OF $4,000 according 10 the ruling OF
the state board of accounts. made
Friday in answer 10 an insistent de-
mand OF City Controller John A.
Swygart, Wednesday. in which he
asked that the board interpret the
"city officials act" approved March
s, 1921.
The intent OF the last general as
sembly was obscure IN its wording
in the act increasing the compensa-
ton Of city officials, and a storm OF
controversy arose here over what
the particular law contemplated 1t
was thought by many that the act
Of 1917 was repealed by the subse-
quent bill passed March s, 1921.
Prominent among those who were
mislead and placed this interpreta-
ton on it was former City Judge
Frank Gilmer. II is said by city
hall attaches that this belief was the
main reason why Judge GilmeT ten
dered his resignation a short time
ago. elmer, il is said, thought that
the last bill would mean a decrease
Of $500 instead Of an increase Of
$1,000, as was the case.
The salary increase. as is stated
in the bill, became effective June !.
1921.
Ordinance Passed.
Before the act of 1917, the city
judge in second class cities, in which
municipal classification South Bend
is placed. received an annual COM
pensation OF $500. The act Of
1917 provided that in second class
cities the jurisdiction of city courts
could be expanded from criminal
cases to civil suits, which did not in
volve amounts over $500, making
the city tribunals courts of limited
jurisdiction" The same act pro-
vided that this could be done by the
city council and that the city judge
would receive an increase of $1,000
because his volume OF work would
be increased. tightening the burdens
of the circuit and superior courts.
This ordinance was put through in
this city and the salary Of the city
judge was accordingly increased to
$2.sOO.
The city Officials Act" which was
approved March s, 1921. increased
tn compensation Of city judges in
the second class cities from s1,S0O
to $4,000. without repeating, accord
ing TO the board, the Act of 1917.
Increase Clerks Pay.
An excerpt from the latter re-
ceived from Mr.. Eschbach by the
city controller regarding this matter
reads as follows:
From and after June /, 1921 the
titled TO an annual salary of $4,000.
He is also entitled to additional
salary under the provisions Of sec
ton Q, page 18S, Acts Of 1917, as it
is specifically stated in the 1921 Act
that nothing herein shall be con-
strued TO mean the repeating Of an
act concerning courts of limited
jurisdiction" approved March 6.
1917. In other words the salary OF
the city Judge is fixed in a fiat sum
of $4,000 and the additional COM
pensation granted by ordinance pur-
suant TO the 1917 Act should remain
in the amount granted for such ad-
ditional service over and above the
salary Of $4,000"
The same communication from Mr..
Eschbach stated that the salary Of
the city clerk. Frank Bilinsl5i would
in the Interpretation Of the board on
the CITY Officials Act" be increased
s4OO a year. Two bills regulating
the salaries of city clerks were APP
proved at the last Assembly. appar-
entity conflicting in their contents
The provision incorporated in the
city Officials Act" whereby city
clerks would have salary increases,
in second class cities from $4,000 TO
s2.4OO was approved by the board.