The Somerset press. [volume] (Somerset, Ohio) 1873-1977, 1876-03-24
Cut Them Down.

There is a growing belief amongst all
classes-except the professional Office
hunters, and perhaps fve-sixths of those
already holding ofice-that salaries, in
all directions are higher than the peo-
pie can afford or need to pay, and de-
mand for a material reduction Of the
same, eeems to be general in its extent.
1t is, therefore, probable that a general
cutting down of salaries Of public SER
wants is among the certainties of the near
future. Times have been 40 very hard
within the past two or three years; so
many men have been thrown ont of en-
ployment and compelled to resort 10
system of vagabondage to procure the
essentials of life; and withal, there has
been, during that time, thieving and
gouging and bribing going on in high
places to such an alarming extent, that
the whole country is being aroused 10
the importance of seeking means for an
early relief from the evils that affli'
the Nation. Under all the circumstance,
1t is not remarkable that public atten-
tion should fix itself FIRST upon the SAL
aries of the public officials, ard that
demand for a reasonable reduction of
them should follow. In hundreds of in
stances, people have seen with amaze
ment, men who, at the time they were
honored with positions of trnst were
poor in purse, and humble in demeaD"r,
become in a short time after entering
upon Office suddenly rich and altogether
unapproachable to the Common horde. ="
The conclusion naturally forced itseII
upon the people that these officials were
either getting too much pay for the
amount of service required at their
hands, or that they were stealing from
the public; and that in either case q
remedy must be had. A step in the
right direction, therefore, is found in
the universal demand for a reduction Of
salaries. Following this, will be de-
mand for honorable men to fill the Of
fees, and these will not be difficult Of
BclcChlOn bhN RNOP'O AhHAO - eANAH
business to seek them ont.
Retrenchment in all directions has
come to be generally regarded as essen
tial to a recovery from the alarming de-
preston which is felt upon all hands.
And in this, as in everything else, be-
ginning must be made somewhere.
Since heavily aalaried officials are an
incumbrance in more repects than one,
and as the greater proportion of them
are the immediate Creatures Of the peo-
ple," it is eminently appropriate to be-
gin with them, and to whack down the
salaries which have enabled them TO
maintain style of snobbery, which ia al
all times disgusting in Republic, and at
this time of widespread suffering, par
ticularly inappropriate.
Let the salaries be cut down. No
fear need be entertained that frst-class
ability will be thereby driven away
from the public service. We had as
able and as pure men in Office in the
days when salaries were moderate and
consistent with the scheme of democra-
cy, as now; and there il no reason to sp.
preheDd that ability and honesty may
not again be procured at reasonable
compensation.
With regard TO the proposed reduc-
tion Of the salary of the Chief Magis-
trate, the Cincinnati Commercial says:
ave hear without regret of the pas
sage by the Senate of bill reducing the
salary of the President to $25 600 after
the 4th Of March next. The same pro-
vision having been incorporated into
the Legislative, Executive and Judic-
ciAl Appropriation Bill BY the commit
tee Of the House Of Representatives, the
measure will doubtless become a law at
the present session. Thus the only
President who will have the advantage
of the $50, 900 salary will be the present
incumbent, who served one term at $685.
900 q year, and is now in the fourth
year Of his second term at $4,000. We
are to return to the Presidential salary,
if not to the Republican simplicity, Of
former years"