1914 Jan 26 Civic Salaries

“Mayor Allan this morning again gave voice to some opinions on the civic salary question – opinions which are calculated to make some city officials squirm”

   Hamilton Spectator. January 26, 1914¹

When senior mangers at Hamilton City Hall considered that it was their time for a raise in pay, there had been a direct route to campaign for it – lobby the mayor personally.

Tired of being continually harassed on such matters, Hamilton Mayor Allan reached a boiling point. On January 26, 1914 he let off steam telling a Spectator reporter the following :

“ ‘When these applications come before the board, they will be considered on their merits. I cannot understand just why certain officials think they are entitled to annual increases just because they are working for the city. Take a man with a settled job in a business concern. He receives an increase every three years, whereas certain city officials come along, year after year, trying their best to get more money.

“ ‘They are addicted to the button-holing process which is a bad system. They send their friends to me or to other members of the council, saying what a good thing it would be if such and such an official was given more pay. It makes me tired. Long ago, I took the stand that such a process is not right, and I have adhered to it ever since. If all members of the council took the same view, the practice would soon die out, because of its futility.

“ ‘I have never tried to get votes that way. I never made any promises of that nature.’ ”¹

¹ “Would Stop Button Holing : Mayor Allan Deplored City Hall Practice : What He Thinks About Salary Boots”

Hamilton Spectator. January 26, 1914