The times. (Owosso, Mich.) 1882-1897, 1893-03-31
THE SALARIES AMENDMENT.
TO INCREASE COMPENSATION OF
CERTAIN STATE OFFICERS.
A STATEMENT SHOWING THE
GREAT NEED OF THE CHANGE.
Chairmen Campau and Mcmillan Join in
an Address to the Electors.
To the Electors of Michigan.

|
ernor, Secretary OF State, Superintendent of
Public Instruction and Commissioner of the
State Land Office.
The change is not proposed out of any
compassion for the officers now occupying
these positions, but with the view of chang
ing the entire system, and thereby securing
the personal attention and attendance of the
officers to the many duties devolving upon
them by virtue of their respective offices.
1t is matter of public notoriety and pub
lie concern that, on account of the meager
salaries paid by the state, the positions held
by the above named state officers are con-
sidered more as places of honor than as
positions of personal trust.
The salaries were fixed at thu present
amount i'm 1850. Since that time the wages
for every class of work have been increased
nearly two and one-half times. Then farm
hands received from IS to $40 per month.
The wages of clerks and artisans have in
creased i'm like proportion; but, while wages
have increased, the costs of living have in
creased, quite as fast, and if the people would
receive the personal services of these officers,
| they must pay a sum that will afford them a
reasonable living.
Not only have the wages in all depart
ments and the costs of living increased, but
the actual necessity for the personal services
of these officers, by reason of the advance
ment of the wealth and population of the
state, have increased in far greater prol Or
ton.
The Lieutenant Governor is now a MEM
Der of many of the most important boards in
the State of Michigan, and it is for the in
terests of the people that he be so cOmpen-
stated that he give his time to the duties
devolving upon him.
Lieutenant Governor at $1,000, sum GER
tainly reasonable in amount.
The Secretary of State, Commissioner of
the State Land Office and the State Treas
urer constitute the Board of State Auditors.
That board has to make all the printing and
supply contracts and audit all the miscellan-
eous claims against the state.
In the year 1850 during the entire year
twenty-one claims were presented and al
lowed against the state, amounting to
S1,753. There has been continued i'll
crease in number and amounts of claims
from that time to the present. In January,
1898, the claims presented amount to 427;
the amount allowed was SIS, 1876. The aver
age monthly allowance is from $500 to
$4,000. That is to say, the Board of State
Auditors must now examine and pass upon
twenty times as many bills in number and
ten times in amount each month as they
were required to pass upon in the whole
year in 1850. Any negligence in making
contracts or auditing accounts must neces-
sarily injure the financial interests OF the
people.
1t is proposed to fix the salaries of the
Secretary of State and Commissioner of the
Land Office at 80, 900 each; sums certainly
far more reasonable now, when viewed in
the light of the present duties and RESPONSE
biltieS, and present compensation paid other
labor, than were the original sums when
viewed in the light of the original duties and
responsibilities and wages then paid to
others.
While the changes aboye enumerated
show great increase in the demand for the
time of the Secretary of State and Commits
sioner of the Land Office, the increase in
the duties demanding the personal efforts |
nI ol MI of hn IL
ent of Public Instruction is quite as large. |
The number of schools in Michigan since !
1850 have increased more than four times. |
The money expended in 1850 was $217, 900. |
The money expended in 1885 was SIS. 1856, 400, |
which sum has constantly increased from
that time. The Superintendent of Public |
Instruction is required by law to perform |
the important duties of general superintend
ent of all these schools. He is obliged to |
visit all the State educational institutions, |
attend teachers institute and should be
obliged to give his entire time in looking |
after the educational interests of the state.
He is allowed no fees nor perqusites of any
kind. The salary fixed I'm 1850 of 81 900, is |
not a reasonable compensation for a man
who has the requisite ability to fill the oppOsi-
ton, and will not support such man under |
present prices. The only alternative is to
neglect the work. 1t is proposed to raise
the salary to $4,000, sum reasonable in
amount and less than that paid by many
city schools to their superintendent. The
people who pay school taxes and desire to
give their children the benefits of public
schools cannot afford to exact LEGS than the
entire time of the superintendent, neither
can the people expect to receive services
gratis. and the experience of the past shows
that they will not get services unless they
pay for them.
A similar change was made by increasing
the salaries of the Auditor. General and the
Attorney General. and the result is that the
people have received the entire time of these
officers with the saving of many thousands
OF dollars to the taxpayers.
The people should change the laws and
pay reasonable compensation and demand
the entire time and best energies AMI ability
of these officers.
We recommend that the press bring the
facts before their readers and urge the
adoption of this amendment. The amend
ment, I'm our judgment, should receive the