The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1931-08-27
COUNCIL DEADLOCKED OVER
WAGE SLASHES FOR 1900
CITY WORKERS TO CUT TAX
Long Session Is FruitIeSS;
No Budget Reduction
Is Effected.
CONFERENCE IS CALLED
Salary SIiCing Urged for
Higher-UpS in Effort to
Lower Levy.

City councilmen today were un-
decided on Slashing salaries of ap-
proximately 1000 municipal en-
ployeS, in an effort to pare the tax
levy.
Councilmen met for three and
one-half hours Wednesday night
and adjourned without having
reduced the budget one cent and
without having reached any definite
conclusions.
Under plans proposed, police and
firemen, who draw more than half
of the budget total of approx
mately $4,400,000 for salaries and
wages, would bear the brunt of the
pay cuts.
1t was decided to meet again at
1880 Friday night, when representa-
tives of the Chamber of Commerce
and Indiana Taxpayers Association
will be heard.
Would Lengthen Slump
DR.. Walter E. HemphiI, presi-
dent OF the Enterprise Civic League
and a member of the budget COM
mittee OF the Indianapolis Fedora
ton of Community Civic Clubs, to-
day opened fire on the boards pro-
posal.
Hemphill said limitation of buy
ing power by reducing wages will
lengthen the depression period.
Various organizations of finan-
cial leaders and business men are
using the present economic condi-
ton to bring wages down." Hem
phil said. Through their greed,
they would reduce the workers to
the lowest standard of living.
Persons advocating reduction of
pay for teachers, policemen and
f1remen should recall the war period
when school teachers were receiv-
ing less pay than the crossing
Waterman.
This applied to other public en-
ployes and the Board of Trade
made no effort to bring the wage
schedule of these public employees
to the prevailing pay scale"
Other Meetings Slated
Several meetings will be held next
week, which Board of Trade officials
Will be invited to attend.
Councilman Fred G. Gardner, Re.
publican, advocated salary cuts for
all city employees earning $1,000 a
year or more, and, in addition, Sug-
gested a fiat 10 per cent reduction
on all budget items except salaries
and utility bills, as a means of slic-
ing several cents from the levy.
The 10 per cent cut would mean
reduction of about $4,000 from
the $S,O21,616 budget as it stands.
Salary cuts on sliding scale.
with employees earning from 81 900
to $1,000 year being cut / per
cent and officials earning $4,000 or
more being cut per cent or more,
was suggested by Council President
Ernest G. Ropkey.
Fixed by Statute
1t was learned salaries of some Of
the higher paid officials, totaling
$4,000, can not be cut, as they are
fixed by statute.
Several councilmen were indig-
nant when they learned a few city
hall stenographers were paid 81 300
year, and pointed out this as a
means of cutting the budget.
When, after lengthy discussion, it
was learned that fewer than twenty
stenographers are employed in the
city hall, some paid as low as $1,000,
and that to cut out their salaries
entirely would not affect the levy
materially, the subject was dropped.
There is scarcely firm in town
that hasn't cut wages at least 10
per cent" Gardner said. I'VE aren't
going to get anywhere unless we
make drastic salary cuts.
Cites Pay Cuts
1--WE will have to run the citv
like private business. This budget
shows several stenographers being
paid $1,000 year. The highest
paid stenographer in my business
earns S28, and she is secretary to
the president. Others are paid as
low as $l2 a week. The highest
paid typist in my business re-
ceives $50 and the lowest $40. other
clerks average $40 a week.
In our shops workmen's average
pay is about SIT on half-time basis.
We didn't want to cut wages or Law
off employees, but we had to on ac-
count Of business conditions"
Councilman Leo WEIGH declared
the lowest paid stenographer in his
office, a girl just out of schooi. IS.
paid S18 a week.
The average wages paid city en-
ployes is only $1,O88. it was ex-
planned by Francis M. Coleman.
deputy controller.
Budget Down $4,000
Councilman George A. Henry ia
vored substantial pay cuts for the
higher paid employees. who in many
cases are not strictly dependent on
their salaries. Councilman Charles
c. Morgan supported this view. or
posing cuts for the lower paid en-
ployes.
Councilman Morgan failed to win
support in move to FIRE" A. c.
Sallee, parks superintendent. and
Arthur Lockwood, golf supervisor.
replacing them with one lower paid
official. Morgan suggested Harry
Schopp, South Grove golf profess
Sional, for the position.
The present park department
personnel was defended warmly bv
several councilmen, who particular
ly praised the work of Sallee.
Coleman pointed out that the
budget as submitted to the council
has been reduced by Controller VIII
liam L. Elder $4,000 from figures