Portage sentinel. [volume] (Ravenna, Ohio) 1845-1854, 1852-02-23
Salaries,

The subject of salaries Of public officers is
claiming the attention Of not only the Legisla-
turs, but of the press and, we hope. ofthe people,
No body is in favor of high and extravagant SAL
aries, but all should be willing to give to our
public servants fair and liberal compensation
for their services, such as will command the
best talent in the State, and not leave the ofic-
es to be sought after only by the wealthy for
the titles and honors they confer. Thi, in the
end will prove to be true economy. The State
Of Ohio is the third State in the Union in point
of population and wealth, and yet many of our
public servants receive more neagre salaries
than in any of our sister States Under system
of 'cutting under" for "buncomb," the salaries
of most of the officers have been reduced to near
starvation point. This is not right II is not
compatible with the public veal, nor do we be-
lieve it is demanded by the people
Our attention has been called to this subject
at this time by reading the report of the Senate
Committee on Fees and Salaries, relating to the
compensation of the Judges of our several Courts
The report is an able one and forcibly sustains
the conclusions to which it arrives, on the basis
recommended by Gov. WoeD in his Message,
that, tUnder Democratic institutions, extrava-
giant salaries should never be paid; but an hon
est liberality, and just compensation, would be
economy to the State, and receive the sanction
of the people.n
The report recommends $2,00e IS the salary
for Supreme Judges, and $500 for Common
Pleas, per annum. These salaries even, are
lower than those paid in most of the other States
the average salaries paid the higest judicial
officers Of the larger States being over sa,5oo.
Besides this. the report further shows that the
new judicial system. in addition to its better a.
daptation to the wants Of the people, will cost
S.. 7oe less than the old system, even at those
salaries.
This subject is not made a party question, and
we shall expect to see it finally settled without
any manifestation Of that demagoguical spirit
which in former years has resulted in reducing
the salaries Of our public servants so low as not
to afford them a decent support. The leading
papers throughout the State, of whatever party,
endorse the recommendation of the Committee
and urge its adoption. The State Journal, the
central Wing organ, in lengthy article refer
ing to the report, says.
t'To command the requisite talent and to rem
der our Judiciary as respectable as it ought to
be, and considering the position and ability of
the State of Ohio We cannot regard the report
of the committee in any other light than as just
and reasonable. They have consulted the expe-
rience of other States and have adopted perhaps
as fair medium as is possible, and we shall be
we'll satisfied If the Legislature are as correct
in all their conclusions as they will be if they
act upon the general principles contained in tbs
report"
The Statesman in referring to the same Re-
port says:
"Ths salaries of public officers have always
been extremely low in Ohio, and the report to
which we refer still keeps them lower than the
average of States in the Union, and it appears
to us that it is a fair compromise between what
might seem extravagancs on the enc hand, an l
penuriousness or niggardliness on the other, and
in all probability will be generally satisfactory
except to such as do not find it Convenient to be
satisfied with anything"
The Cleveland True Democrat, says:
They might with propriety have gone little
higher. They could not, in conscience, have
made the salaries any less.
We hope the bill will be passed into a law,
and then, that our judges will be enabled to
travel round the state without incurring obli-
cations to transportation companies for "frec
tickets by the season.