Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1895-01-24
SENATOR sYa1's BuHcoxsR.
He Announces That h win Rein
troduce the Salary Bill.

for another attack on the salaries o.
Dickinson county officers. The fol-
lowing letter to this paper just re-
ceived confirms that statement
To the Editor Of the Reflector.
Topeka, January 10. = Noticing
through the papers that county officers
have determined to test constitutions
atty Of the Dickinson county salary
law, | have decided to introduce the
same bill again. thereby saving the
county officers the expense Of testing
the law.
Believing, however, that only such
laws should be passed as are for the
good Of the people and are desired by
them, | ask for an expression Of the
voters and taxpayers OF Dickinson
county on this subject.
hope and trust that party preju-
dice and personal feeling may be held
in allegiance and sober unbiased judy
ment used in the consideration Of this
question. The points under consid-
Grafton are:
First, do you desire saving Of
from $4,000 to $4,000 year in your
taxesP
Second, will you, can you OBJ
tain good services for the
salaries proposed in the lawP On this
point allow me TO say that, II my
memory serves me right, Dickinson
has had number Of officers drawing
fat salaries that were more noted for
incompetency than anything else. So
far, there seems to have been no lack
OF applicants on account Of the reduc-
ton. County commissioners ought
to be, and generally are, as capable
men as other county officers and good
men are always willing to accept the
office. Their pay is only IS a day,
which would make less than two
thirds OF the amount fixed for the
other officers. Although the salary
Of the superintendent Of schools,
which | did not reduce, is lower than
any other officer and the position re-
quires higher educational qualitica-
ton than any other county office, yet
the best teachers gladly accept the
nomination.
Third, do not high salaries Qhe for
mer salary Of the treasurer was
1000, $1,000 more than the state
treasurer) have tendency to induce
men to use unfair and corrupt means
to obtain the nomination and be
electedP After being elected they can
afford to hire deputies and devote
their time to planning and scheming
for the future. Are not high salaries
a means to fasten corrupt rings on
the county, Should public office
be regarded as a private snap to be
obtained by any means, or business
transaction to which men are chosen
on account Of their qualifications, to
perform services for which they re-
ceive fair payp 1t is my sincere de-
sire that these questions be dis
cussed by everybody that feels inter-
ested. that in every neighborhood and
school district papers be signed for or
against, or where no one will attend
to it, personal letters be sent to me.
hope that those who oppose do so
in manly open manner, and discuss
the question on its merits through
some paper if convenient. and send
me marked copies.
M. Sem.
There are many things in this let
ter that SAVIOR of buncombe and it will
scarcely strengthen Senn's already
not too high regard in this district
His covert attack on ex-Treasurcr
Nixon who did more than any one
man to secure Senn's nomination and
election is, to say the least, scarcely
decent even from Populist stand
point. While our Populst brethren
may abuse one another to their
hearts content so far as we are con-
cerned, a little maniness is always
respected. Moreover the high and
holy ground taken by Mr.. Sern is
likely to cause something Of horse
laugh-a man who fights railroads
seven days in the week, yet rides on
railroad passes; who advises the peo-
pie to respect only such laws as suit
their ideas, or words to that effect.
Regarding the salary bill it is safe
to say that the bill which Mr.. Sem
proposes to force to passage does not
meet the appreciation Of the people of
this county. 1t is conceded on all
sides that a revision of the salaries is
to be desired. This is true of the
entire state. The present salaries
were fixed when the times were more
prosperous and when the cash repre-
scented less OF the things Of this world |
than now. But Mr.. Senn's bill is the |
hasty jumbling Of deep cuts in the
salaries by a man totally unfamiliar
with the respective responsibilities
and duties Of the offices. A fair bill,
one which would make some allow
ance for these things, would meet
with no opposition. II should pro-
vide that all fees be turned into the
county and all officers receive fixed
salary. II should allow the county
clerk more than 1880 and the treas
urer more than $4,000.
Mr.. Sem may introduce the bill