Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1877-01-03
Re FORM.

Reform.
This bids fair to be as earnest q reform
Legislature as the last one, and those
who we're inclined to howl by proxy be-
cause it was proposed to lop of an extra
Office here, and to cut down the enor-
nous profits Of another there, will prob
ably conclude that the last legislature
was rather a conservative body. 1t is a
notorious .act that some Of the best bills
before the last General Assembly were
defeated through the exerticns OF Off
Gals affected thereby. When a bill was
introduced to limit the pay OF certain
officials to three or FIVE thousand dollars
per annum, they or their agents swarmed
about the Hobbies, and. directly or in
directly, managed to impede its passage.
That they were sometimes successful IS
an unchallenged fact. Nevertheless,
some important reforms we're accom-
plished, and all we're heartily approved
by the people. This Legislature can
90 on and complete the good work
not that we favor such severe retreDch.
ment as TO impair the efficiency Of the
public service; but there is no great
danger Of this. We see the best men Of
the State, rich and poor, lawyers, mer'
chants, formers and mechanics, willing
TO serve in the Legislature at four dollars
a day; justices of the Peace, ~GeneFally
a worthy and intelligent class Of men,
next to and directly from the people, sit
in the Quarterly Court at one dollar and
a half a day; and here in Memphis, where
the cost Of living is very high, we fnd,
since the enactment of the new charter,
which does not allow Councilman and
Aldermen any compensation as that good
men are found 10 serve rs when the pay
was an object, We have yet to hear OF
an official resiguing on account OF his
LAY being reduced, and were any one
10 DO 60, a dozen men, equally conpe.
tent and worthy, would be found ready
and waiting to take his place. There
has been no difficulty in obtaining Jurors
since the pay was reduced from two dol
lars to one dollar and a half a day nor is
it likely that any Office in the State will
be vacated becsuse Of low pay. We be.
lieve it is good public policy to pay all
officials and public servants a reasonable
compensstion-fully es muck IS they
could make in corresponding positions
in the employment OF a corporation,
such as a railroad, bank, insurance com
pany or mandatory; besides, it would
be fair TO sllow a small margin for the
responsibility, especially where a large
bond is required. The farmer and bis
family may work hard all the year round,
but they do well to realize four per cent.
on the assessed value Of the farm. The
most Of them barely make their bdard
and clothes. The average profit OF the
merchant is small, and the toilins me.
chauie does well to support his family.
There is no good reason, then, Why these
zane people who pay all the taxes
should pay excessive salaries to the
small class who hold the Offices.
Times are too hard to support expensive
establishments. Let us settle our public
Indebtedness and educate the poor chill.
dren Of the State frat, and then, If he
people feel ike paying three, Eve, ten
and fifteen thonsand dollars per anuum
to the worthy gentlemen who may be in
duced to accept such positions, it will be
all right. We lsse been paying out 60
t'rely too much for the Injury Of govern.
ment; consequently ohes seeking hei
become a profession, II not a public evil
As an evidence that there is a fspera
buudanes of available talent / ia the State
when the Legislature me, ii was besiegec
by over one hundred candidates FOL
Office, and the most of these Offices ar,
generally considered small places. worth
from Two to four dollars a day. We al
Jude Of course to the places alread,
flled-clerksiips, door keepers, assist
auts, etc. 1t is clear that the member
have gone TO Nashville with the pruning
knife we'll sharpened, aud that they kno,
where to strike.