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let me be allowed to express my opinion that we one of the must dependable, Royal and Trust-
<br />worthy Firemen In this State and yet the least paid In this State, let me be allowed to
<br />state as a tax payer of the City of South Bend to the Honary Council that you Gentlemen make
<br />necessary appropriations to meet the demands of our City Firemen and make adjustments of their
<br />back pay, so that they may be on equal basis with other Cities of our size and population. I
<br />beg to remain, Respectfully yours, Val. Buezynski.
<br />COMMUNICATION. -321 So. Michigan St.,
<br />Gateley's I A South Bend Ind. January 1Tx 6, 193+.
<br />City Council of South Bend, South Bend, Indiana.
<br />Gentlemen: Kindly be advised that we are greatly in favor in seeing that the Fire and Police 'Ok
<br />Departments of our City be restored to their 1932 wage scale. Inasmuch as conditions generally
<br />speaking have improved considerably in the past eight--months, we feel that these gentlemen
<br />who have worked so faithfully to protect our interests should be restored to a satisfactory
<br />wage. Very respectfully yours, M. W. Sweeney, Gately Company._ MWS /FB
<br />COMMUNICATION.
<br />Westminster Presbyterian Churdh, Scott and Lindsey Streets
<br />- South Bend, Indiana, January 4. 1934-
<br />The Common Council, South Bend, Indiana
<br />Dear Sirst— May I. in this way, express the hope that in your consideration of the Budget
<br />and expenditures for the coming year you may see your way clear to hold the pay of the city
<br />firemen from further maiY cut. They are a loyal proup of men. They stand ready at all times
<br />to give of their very best in service. I-am well aware that it is no east task that you face
<br />in determinlhg the Budget items in timesi like these. However, if in your general view of
<br />things you can sustain them in and through the pay that they receive I for one would be pleased,
<br />With kind regards and the best of all good, _wishes, Sincerely yours, Phys Price X Jones,
<br />COMMUNICATION.
<br />Bt. Stephens Hungarian Church 223 South McPherson Street
<br />South Bend, Indiana, January t, 1934.
<br />Hon. City':- >Counoil, City Rall, South Bend, Indiana.
<br />Gen tlemew I wish to add my word to those who favor a well —paid uniformed force in this city*-,
<br />A wage scaled down so low as to be little more than a mere pittance is not economy to the city
<br />or the taxpayer. The risks a man will take depends a great deal upon the reward he gets for
<br />taking it
<br />It seems foolish to trust the safety of our :p lives and property to underpaid men. How can other
<br />cities of smaller size pay their firemen and policemen more than South Bend? Perhaps their
<br />appreciation of the dangers faced by these men is greater than ours. Perhaps.the peace of mind
<br />derived from protection by -well —paid men is recoi#pense enough for the cost. Let us stand
<br />behind these men at this time and they will reward us in our hour of need. Respectfully, Razz
<br />Rev. Tarzman Kukle. Pastdr.,
<br />COMMUNICATION.
<br />CITY OF SOUTH BEND INDIANA
<br />OFFICE OF THE MAYOR
<br />William R.' Hinkle
<br />Mayor
<br />January. �, 1934.
<br />To the Members of the Common Council
<br />City of South Bend, . Indiana
<br />Gentlemen
<br />South Bend is to be,aongratulated on the improvement-made in the past few .
<br />months in its economic. -oondition.` Credit -for -this is. largely.-due its ci- tizena
<br />and influences outside official departments: There is also a fine improvement
<br />in the status of its municipal finances. Credit for this is due to officials
<br />of the various departmentse'
<br />On June first, last, I submitted recommenda#ions to your honorable body for
<br />decreasing the cost of municipal government/ Many of these recommendations
<br />have been followed and the cost pro3cvided for in the public budget has been
<br />greatly reduced.` The threatened deficit was averted. All payrolls were met
<br />and I am glad to say that there is enough cash on hand to meet the General
<br />Fund matured indebtedness i except that of several departments to each other`
<br />These can be fully met by departmental exchange when a part of the taxes I
<br />still delinquent are paid and further bank deposits are released.
<br />In my message to you of June 1, 1933 regarding the pay of policemen, firemen
<br />and city employees, I proposed that any surplus remaining on December 34,
<br />1933, of the 1933 tax collection should be distributed to city employees who
<br />had taken reductions for the purpose of balancingnthe budgettl.' As there will
<br />be no surplus funds I have no recommendation to Make.'-
<br />As you known, the September session of the Ste Joseph County Tax Adjustment
<br />Board made changes in the 1934 budge *.` Among these it reduced the pay of city
<br />firemen 100 below the pay of city policemen and this not quite fairs in my
<br />judgment* I have constantly tried to have persons in similar positions
<br />receive like salaries.
<br />The City Controller must recommend all changes in city expenditures and he is
<br />willing to join in recommending to you that you authorize the restoration of
<br />this 10% reduction to the members of the Fire Department thus equalizing their
<br />pay with that of the policemen.' The improvement in the present condition
<br />of the Cityrs finances over -that when.the Adjustment Board was in session in
<br />September, makes this recommendation sound.'
<br />I further recommend last June that provision be made by ordinance for maint-
<br />aining the salaries and wages of city employee= on a pat with those paid for
<br />similar services in private enterprise. I believe that with the change veeemn
<br />recommended above the salaries now paid in the City are equal to those
<br />paid in private enterprise and, with the exception of very few instances,
<br />they equal those paid by other local governmental units.'
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