The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1877-02-07
The Salaries Of the City ORfcia Is.

The writer Of this is q taxpayer, not an
office-holder, and never was, nor does he
hope to be; nor has he any axe to grind or
friend to serve; nor does he wish to tread
on the toes Of anybody in the following
suggestions. A Committee on Retrench-
ment and Reform is now devising mode
whereby to reduce the city expenditures
80 as to justify a reduction in the rate. of
municipal taxation from $3.50 to Sl.40 per
S100. Such step must be taken with the
knowledge that the present income of the
city is derived from an assessment Of realty
at very high figures.
1t is likely general reassessment will be
made this year; otherwise the Hastings
Court will be overwhelmed by applications
for reduction, and any one cOnversant with
values OF realty must know that in many
instances such applications Will be granted.
The natural inquiry, therefore, in the minds
OF the Ways and Means Committee will be,
Where can we put in the knife to reduce eX.
peuditures An indolent mind, in such an
inquiry, flies as naturally to reduction of
the salaries Of city officials Us log floats
down stream. The intrinsic value Of such
services, the amount actually necessary to
support respectfully the families Of that
class OF persons; the fact that certain
amount OF salary is necessary to secure the
lowest grade Of suitable officers; the we'll
known fact that starvation-pay but too often
tempts otherwise honest men to become
dishonest, or, If not that, destroys their
pride of place and make them spiritless de-
pendents in the daily struggle to make
buckle and tongue meet. All these consid-
erations are either lost sight of OF met by
false assumptions that other equally good
men can be obtained who are willing to
take the reduced rates, and who are not en-
numbered with the same domestic burdens.
Such arguments are ialacious. II is true
that perhaps il every salary in the city was
reduced one half men OF previously good
character, business and moral, would coli.
sent, nay seek, to take them; but Insist that
even in such case, notwithstanding the vol
untary acceptance, the evils have hinted
at would be developed as fully as if the
same officials now employed retained their
posts.
Now, I assert it Us fact that the salaries
paid at this time to our city officials are not
only not high, but not more than are neces-
sary to decent discharge OF their duties;
that they are lower as general thing than
the average OF those paid by other cities in
the y nton with reference to their popuia-
ZION and the official duties imposed. And
the secret Of the singular faithfulness and
frugality OF our city officials in the past lies
in the iudicious policy which has heretofore
been pursued of giving our public servants
neither poverty nor riches, but, without
bloating them with wealth, preserving their
self-resDect and independence by decent
maintenance. OF course there may be one
or more instances of city officials who are
oyerpaid. II such there be, / do not
know them; but such exceptions furnish
no justification for the application OF that
most odious Of systems, "docking," which
remedies no inequalities as between the
ofice-hoders, and is generally the conye-
nient and equivocal resort OF those who see
a necessity for retrenchment and wish to be
thought reformers, but are incompetent or
averse to inquiring below the surface how TO
reduce expenditures.
Not to make this letter two long, let me
leave the subject OF the.pay Of city officials
by saving that the history Of all branches
OF business, public and private, bears out
my position that the worst economy on
earth is that which. stints the trusted en-
ploye; the costliest saving Is that which
places the subordinate on such scant pay
as to eliminate gratitude from bis account
to bis superior. say, moreover, that 1n
Richmond there is no need for cutting down
official salaries. A careful stoppage OF In
judicious expenditures In various dlrec-
tions will produce the requisite balance.
TO sum up this point without citing other
instances merely wish TO show that out ot
contingent fund as large as that OF Rich
mond BY the exercise Of proper circum-
spection and forbearance from unWlse
expenditure q fund more than sufficient to
cover the proposed reduction can be saved e.
without curtailing the salaries OF our OH
cials, which are already as low as the pup-
lie service can afford. !.
For my part feel more satisfaction ~
knowing that my taxes pay capable mes
| well than would in rejecting that pald
them, cheaply, and am sure that IS the gen
aral sentiment. iNKsTAND.