The Manitowoc pilot. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1859-1932, 1879-12-11
but a few thousand inhabitants.

'fsalary BOOM, it seems, struck them
years ago, but ve venture the assertion
that they have seen the error of their way
and at the last session of their respective
county boards reduced these figures very
materially. The other counties named
are much larger than Manitowoc (by
population except LaCrosse-and hence
have some excuse for paying large sala-
ries. Manitowoc has, in round numbers,
IS, coo inhabitants, Fond du Lac contains
$4,000 and yet pays but $l10O to it's clerk
300 less than Manitowoc. Winneba-
go has $1,000 inhabitants and pays its
clerk $1,000; Rock has $4,000 and its
clerk receives but $1,000. while Walworth
pays $500, Waukesha $500, Green Lake
but 5000, and SO on, the wages in great
majority OF instances being $1,000, and
less.
There are but five counties that pay
more to their treasurers. Fond du Lac s
treasurer is content wit d $1,000 $500 less
than we pay here. The treasurer of
Winnebago gets along with SLIGO; in
Rock he gets $1,000, in Sheboygan $1,000,
in Walworth $3.50. Kenosha 5000 and
so on the great majority of the counties,
as in the case of the clerk, paying $1,000
or less.
There are very few counties in the
state that pay as much as, or more than
$500 to their district attorneys. The
brilliant young lawyer from Appleton, :"
MIR. Kennedy, performs the duties of the
Office in Outagamie county for $3.50;
Winnebago's attorney receives 500,
Dane pays $500; Calumet $500; Kenosha
$500, while some perform the duties per-
tanning to the Office for $3.50, and even as
low as 5000 per annum.
For the present, at least, our compari
sons are ended. We have conclusively
shown what we averred in our last, that
Manitowoc pays greater salaries to its
officers than almost any other county in
the state. 1t certainly can boast of able
and efficient servants. The treasurer,
the clerk, the district attorney and even
the other officers are oil. sail honorable
men," That they are men of no mean
ability we do not care to deny, and were
they sure Of a reelection, probably lit
tie "bonus" should be given them for
the very satisfactory manner in which
they performed their several arduous
tasks. But it is time enough to bid the
devil good morning when you meet him.
They may not be re elected. Indeed the
chances are that some of them will have
to take back seats in the unthankful work
of serving the county. A wood-chopper
from Kossuth, well.digger from Coop.
erstown or Spectator from Schleswig
may be the next county clerk or county
treasurer. If SO, what then? 1t does
not take extraordinary ability to discharge
the duties Of any or either of these Off
ces, and why not pay the wood chopper,
or well-digger, or even the speculator as
much as ''any other MANI" All, there's
the rub! He isn't used to it. A sudden
streak Of luck often makes men mad, and
the chances are that his mind you'd wayer
under the tremendous weight of $500.
slapped" at him by the generous and
magnanimous county board, Ia which
case the sAapiff would earn the snug little
penny of $35 for "toting" him off to
Oshkosh, another splendid illustration of
the old adage that SIT is an Ill wind that
blows nobody good"
But ! haven't told yet why the salaries
were elevated. The answer is brief.
1t is also effective. 1t drags the skeleton
from the cupbord and exposes it in all
its hideous deformity. 1t is this: The
men who Engineered" this measure
through, solemnly believed that one of
their number would be the next county
clerk and another the next county treas
urer. (None of them knew anything
about "law' or else they would also have
a candidate for district attorney. Hence
they merely raised the salary of that off,
Ger as "hlind.'l They know it will
cost money to secure the positions and
they wish to wiring it from the labor
stained funds of the overburdened tax
payer. But they may get ''slipped up"
on their calculations. The present able
and very popular incumbents may beat
then, in the race and then indeed there
will be wailing and crashing of teeth for
giving men more than S. per day, SWEET
and dry, throughout the year, when the
same climber" would willingly take the
job for about half that amcant.
"Oh man, proud man,
Dressed in little brief authority,
Plays such fantastic tricks before high heaven
AS make the angels weep"
l am merely now Oh the skirmish line.
l intend to concentrate my forces and
make the grand attack upon the 'doings'
of the county board when / believe the
proper time has arrived for the assault.