Commonwealth v. Grenet

Citations

• 238 Pa. 563
• 86 A. 466
• 1913 Pa. LEXIS 1011

Syllabus

<p>Cities of the second class — Powers of councils — Public officers — ■ Delinquent tax collector — Increase or diminution of compensation —Act of May SI, 1911, P. L. 481</p> <p>The Act of May 31, 1911, P. L. 461, relating to the government of cities of the second class, provides : “Councils shall have power to authorize by ordinance the appointment of such employees as may be necessary for the proper discharge thereof. They shall also have power to fix, from time to time, the salaries of all city officials and employees who are not elected. The salaries and emoluments of all such officers shall not be increased or diminished during their term of office.” The compensation of defendant, who was a delinquent tax collector, had previously been a percentage of penalties on taxes collected by him. By an ordinance of councils, the City of Pittsburgh undertook to provide in lieu of such compensation a fixed salary, which was less than the compensation the collector had previously received. Held, the ordinance was invalid as being in conflict with the act of assembly above quoted.</p>