Alexandria gazette, commercial and political. [volume] (Alexandria [Va.]) 1812-1817, 1817-03-01

formerly attempted to enlighten tire
minds of others, left him no leisure to
mellorate his own, and rendered him
forgetful of the old maxim, that "cha.
rity begins al home lie joins in the
veil which i" Hard Times had raised
about high salaries, and says that in
the years 1900 4. 1910, the salaries Of
the mayor, superintendent of police
and clerk were S goo, and that now
they are s l74O. His statement as
lar as it extends is true. but he was
probably advised by his legal coadju-
tor not to tell the whole truth; for in
the year 1904 when the present char
ter was carried into operation the sa-
larry of the superintendent of police
was S 700; that Of the mayor, S 500
and that of the clerk 5 200. When
the clerks salary was fixed at this
sum, his business was simply to re-
cord the proceedings OF the council.
Since that period, the duties of au-
ditor have been annexed to his Office,
and have very greatly increased his
labors. The auditor is bound to au-
dit all accounts against the corpora
ton; to compare them with the laws
10 issue warrants for them ; to keepia
regular account of work done in every
ward and Of work chargabie to the
general fund after the assessors have
made their returns to prepare an ac-
count against each individual from
whom a tax is due, in book provid-
ed for the purpose. from which he is
to make out and deliver to the collec-
tor copy of each PERSONS account
whenever any payment is made, to
make out the accounts of the persons
rharseable and deliver them to the
collector.
The accounts which he is thus o.
bliged to prepare. amount to 1000 at
asst. He is also obliged to furnish
the printer with fair copies Of the
laws. and orders of the council for
to copy every law passed
at full length in a book ; to keep
books Of warrants for each
ward and for the general fund to
keep each officers accounts separate
". For all this labor he receives the
paltry remuneration of S54o*
This writer further states. that the
mayor and auditor. receive 900 dol
lars extra. To this allegation there is
an objection, of which though Amor
Patria may not discern the force,
the public doubtless willard that is
simply. it is not true. His remarks
on the mayors salary, are founded,
If indeed they have any foundation
on so gross an Ignorance of the duties
IF that office, that it, seems proper
briefly to cnumcrate them. They
are to cause all the laws to be execut-
ed-to superintend the conduct of e.
very officer, and to be ready at alt
hours to attend TO the public business.
Besides the great responsibility at
tached to this Office, it shsuld be re-
collected that a faithful execution of
it subjects the incumbent to misrepre-
and abuse, and provnkes
much evil and wanton enmity. The
mayors of Washington and George
toxin, each receive 1000 dollars. and
the perfuisites. "Iiard Times 'stat.
ted the perquisites of the mayor Of
this town amounted to 700 or 800
dollars. | have uccrtained that they
do not amount to 600 dollars.
The opposition to the superihtend
ant ofpolics is equally groundlcss
and calumnious with that to the may
or. and his salary is by no means
commensurate with the services,
which the law requires him to per-
form. Amongst them are the duties
of street commissioner. Il of wardrns
For them and various -paifni and
unpleasant employmcnts. it is said
that eco dollars is too liberal a
compensation. lam told that the su-
pcrintendant of police in the city of
Richmond receives lecodollars.
The charges against the superin-
tendant of police are too serious to
be noticed when introduced by ano-
nvmous defamation. Ii the desi gn vi
the namcless individual. who offers
them. were fair and honest. he would
surely prefer them before the proper
tribunal. and corroborate them by evil
dence. But /" pure and honest" is a
dialect unknown TO this wretched E.