Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1889-04-11
OEElCiAl SALARIES.
why the Suggestions Of an Increase Can
Not BE Favorably Received.

ttStS<6 SbAIbAntG0s
WIS the Suggestions Of an Increase Can
Not BE Favorably Received.
The resignation of Senator Chace. OF
Rhode Island, has revived the chronic
question of official salaries. Senator
Chace assigns as the reason for his
resignation that the compensation of
Senator is not sufficient to justify him
in longer neglecting business. He Is
large manufacturer. and has business
interests that require and will repay
attention. This is not the case with
all Senators, and still less with all Rep
resentatives, but it will probably fur
nish occasion for reviving the old
question of an increase of salaries.
There never yet was legislative body
that would not increase the pay of its
members If it could and dared to do
SO. The average Congressman or
legislators plan of economy always
begins somewhere else than in the
body of which he is a member. He is
ever ready to vote extra pay and big
perquisites to all the employees of the
body, on the ground that they. are
faithful and overworked public SER
wants." and is always hankering after
an increase for himself on the same
imaginary ground. Some Congress
men are faithful, and a few may be
overworked, but the majority do not
suffer in either direction.
The question of official salaries is
one of some importance, and should
be consi dered on its merits and settled
on just basis. The salaries of Sena-
tors, Representatives and Government
officials should be sufficient to secure
and fairly reward the services of first
rate men, and yet not SO large as to
make them a source of wealth. They
should be adequate to the comfortable
and genteel maintenance OF a family
in good average style, with reasona-
BILE margin beyond for those economic
ally inclined, but they should not be
such as to justify or encourage any
official in aping the style of moneyed
aristocracy or trying to keep up with
the social dance led by millionaires.
In short, official salaries should be fair
to the verge of iberality, but they
should not be exorbitant nor out of
proportion to the services rendered by
office-holders, nor to what persons of
equal ability earn in private life. 1t
has never been the policy of this Gov
eminent to pay high salaries, and
never should be; it should pay enough
to secure the services of good men and
to support them like gentlemen, but
not like nabobs.
Recurring to the matter of Con-
gressmen's salaries, we do not believe
the suggestion of an increase will be
favorably received by the country.
This is an era of rather hard times
and close living, and the average citi-
zen who works hard and lives close,
and lies awake nights. to make his
$1,000 or s., 900 year, will be slow to
understand why a Congressman, who
receives three times as much, should
need an increase. The people know
the average Congressman is well paid
now. While some may be worth
more to the country, and could earn
more in private life, the majority
could not. The plea of hard work and
poor pay does not 60. The average
Congressman does not work half as
hard as the average business man, and
has a great many more pleasures.
The midnight oil which he burns is
not burned in hard study nor in porting
over ledgers and account books.
Neither is the expense of living in
Washington any reason for an in
cease of salaries. congressman of
moderate means who 60 to Washington
are not obliged to initiate the style of
living or the expensive habits of mill
ionaires. After all is said, if they find
their compensation inadequate, they
always have the North American priv
ilege of resigning and giving some
other fellow chance to starve. There
is no law requiring a man to seek or
hold Office, and Congressman who
think the people elect them to increase
their own salaries will find themselves
greatly mistaken. indianapolis Jour-
nal.