The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1891-06-30
sEATTLE, TUEsDAY. JUNE 30.
THE nErKEScHmEsr QUESTION.

The action of the Board of Aldermen in
incontinently killing the salary retrench-
ment bill must not be assumed to have
disposed of the subject matter of that
ordinance. Neither the desire of some
aldermen to keep relatives in Office nor the
endeavor of others to curry favor with
few subordinatcs viii be permitted to stand
in the way of an effort to retrieve the
blunder which was made at time when
the inexperience of the new Council af-
forded some excuse for larger force than
was necessary and higher rate of COM
pensation than was justifiable. There is
no reason now, when experience has DEM
onstrated the folly of the past, that the
people should be compelled to bear the
burden then imposed upon them.
For three months the taxpayers have
been watching with Impotence the course
of the committee selected from both houses
TO bring the expenses of the city within its
income. They have observed the trans
parent efforts of some of the members,
while pretending to favor the principle, to
thwart every attempt on the part of their
more sincere colleagues to arrive at a salts
factory conclusion.
The ordinance which was so contemptu-
ously voted down by a majority of the al
dermen without even the courtesy of
discussion, did not directly reduce salaries
nor even affect to legislate as to those es-
tablished by charter. 1t was an ordin-
ance appropriating a monthly allowance
for each department sufficient in the esti-
nation Of the trainers, based upon careful
inquiry of the chief officials, to provide
for all needs. It attempted nothing con-
trary to the charter or without the con-
sent Of those responsibly concerned.
The Council had to face the fact that
there were two classes Of offices whose
present incumbents could not be reached:
those whose salaries are determined by
charter, and those who have a specified
term whose salaries, although fixed by or
dfirance only, could not be modified dur
ing that term. Most of these, however,
consented, on account of the financial
condition of the city, to submit to reas-
enable reduction. Beyond these is an
army of subordinates whose service is de-
terminable at any time and whose salaries
could be reduced at the pleasure of the
council.
The objection raised by some of the al
dermen that salaries can never be reduced
is ridiculous. II the ordinance could not
60 into effect at once it would at least
reach each new incumbent as he succeeded
to office; but there is no reason whv il
could not at once become operative and a
saving of $4,000 to $4,000 a year, begin
Immediately.
A specious plea was raised on behalf of
the police and the fremen, those organi-
cations so delicately nursed by aspirants
for mayoralty honors. 1t was proposed
by the retrenchment committee 10 nomin-
ally reduce the pay of the police from $50
TO $75, but as it was accompanied by legis-
lation providing for their payment in cash
instead of scrip there was practically no
reduction in the amount they would re-
ceive.
At no point in the new schedule was
there the slightest excuse for objection ex-
cept that it touched favorites of certain
aldermen. No man rose TO assail it in the
Board; no reason was offered; the bill was
viciously, recklessly killed by combina-
ton which never before assimilated
The people have determined that the ex-
penses of the city must and shall be re-
duced to something reasonably less than
100000 year over the income No task
70 be performed by the council approaches
this subject in importance, and they have
very much mistaken the temper of the tax
payers if they think the off-hand vote of
the aldermen will be accepted as the end
Of the matter.
The demand of the taxpayers is impera-
tive. No rights need be invaded, no repu-
diation Of obligations attempted, but the
sum total TO be expended in hiring en-
ployes must be brought within the city's
revenues and it's requirements. The peo-
pie will have respect for conscientious diff
ferenees of opinion as TO matters of detail,
but it will not tolerate selfish disregard
offs urgent interests. The men who have
been elected to the legislative body of the
city have an individual as we'll as a corpo-
rate responsibility; and they have all had
sufficient acquaintance with this people 10
know that il is not of the character which
will tamely submit TO an infraction of its
rights or easily forget betrayal Of its conf.
dence.