The weekly miner. [volume] (Butte, Mont.) 1878-1881, 1880-06-22

some.hins Fu.sn.r About .-esner..,sy.'

something Further About sGenerssity.'
A few days ago in referring to the action O
our city council in raising the pay Of the cit,
/, marshal from 500 to $l25 per month, anc
that of the policemen from $50 each to So
, we used what some Of our esteemed friends
are pleased to consider a ''harsh'' expression
when we characterized the proceeding as
'being generous with other peoples money
Let us see If the charge of harshness can be
maintained. In the. first place the city
council is entrusted with public money to be
employed for the public good; and in the
next it is their duty to be at least as careful
in its expenditure, and as mindful of the sug-
gestions of economy and business prudence,
as if it was their own money that was being
expended. This will be agreed to, if not
our argument proceeds no further, but drops
off short right here. Well then, supposing
those postulates granted, let us consider the
salaries paid during the last year; compare
them with the service rendered; take in view
the circumstances attending the late raise,
and ask if under similar circumstances, any
business man would have accepted out of
hand to a demand from his employees for in
crease of wages. .
Last year the city marshal was paid for his
services $1,000 in the way of regular salary
and S615 as police court fees, or altogether
Sl,Sl5. Now Marshal Warfield has made a
good officer. No complaint has been made,
or could be made against the service rendered,
still we consider ST. 1915 per annum, ample
yes, even generous remuneration for those
services. The office has nothing resembling |
physical labor connected with it, nor are its |
duties calculatedt to strain anyone'sintellectual
faculties very severity. All it requires is that
its incumbent be a man of some nerve. a man
not influenced by fear or favoritism in any
and possessing sufficient honor to
ensure a conscientious discharge of his duty.
we admit are desirable qualities but
for all that we think eighteen hundred dollars
year a sufficient reward for their employ
nent. If this sum was too little why didn't
Warfield say so, a few weeks ago,
When his first term expired? At the close of
asst years term he had an excellent oppor-
unity gracefully to withdraw from office if
le considered his services underpaid. How
asy to have addressed the Board of Alder {
.en to this effect. '!Gentlemen, the office | t
leld last year yielded too small a return for t
ny services. If You wish me to fill the same
thce during the coming year an increase of t
ny salary will first be necessary But did ,
say this, or anything like it? Not much, 8
Iarshal Warfield canyassed pretty hard to '
acure his reappointment, and not a syllable {
'as breathed concerning the insufiiciency of +
he pay, until the Office was secured. i
Then the policemen who formerly received v
6O per month and fees, but who now receive t
So and fees for their services. Do the t
ouncll pretend to say that good men were f
OF TO be had at the former figure? Or do I
icy imagine the marshal or any of the police /
len would have resigned had the increase f
amanded been refused? In considering the c
after ii must by remembered that our city O
is rapidly increasing, and that II
18th its growth comes a corresponding in f
ease in police court businesa. aud a propor- r.
onate augmentation in the amount of fees h
If the marshal and policemen had been in il
personal service of an individual, instead "
being employed by the public, we have not
e slightest idea that their demand forincrease Il
pay would have beenacceededto. Further, Il
e don't believe that under like circum- "
ances they would have made any such Ii
'mand, if the money had to come out of one h
ans pocketinstead of the public purse. The "
ore We think of the matter the less we feel Ii
clined to back down from the charge of tt
with other peoples money" "
While ON the suhject Of officers salaries if T
ay not be a miss to state that last year our a.
y attorney received s., l3O in salary and
rs. There are more "fat takes'' about our
y government than there would be in any
lsiness managed by an individual or private Y
rporation, and requiring like services. 81
With all the appliances of modern science I'll