Ypsilanti sentinel. [volume] (Ypsilanti, Washtenaw Co., Mich.) 1843-1900, 1845-10-22
For the YpsiIanti Sentinel.

Mr. Editor.-Sir, Since the word reform which
one year ago was hardly spoken or though OF.
has become the topic of The day, and every one
YOU ask If he Is in favor of REFORM will reply YES
we must have reinrm We shall! become bank
rupi-we mist reduce the salaries of the Cover
nor, Sta,s Officers, aud members of The LegsIa-
ture who now receive three dollars per day 10 SIT
and do nothing '--pernit me 10 say that am for
reform, and have been for years. And as the
newspapers are the best means of nfusing knowl-
edge through The StaIe ask the privilege Of yours
20 make Il few remarks expressive OF the views
have on the subject of reform. lhiuk that The
reform the people are seeking, is reduction of
taxes, as the expenses of The State County and
Town. are all paid by d tax OH taxable properly.
II is All old saying. that charity begins at home.-
Now let US see there any chance for reform in
our town expenses. Every township board Cot
ssts of four Justices of the Peace, Supervisor &
township Clerk, making Ia all six. who are allowed
one dollar per day for The lime spet.in their oifi-
cial duties. AT The township election the board
charges the town with SIX dollars, aad sometimes
they have clerk which adds dollar more
Suppose The town TO pOlliwo hundred votes, which
think would he far average, the voters no, OIL
y spend their time TO go and vote, but there is n
tax OF three cenls for every vote 10 pay the ex-
penses Ofihe board bu all the voters not tax
PAYERS, therefore II Will increase the amount to
or 5 cents. Ii may be SAID that the people can
go and vote aud q" home but the business is mol
all done when their vote IS put into the box. Ma.
ny Of the officers elected, aud other business
| done, viva voce after tue box are closed, The
boa,d of Inspectors the Empire State, is not al
lowed any pay for attending township meetings &,
think they ought not 10 be here. Our township
officers, who receive one dollar per day for serv
ces redenred consist Of / Supervisor, l township
Clerk, Assessors, 3 highway Commissioners
3 School Inspectors, aud 2 Ov. rseers of the Poor
With The exception OF the Supervisor (when he
their business is AL within the limits of the town
where they may be- al hume every night, and are
at cash expcnce., The exact amount of ,hei'
wages do not know. for they are very careful {,
keep from the people. think our town xpen
SEES amount yearly to so,new here near $500, let d
b., more or less, it is added to our taxes.
But there is one Item more, which appears to
me very foolish, aud entirely useless. Each towu
Clerk he is elected, issues his summons
TO constable go and tell all who are elected IA
Office which in Ihis town a'nm,nis 10 over 5U, ypu
must come To me and qualify when every one
was there and knew that he was elected. One
constable who had performed the duty several
times, told me lie had charged as high as 8 8 per
out the Stale, it would pay good portion OF the
Gov salary, but this is all paid without a mur'
muir. would here suggest the idea, that every
town Clerk be obliged TO make a report at each
town meeting. ef all tbs Honey collected for town