Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1897-01-08

| 10 li' lll;tbllIlN bl f"'p' ~ pay ''A'1'
however willing they may he to do -,
| mot over forty per cent. al TN" last
levy having been cullcctcd) but think
it is partly owing to a feeling among
the taxpayers that they have been I'M
| Justly treated 10y the City Council and
other governing bodies in the past,
having unreasonable impostS assessed
against them which were very often
wasted when collected. and which they
were unable and unwilling I" pay. In
! fact, people came to regard it H. Il pat
! riotic duty to resent the mi>govcrn-
mcnt To- which they were subjected.
1t will be- our duty to di~pcl this I'M
preston 10y working honestly and
earnestly for the good OF the whole
people. We should discriminate
against none. and show no special
favors to amy, but treat cIuitably and
fairly all who are entitled to our SER
vices.
While it is our duty to practice the
most rigid economy, there is a limit
even III that direction which it would
not he wise to pass. We must protect
the lives and property of the people.
We must provide such necessities and
requirements as will make it safe and
convenient for people to live i'll our
midst. There Is such Il thing us cX-
travagant economy, and it would not
! be safe to let orr Ictrcnchment ten
denotes go beyond the danger limit,
but your good judgment am satisfied
Will direct you i'll the proper course.
| As we cannot go much farther in re-
duclng expenses, our hope for the bet
termcnt of our financial condition
must come from the improved condi
ton of our people and their increased
willingness and ability to pay neces-
sary and just taxes. This, with con-
| tinucd honest and economical admin
iStration, is our only hope, and as
Olympia rs commercial and manu-
featuring city is yet in its infancy,
sincerely hope that will more pros
porous conditions generally existing
We will in very few years be free
from debt and in a position to enjoy
all the benefits and blessings of good
city government ut 4 minimum of cx-
| pcnSc.
The new Councilmen were then
sworn and the first business of the
meeting began with an effort to pass
an ordinance fixing the salary of Mar
shall at $50 per month under sus-
pension of the rules.
Mr.. White thought that to subscrvc
the spirit for economy which had re-
suited i'll cutting down the salaries of
all elective officers, that the Council
should exercise like discrimination
in scaling down the pay for those posi-
tions under their immediate control.
He moved that the salary be placed at
$45, which motion did not receive a
second
Mr.. Wilson asked for postpone
ment of consideration of the ordinance
until he had had time to determine
what would he right in the matter
Mr.. Scofield maintained that the
matter had been well considered and
that $50 was not too large n salary for
Il good man. 1t was one of the in
stances in which rigid economy would
not DrlnE the best results.
Mr.. Murphy moved to place the
compensation at $40 per month.
Since the municipal election he had
become aware of the fact that there
were many candidates for that office
Several of them were men of cxper-
fence and acknowledged ability; that
he had been informed by one or more
of these candidates that they would
gladly accept the Office and discharge
all its duties ut II less salary than is
now paid. They gave asa reason that
it was low pay or nothing and they
preferred small compensation to idle
ness. They cited as an instance of the
present value placed upon hard labor
the compensation paid the men at the
draw, who labor, day or night, rain or
shine, on transitory job of few
weeks duration at best, at III cents
per hour. The duties of Marshal are
by no means arduous nor weighted
with extraordinary responsibility. The
pocket OF the taxpayer must not be
burdened with Il cent of expenditure
more than is necessary. The Council
man felt assured that service equal
to any that has ever been afforded can
be secured for the figures he had
named. The motion was, however,
voted down 4 to 3. The same Coun-
Gilman then asked that final action on
the ordinance be postponed till next
meeting, so that the new members,
who were elected on the single plank
of economical administration, could
see their way clear on the matter. On
this motion the vote stood: AYES,
Murphy, Wilson and White-3; noes,
Forbes, Savage, Scofield and Smedlcv
Il.
The motion to suspend the rules
and pass to third reading however
failed, and the ordinance went over to
the next meeting.
The following standing committees
were announced by the Mayor:
Ways and Means-Smedlcy Muir
ply and Wilson.
Accounts and Current Expenses
White, Wilson and Savage.
Streets, Wharves and Bridges
Forbes, Smedley and White.
Health, Police and Public Property
Murphy, ScOfield and Smedley.
Fire, Light and Water-Wilson,
Savage and Forbes.
Judiciary-Savagc, White and Muir
ply.
Franchises and Licenses-Scofield
Wilson and Forbes.
SOME POTATOES.-Mr.H Hall has in
his show window one of the finest dis