Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1862-10-18
TFrom the Lewiston Golden Age
Reduction of Salaries.

TFrom the Lewiston Golden Age.
Reduction of Salaries.
When Government from any cause what
ever, has need to retrench its expenditures,
no good citizen will complain-no man who
holds Federal appointment, that is deserv-
ing position under Federal authority, will
or should feel aggrieved. We are now en-.
gagged in the work of suppressing formida-
bic and most infamous rebelion-oEe upon
the issue of which depends, not only the hap.
piness and prosperity of our people, but the
liberty of the whole world. Immense expen-
ditures of money are required, and it is right,
therefore, that no more than is absolutely fair
and Just should be allowed for the services of
Government employees. The compensation
of public officers in this Territory can form
no exception TO the general rule. Their an
nual pay should be in accordance with the
amount of labor to BE- performed in their res
taching thereto. We learn (not officially
Washington Territory have been reduced by
a law of Congress; and if what we hear in
relation to the subject be true, such rcduc-
ton is not Uniform, and by no means equita.
BILE in it's effect. Our district judges and To-
cal land officers received $4,000 each per an
mum; under the new law our district judges
receive $4,000 per annum, whilst Registers
and Receivers of Land offices get but $500.
The Surveyor General and the Governor of
tho Territory had salary of $4,000 each.
now they are to have $4,000. Why this un-
accountable disparity in the reduction of sal
aries 1t is generally understood and be-
lieved that the Register of lands in the local
Offices hold one of the most important as well
as most laborous positions in the Territory.
His whole time is taken up. Why the pay
of an important Office like this should be cut
down to a mere pittance, while that Of others,
less important, less oncrous and less RESPONSE
tle. is fixed at almost the original amount,
!. cannot understand. Surely the late Con-
gress must have had some knowledge relative
to the duties of Land Register. Surely it
could not have been ignorant of the fact that
constant industry and considerable ability is
indispensable in performing such duties
efficiently. Equal service at least is required
from the Register with that Of Surveyor
General or Governor, and yet one is cstima-
ted at $500 and the others $4,000. 1t may be
there was desire on the part of certain mem
bers of Congress to have the office of Regis
ter and Receiver vacant. They may have
had somc "dear friend" who wanted to emf.
CRATE to tho Pacific, to Washington Territory,
and to whom the little billet of Register or
Receiver would be pleasing. Let the present
incumbents resign, (Which they surely will
do) and wo have it, the dear friend gets the
office. and the old salary is restored. The ar
gum.nt. that incum5ens resign is all sufficient
to restore tho original $4,000, if the fright"
men hold the office. Denny. register. and
Cushman, rceiver of lands, at Olympia, arc
citizen appointments, and with two other ex-
ceptions, are all who were shown any favor in
this way from tho Administration, the other
appointees being outsiders, it may be desira-
ble to get the whole batch from the outside.
and the reduction of salaries in their several
offices is tho ruse adopted TO accom-
plish the object. If such is the fact, and the
scheme proves successful, there will be en-
gendered a spirit of dissension which plust
seriously effect our territorial interest aud
then too, judging by those who have been
sent out as ofiice-holdcrs, and those who may
follow to fill vacancies, the comparison as be
tween Denny and Cushman, and such like,
will be feariully significant. Our delegate in
Congress. Col. Wallace, could hardly have
given his sanction to the measure of which
we speak. If-he did he committed palpa-
bic error. If he opposed it and failed he
must have had hut sorry influence as rep.
resentative. We would not be understood as
finding fault with the pay allowed our Judges.
our Surveyor General. or the Governor. it is
little enough, less for judges than it should
be. but We do say that cutting down tho pay
of Register and Receiver. to $500 is an out
rage. Ihe amount will not pay board and
fuel. The salary should not be less than
$4,000.