New Britain herald., 1926-01-14
SURPRISES GALORE
 ON SALARY RAISES
Increases for Nearly Everyone
 on Payroll of City

| Tne salary committee of the com mon council moved at right angles 10 Its previously announced policy of allowing raises only in n few isolat- cd cases at its meeting last night and voted 10 recommend increases not only for virtually every person who asked one, but also for one city employe who presented no request.
 City hall employees and members and officers of the police and fire departments will benefit through the committees action, unless the common council again revises and cuts the salary investigators reports. While thero were many increases recommended tho amounts were about 60 per cent lower than asked. In the case of the building depart ment, employees of that branch of the city government stood fair chance of having no raise recom- lncnded as Il rebuke to the building commissions action m suggesting what was termed ridiculous" in- creases. It was finally decided to consider the merits of each case and act accordingly.
 Building Dept: On Thin Ice
 For Building Inspector Hennessy raise from s2.50O to $3,900 was suggested and the proposed increase of $1,4o0 was cut by $1,150, $250 haipp nlinu,cJ. 1flnrtrical Ipcpn,to c. J. Curtin was raised $500, and no increase was allowed Plumbing Inspector P. J. Tormay. No in- crease was allowed for the office clerk who sought raise of s200. Decision in the Hennessy and Tor may cases was arrived at with no discussion, motions being quickly offered, put and passed.
 In the Curtin case there was q discussion as 10 wehther an increase of $50 or $500 should be allowed. Councilman Rodman Chamberlain l held out for the higher amount, in- forming the committee it was no more than Curtin would earn work ing at his trade. He called to the committees attention the fact that 1 Curtin, in addition to his practical knowledge of electricity, has had theoretic training and he is H. censed journeyman in New York city where the strictest tests are imposed. This, he claimed, indi- catcd Curtin's thorough knowledge of his trade. He felt the salary should be placed. on the same basis as the [ ssstant electrical superin- tendent who receives s2,100.
 Councilman Clarence II. Maxon also supported the increase as did Councilman r. G. Hausmann.
 Because committeeman did not feel the post of plumbing inspector is worth more than $2,300, its pres cnt wage, no boost was granted. No reasons were given for the com paratively low increase to the build ing inspector.
 Raise For Policemen
 A request for a 10 per cent in- crease came from the police depart ment. It was decided to raise first year patrolmen 25 cents a day. sec ond year patrolmen 50 cents a day and third year patrolmen 25' cents a day. Councilmen Chamberlain and Maxon who planned this schedule explained a greater increase to sec ond year men would give new pa trolmen something to look forward to, yet not too far In the future. The difference between the qualifications of a second year man and one who has had another year Of service was not so great as to warrant a larger raise, they felt. Their suggestion was adopted.
 It was voted to recommend $500 increase for Chief W. c. Hart; q s1O0 raise for the captain and lieu tenant Sergeants were raised from s2,165 10 S2,300.
 Increase For Fircmen
 Hosemen were increased in amounts corresponding to patruc men. They sought a boost of s1 day. Assistant chiefs were given $250 each and Chief Noble $200 Raises of $100 each were allowed the superintendent of fire alarms and his assistant.
 Thumbs Down on Registrars
 The registrars of voters were turned down in their request for a 10 per cent boost the only comment being that. while their salaries ap- pear on the list as s2,200, they ac- tually receive s2,900 The first clerk of the board of assessors asked a $150 increase and received nothing No raise was given the city clerk