Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1883-03-01
MEMPHIS APPEAL
UNEQUAL SALARIES.

The salaries paid officials are 20 unequal
and often 80 excessive, that several Of the
State Legislatures have undertaken to equal.
ize the emolumenls Of those employed in the
public service. 10 a special message to the
Legislature of PennsylYanis, Gov. Pattison
cals attention to the etartliDg fact that the
register Of wills receives double the salary OF
the higher judges OF his court. He shows
that the judges Of the Common Pleas are
paid $1,000, while the prolhonotsry of the
courl is paid $4,000, with literally paid as.
sistants to do the work. The judges of the
Orphans Court are. psid $4,000, ard the
register of villa, who is clerk of the court, lie
paid $4,000, with literally paid assist ants
10 perform the labor. The sheriff ia
paid $4,000; the district attorney
$4,000; the recorder OF deeds SI2.-
900; the clark OF the Quarter Ses
sious $4,000; the coroner 5000, and all of
tbese officials have well-paid assistants. The
same Inequality in the pay Of officials exists
s all the States. II is especially so in Ter
nesses, and, strange to ssy, the judges, the
hardest worked of all public officials, are al.
ways made the victims Of this unjust dis
elimination. 1t requires many years of
study and practice for lawyer 10 prepare
himself for the grave duties of Judge. First,
he has to acquire an education and after
ward give several years to the study Of the
Law before he can be licensed. A large
amount of money has to be expended in the
purchase of library. But after twenty
years Of labor and expense in preparing
himself for the bench he is not paid as much
Tor his services as is received by other off.
eials who have expended neither money
nor time in fitting themselves for the
discharge OF the clerical duties of the Offices
10 which they have been elected. Several
Offices in this county pay the iDcumbents
from $4,000 to $4,000, while a niggardly
salary is doled out 10 the judges, the most
important of all official positions. This die
parity in the pay Of public servants is IN.
just. There is surely some way by
which the Legislature Of Tennessee can
prevent such gross and unjust inequality IN
the pay OF officials. The ordinary channels
of business profit are closed 10 the judges.
Ali their time is occupied in the discharge
OF their duties, and the compensation is un-
equal TO the labor and the importance oil
the position. in discussing the unequal SAL
aries OF officials, and while indorsiDg the
special message of Gov. Pattison, the
Philadelphia Times shows that the compen-
sstiou OF the recorder OF that city is va.
riously estimated at from $4,000 10 $50, O0C
after deducting expenses, and the city
treasurer receives fees which swell his com.
pensation 10 over $4,000 annually. On ihs
other hand, the mayor receives only $4,000
and the entire compensation of the re-
ceiver OF taxes, for receiving aud handling
nearly 100000 of money, is $500. OFF,
cials should be paid salaries commensurate
with the duties and responsibilities assumed.
There should be a revision of the law ON
this subject, and the highest salaries paid 10
any officer connected with the courts should
be paid the iudoes