New Britain herald., 1922-01-14
Satisfied By Chief.

The commissioner stated that the board is we'll satisfied with the man. agement of the department under the direction of the chief and if there are any stories to the effect that. the de- partment is deteriorating in any way the board has yet to hear of it. The board does not favor any change in the salaries of any others in the de- pertinent. He stated that the board did not care to discuss the two-pa- toon system at the present time, but the members of the board are abso- lutely opposed to any reduction in the pay of the firemen. Asked concerning the pay to the chairman of the board, Commissioner Kranowitz stated that the board feels that the chairman earns his money.
 Police Commission. Chairman P. F. King of the board of police commissioners stated that the board has studied the salary ques- ton and although they members re- alize the fact that there is not as much money being paid for wages now as there has been, the board does not think that the present time Is propitious for any reduction in the pay of the policemen. He stated this he said, because he was not unmind- full of the fact that the pay could not be expected to always be as high as 1t is now, but on the other hand the board had taken into consideration that the officers on the force had been willing to work for low pay when the pay in other lines of busi- ness was very high. In many in- stances, he said, the officers had lost money by staying on the force, and from government statistics, it was dis covered that the pay of the police men had not increased according to the scale of the cost of living.
 Does Not Favor Reduction
 He, himself had told some of the officers that the police department would be good place to be on when the wages were being reduced, and for this reason, he does not like to grasp at ,thejr very first opportunity which presents itself to reduce the pay of the department Commis- sloner Stephen Robb briefly supple mented the remarks of, Chairman King
 Board Of Public Works
 Chairman E. N. Humphrey of the board of public works stated that in the opinion of the board, the em- ployes in that department were not overpaid. On the other hand, the | board recommends an Increase of $500 for the city engineer or an in- crease from $3,500 to s4,00O. The place he now occupies and the work he is doing could not be filled for less than $6,000 or $7,000.
 Raise For Engineer
 The man who held the position of city engineer before the present in cumbent took the job was paid $5 1000 | and the present engineer had accept ed the position at the salary of $3,- 800 with the understanding that his salary would be raised if he proved | that he could hll the bill.
 Explains Pay For Members I
 When asked why it was that the members of the board were paid while the members of the other boards of the city gave their services gratis, Mir. Humphrey stated that the work they were required to do called for much time during the day and the of the streets and sewers are necessary and cause the members 10 neglest their other personal duties.
 When asked if the city could get along with a general manager which position is at present filled by c. B. Caldwell, MT. Humphrey replied that MT Caldwell is now assisting the pres ent engineer in work that was former- Iy done by the city engineer and the engineer was busy with other matters.
 City Clerk And Health Dcpt
 City Clerk Thompson said that in his opinion the employees in the of- ices should not be reduced but at the same time he had no increases to recommend.
 Dr. Frank Zwick and Dr. Fred .ce, chairman and superintendent re- ipectively of the health board an wercd questions relative to salaries n their departments. They said that he employees of the department are ll lfalncu WOfkcrS ana lhClf places ould not be filled easily and they Fere not in favor of any decreases in 3.larie3.
 Superintcndcnt's Increase
 When asked concerning the propos- J increase in the salary of the sup r!rtendent, Dr. Zwick said the board al not discussed the question as yet, ut ho said T will say this much: we cut Dr. Lees salary to $1,000 her he took the position because of 'c fact that he was a new man and ftcr six months on the job If he is ot worth more than S2,500, then he E not worth being superintendent of edith"
 Charity Department
 The only recommendation that the rarity department had to make was ic reduction of $1 in the pay Of one eik to conform with the s15 salary the other who Is doing ,he same ork. The department was repre- nted by Chairman Joseph R. An