The Weekly Kansas chief. [volume] (Troy, Kan.) 1872-1918, 1875-03-11
Reform Run wila.

1t is the easiest thing in the world to make
nuisance of good thing or curse of blessing,
when those having the management of the bus
iness do not comprehend or appreciate it. In
France, Liberty was made a terror; in spain
religion was worse than hell; and in Kansas, we
fear, retrenehment and reform will prove curse
to the public service. The late Legislature, In
spite Of the issues upon which it was elected
had reform on the brain badly, and went to work
cutting down prices permscuously, regardless Of
Justice or good policy. Everything ia the shape
of fees or salaries was cut down, froia Governor
to Notary Public-everything except the pay of
the members of the Legislature. And it was
generally done without any discrimination or
common sense. There was doubles necessity
for the reduction Of some fees and. salaries, but
the thing has been badly overdone.
For instance, the salary of Treasurer in Conn.,
tics containing population of 1901, is fixed at
$1,000 year; while in Counties with a popula-
tiou of IA, ,999, it is but $1,000 We believe no
officer has any allowance for clerk hire. The
County having unit over 1900 population may
have from $4,000 to SIS 600 taxes to collect, and
his duties occupy but small portion of his time.
But in the County containing a small FRICTION
under 5000, as does Doni pban, the Treasurer has
over 100000 to collect, requiring the greater
part of his own time, an extra hand most of the
time, and two clerks in the rush Of tax-paying.
Yet he receives but q 900, out of which he must
pay his help. At the end of the year, he has
managed to keep perhaps $500 Of his salary for
his services while he has paid $500 to his assist
ants. By the semi annual payment plan, his Ia
bors are increased, and he is not allowed to turn
q penny in the way Of fees or deposits.
The County Clerk of this County is cut down
to 81 900 or 81 200 a year. He, too, has an adj
tional burden imposed upon him by the semi-sn-
nuaI payment of taxes, in making mp the tax
books. As the new school law has changed the
time of school meetings to August, it is late in
that month before the Clerk receivs the
school levies, and must then begin to make up
the tax-books. He must have or more as
sstants, in order to get through with the work IN
time. 1t costs him $500 or 5000 for this serv-
ice alone, to say nothing Of necessary help at
other times-and what is there left of his $1,000
The County suPerintendents salary is cut
down from $1,000 to $500 year. As an offset,
they have abolished school visitations, but not
County Institutes School visitation was the
most important part of the Superintendent's du-
ties. How is be to know, now, in what manner
the schools of the County are being taught, how
uniformity and discipline are observed, or how
the educational interests Of the County are being
neglected or bOtchedi
And so on, in most of the offices. The Legis-
lature has offered bid to cheap men, and will
get cheap services. Perhaps an ostler can be
found to take the Office of County Superintend-
ent, striker in blacksmith shop for County
Clerk and a wood-sawyer for Treasurer, while
competent men will look out for some business
at which they can make a living But when
public officers cannot get decent living salaries
for their services, they will make it up by plum
dering the public. The people will have to pay
in some way for this style of retrenchment and
reform.