The Mason County journal. [volume] (Shelton, W.T.) 1886-1927, 1894-05-11
FOrbearance Demanded.

Many who are receiving liberal sala-
ries in the public service fail to appre-
ciate the terrible condition of the tax
payer and the absolute necessity for
retrenchment in public expenses, says
the Olympia Standard. One of these
the other day remarked to his neigh
Dor, who was complaining because he |
had to let his taxes become delln-
quent: ~ am no grumbler; L PAID
my taxes; l don't see as times are
harder than they have been for many
years. People are always croaklng
and it has become a habit which they
cannot avoid" This view was doubt
less due in great measure to the fact
that he was receiving salary OF $|9
per month for an easy job about the
court house, quite enough to support
himself and his family in their moder-
ate wants, and of course he could see
no reason for retrenchment.
How different would have been his
his feelings il it had not been that he
occupied a warm stall at the public
crib! How inconsiderate the answer
of his fellow-men for conditions
which called for the expressions of re-
greet that lien had been placed upon
his home which he was unable to pre-
vent or removed tits, we fear a want
of sympathy for the poor that arouses
the antagonistic feeling that leads to
such senseless demonstrations as the
Coxey movement.
The line of demarkation between
the taxpayer and the tax-consumer;
the man who depends upon his daily
labor for support of himself, his family
and the office-holder; is becoming
daily more marked, and the selfish
prompting which impels the latter to
protest against any plan for lessening
the public expenses, is rapidly erect
| ing a wall of adamant between him
and his constituents. The salary al
lowances were fixed at time when
labor was in demand and at remunera-
tive rates, and the injustice of the
compensation for the one remaining
the same while the other has failed
entirely is an object lesson that is
peculiarly impressive upon the man
who depends for subsistence upon his
daily labor.
1t will be far better for those who re-
ceive salaries to recognize the situa-
ton, just as it is, and to yield to the
demand for reasonable reduction,
even though the law may have fixed
their compensation at given amount.
1t will be graceful and just conces-
sion to the stress of circumstances
that were unforeseen by our legislators.
Shylock was lawfully entitled to his
pound of flesh, but he receives uni
versal execration for insisting upon it's
being accorded to him.
What we need, at the present time,
is spirit of mutual concession and
forbearance. "a house divided against
! itself cannot stand" and the same
principle applies to all governments.
There should be no class feeling, if
there is class distinction, under our
form of government, and the only
way to prevent it is for those who Sc
cure preference to deal leniently with
those who are not so fortunate as
themselves. The present unrest which
agitates large proportion Of the peo-
pie is Oh account of the system which
allows big pay for short hours of easy
labor to the Office-holder, while the
common laborer must work hard long
hours on short pay. This feeling has
been growing for years, and now, when
every energy should be put forth to
shake off the. incubus of financial
stagnation, we find organized riot
stepping in to still further prolong
the business depression of the country.
Those in power have it within their
grasp to materially aid in bringing
about better feeling which must
precede better times and ultimate re-
covery from state which presages
universal ruin.