New Britain herald. [microfilm reel] (New Britain, Conn.) 1890-1976, 1923-02-22

N has been supposed that the GEM
mon eouncil Was rather Jealous Of IL
authority over salaries II memeFa
is not al fault there have been eeea'
sions when il has fought 10 preserve
that authority, But moi efdentls
the members Of the eammon eouneii
or rs OF them al least, do net esFe
10 have that body possess the power
10 raise or lower salaries and this il
said in no criticism of the action
taken last night in approving, by a
vote OF rs TO 5, charter amendment
which would place the power OF in-
iliaiing salary changes in the hands
OF an sppoiniiye commission of four
persons, together with the Mayor as
eN-ohicio member without Voting
power except In case Of a tie,
OF course there vas some onpesi-
ton 10 the proposed change, hut not
one opponent of the amendment
placed his opposition on the ground
that, II this amendment is adopted,
the common council would be abso-
lutely without power 10 raise or lower
salary unless the salary commits.
sion, 10 be created, recommended
such change, The proposed amend-
ment gives this commission power 10
nix and determine" salaries, subject
10 the approval OF the council which
body may only approve or disapnrove
or send the recommendations OF the
commission back 10 IL. for reeonsid-
GRAFTON. or course the practical re-
suit would be that II the common
council wanted 10 change salaries and
the commission refused TO recon-
mend such change. the council could
refuse TO approve the unaltered sal
aries recommended by the commits
sion Just as long as that body de-
sired TO do so and Just as often. But
meanwhile the salaries would rcmai,i
the same-which might be exactly
what the commission, but not the
council. wanted.
This little matter is called to the
attention Of the members of the
council in the humble belief that it |
is quite possible some of them did |
not exactly catch the point OF the |
amendment.
AS TO the merits of the suggestion.
even with full knowledge of this
aspect of 1t, there is much TO be said
in its favor. The salary matter is,
of course, one of ver-continung per-
pleXity. The continuing commission
idea would seem to furnish more
chance of handling it with a perma-
lcnt policy. Some of the members,
At least, would hold over from one
to another. and it is
'ather probable that the personnel of
he commission would not be changed
often. Two commissioners are to be
appointed annually for terms OF two
iears, after the expiration of the first
appointments which would be for
erms Of two and one years. The
work done in the commission would
III prove of value, unless, as is quite
'ossible the commission might use
is powers for the enhancement of
olitical prestige. Much of the work
f the common council salary COM !;
nittee which has to be done over r
gain with each new committee, I
,ould be eliminated. The commits
ion, having the characteristic of a
ornament body, would know the his a
Dry Of salary changes in each posi-
ion in the citys service in the past
low long has it been since SUCH
nd-such an officials salary was
aised? Why was a salary raise re-
used in a certain case? What are W
ne circumstances in connection with Il
ach position and it's incumbent
he commission would have knowl- :,
ige, passed on down to the succeed "
lg members, that would enable it y
, answer these and similar ques-
ons n
The salary committees of the COM =,
lon' council, recently at least, have
cen good committees The men,
Frs have worked hard To adopt m
lie salary commission idea would be -
} reflection upon the members of
lose committees.