New Britain herald., 1926-01-06
INQUIRY Opens ON
SALARY INCREASES
Petitions From City Employees
Taken Under Consideration


direction favorable TO petitioners for
wage increases when the salary COM
mit'ce OF tho common council met
last night for the first OF a seressof
hearings, and questions directed at
those who appeared were under
stood 10 forecast the committees
action in many cases,
w. l.. Hatch, chairman OF the
water board who appeared in the
interests OF several applicants for in
creases, did not speak In favor OF
$500 boost asked by Foreman John
Maher. Mr. Hatch said Makers
work Is good, but he is advancing In
years, He urged favorable action on
requests for more pay for the clerk,
assistant clerk and sewer foreman.
Questions as to the respective duties
of tho applicants, their pay now and
when they entered the city's employ
and the amounts paid for similar
work elsewhere were asked of Mr.,
Hatch.
Registrars T. j. Smith and w. J.
ZieGler we're also subjected to
questioning on their request for a
10 per cent raise. II this amount is
granted their pay win be the same
as was asked last year. They now
receive $4,000. In reply 10 a ques-
ton, tho officials said they also do
the personal tax enrolment and this
year received 500 for the work,
making their salary $1,000. Figures
on the voting list now and 10 years
! ago were given US an argument for
the raise. Councilman Bcngston
told the registrars he did not re-
gard that as d good argument, be-
cause based on the same principle,
| hookkeeper for a concern doing
| $l0O,00O business would be worth
| five times as much as one for a 500.
| 600 concern.
Tho increased grand list and
changes in the assessment system by
which the list is gotten out several
weeks earlier, oCcasioning more
work, were pointed to as arguments
for an increase for the clerk of the
board of assessors. She now re-
ceiyes 1880 and asks $l,5O0. She
has been in the departments employ
two years. Asked what he felt was
the most the job would be worth,
| Frank NJ, Zimmerman, chairman Of
the board, placed the figure at
$500. Councilman Bengston did
not feel the outside figure should be
reached in so short a time, He was
told the work the clerk does Is the
same as that done by the assistant,
who receives SLIGO. Mr.. thinner
man said the work is important, diff
ticult and eXacting and the job is
well worth $500.
Chairman +. +. McDonough Of the
board of compensation and assess
ment appeared in the interests Of
$500 increase for A. w. Bacon,
clcrl; Of the board. He gave a de-
tailed account of the work done by
Mr. Bacon, which requires technical
knowledge as we'll as computations
and record keeping. There has not
| btfl all appeal II ulil lIt pCdI .
work since Mr.. Bacon has been in
the service. he Informed the salary
committee.
Prosecutors Joseph G. Woods and
William NJ. Greenstein spoke In eX-
PLANTATION Of their salary requests,
the former seeking a $1,000 boost
and the latter o 800 raise. Judge
W. G. Hungerford urged favorable
action, lie told the commission
both prosecutors are capable attor-
neys and officials and that their
cases are well prepar red and present
Cd. Last Monday. he pointed ont,
Mr.. Woods presented SC cases.
The prosecutors explained that
their work calls for much prcpara-
ton and they also interview many
complainnnts at their offices. In adj
lltion, service as prosecutor now
bars the attorneys from appearance
as defense counse!s any place in the
state
Clerk of Courts l.. J. Danbers OK.
planned the increasing duties OF his
office in his argument for a. $50 per
month allowance for clerical aid.