Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1880-08-25
Salaries Of state Ofilccrs.

penses under Republican misrule, much COM
munistic denunciation is aimed at the i" ex-
travagant salaries" paid to the state Off
cials. The Democracy claim that these
salaries should forthwith be reduced TO the
scale of compensation prevailing before the
war. Candidate Phelps, in his Burlington
speech accepting the Democratic nomina-
ton for governor, placed himself on record
in favor of such reduction. One Of the
things for which Mr.. Phelps might reason
ably feel proud, much prouder than for that
most discreditable speech, is the part he is
said to have played in lobbying the Legislature
to increase the salaries of the supreme court
judges to $4,000 year-which he now says
should be placed back to $500, the sal
airy of these officials before the war. With
professional income many times greater
than $4,000, it was cool piece of political
demagogery for Mr.. Phelps to advocate the
reduction Of the pay Of seven men, his peers
in legal attainments, to whose care are in
trusted the vital interests Of all the people,
from sum already less than the income Of
any good legal practitioner in the state.
One of two things must be done, the people
must pay the price Of able judges if they
wish for capable state judiciary, or pay
less money and fill up the bench with Sec
ond-rate lawyers. But there is not square
inch of solid common sense on which to
base discussion of this ISSUE"
The salaries of the state treasurer and sec.
rotary of state are perhaps the most conspic-
uous objects of attack, and about which there
is probably more popular misconception
than about any of the others. The salary of
each of these officers is sl,700. Out of this
sum they each pay all of their clerk hire,
their office rent, and their bills for light
and fuel. During the biennial term ending
July 3lst, 1878, Treasurer Page received
and accounted for over Sl,3000O0 of state
money, and during the biennial term Just
closed as much more of the state funds
passed through his hands. He holds in
trust over 100000 in funds which the law
requires the life insurance companies Of
the state shall deposit with him as pro
lection to policy holders. He is also the
custodian Of sl35,5OO in funds set aside fol
the benefit Of the agricultural college. Fol
the faithful discharge of his duties he il
obliged to give a bond for 100000 II
may be that the voters of this state are
willing to entrust all these great interests
to a man who holds himself at a lower
salary than any ordinarily efficient dry
goods clerk in country store receives, and
possibly good men will go on the bond Of
such man, but then there is room for
reasonable doubt about the whole thing
When this officers salary was $500 tn,
annual revenues of the state were less than
the funds which the law says the treasurer
shall now hold in trust for the benefit o.
those who insure theiS lives in our stat,
companies, or whose children may desire t.
to study agriculture scientifically. Othe
duties have been added to this office ever
since the last legislative session. The ia,
on savings banks is made payable to hin
and by him distributed to the towns To
which it is due. The apportionment ant
distribution of this tax alone involves
month of hard work, and yet the d Democratic
organ recently stated that all the work o
this office could be done in four weeks
Treasurer Page has held this office sine,
1865, and during this time by skilful man
agement of state balances he has put int,
the state treasury nearly $4,000 in the item
Of interest-a thing unknown in the previou
management Of this office. 1t was easy enough
perhaps for him, a skilful financier, to do it
but it would have been much easier for a les
able man not to have done it, if, indeed, tn
state had not suffered the loss of many time
that amount by such management as $50
year will buy. Get the best and pay
fair price for it, is the wisest economy in tn
long run.
Respecting the secretary of states salary
the following facts appear from the legisls
tive records. About the year 1915 the sa
airy was $500. The duties at that tim
simply required attendance during sessions @
the legislature. In other respects they wer
merely nominal and required little time @
labor. In 1857 the registration report wa
provided for, and the labor committed to tn
secretary Of state. Four months stead
employment Of one competent person wi
not suffice to complete this work. This wa
paid for as extra work at the rate of $500
year. Other extra work was added, fc
which 300 in the aggregate was Above
by the auditor, making the total income c
this officer $1,000, till in 1867 the salar
of the secretary was fixed at $500. In 1856
the compiling of the legislative director
was entrusted to this officer and 5000 exit
pay allowed for this service. In 1867 tn
secretary was made superintendent of prin
ing. A certain supervision of grand lii
matters was entrusted to him, and for tn
and other extra work he was allowed by tn
auditor s40O extra pay, making the incon
Of the office, with some fees, over $l,20
In 1868 the entire supervision of the ca
vass Of votes and the making of the gran
list were added to the duties of this office
This last service had formerly been done
the house Of representatives, for which tv
clerks were employed at an expense of $50
On account of this extra work the sals
was fixed at 81, 800 in 1870 and clerk hi
not to exceed $3.50, when actually paid, W
allowed, together with Office rent, fire al
lights. The duties OF the Office at that tim
as may readily be seen, necessitated the co
slant employment of clerk. In 1874, Il
insurance bureau was created, making Il
secretary and the state treasurer comm
sioners. This bureau gives the state an q
nual revenue of nearly $4,000 and sffor
the commissioners an additional income
500 year. In 1876 the salary was fixed
sl,S00, including all clerk hire but not rel
lights or fuel, for which 800 was Above
In 1878 the salary was reduced to liz
including clerk hire and all expenses, t
4 duties remaining the same with the ad
/ ton of the biographical sketches of me
: bers connected with the civil government
! the state. Considering the salary actua
a paid the secretary Of state in 1850 and WI
,, is paid now, comparing too the labor th
! with the labor now, it will be seen th
y the salary is not so ample in 1880 as
a was in 1860, and also that at the pr
emit time the Office Yields the state a r,