San Antonio light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1911-1993, 1923-01-29
Rieden Starts Discharging
Men and Clash May
Result.
OPEN BREAK PREDICTED
Rumored Commissioner Will
Let Out Those Favor
able to Harrigan.

The dove of peace when mas rclsheu
in the street department at the city
hall for the last few days, following
the fistic encounter Of last week, is
expected TO take wing Tuesday when
Commissioner William o. Rieden be-
gins discharging his men in order to
come within his budget. There are
some $50 day laborers and about 3o
salaried men. from the city engineer
down, upon whom the axe Of economy
NAV fall.
An ordinance authorizing the street
commissioner TO discharge all men not
absolutely essential TO the maintenance
of streets was adopted by the city
council last Thursday. II was pro
posed by Commissioner Rieden and
was characterized by Commissioner
Pfeiffer as a buck-passing' ordinance
the tax commissioner intimating that
the street commissioner wished to
pass the responsibility for discharging
the man to the council instead of
shouldcring it himself Under this
authority Commissioner Rieden dictated
scores Of letters Monday morning which
he expects to hand TO those whom he
discharges.
"On account OF shortage of funds"
the letters read, this is to advise that
your services will not be required after
January 81, 1923, until further
notice" g.
To Clash Over Discharges.
"I'm going TO send them to employees
from Harrigan down." the street com
missioner remarked when he dictated
the letters.
In view Of the fact that City En-
gineer ID. u. Harrigan was specifically
exempted from the provisions Of the
ordinance, on motion Of Commissioner
Lambert. this remark Of Commissioner
Rieden was not taken seriously.
II is ruored at the city hall, how
ever, that when il comes to diseharg-
ing the men. the street commissioner
will seek to weed ont all those in
sympathy with the city engineer and
unfavorable to Rieden. As the crdin-
ance specifies that all who are rot
essential to the operation of the de-
partment must go, il is known that Mr..
HarrigRn is going to insist that the
discharges be made on this basis and
not on n partisan basis. 1t is UNDER
stood that the city engineer will insist
that two men whom he considers not
absolutely essential to the operation Of
the department and whom he has in
sisted should be let out, be included
when the force is reduced. IT. is over
this proposition that he and the street
commissioner are expected to claSl ard
there is expected to be plenty of fire
works.
May Cut Some Salaries.
1t even has been limited that a few
DAYS may bring about a final set
Element Of the controversy between the
CITY engineer and the street commits
sioner. but that it will not be a friend
" settlement. If an open break en-
sues, it is confidently expected that
the city engineer will announce as
candidate for mayor.
Commissioner Rieden, it was learned
Monday. had made up his mind to cut
the salaries of a number Of the month
" men and has given instructions to
this effect. He even admitted this
Monday morning. When some Of the
men raised objections. however. he
agreed to let them stand as they are
now.
1t is known that the city engineer.
when thee uts are made, will insist
some of the high-Salaried men. whose
services are not actually required. now
that the force is TO be reduced, be let
out. Commissioner RicdCn for certain
reasons. is understood TO be in favor
of retaining these men. Onlookers are
eagerly awaiting the outcome OF the