The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1899-02-18
LOWER THE SALARIES.
To the Editor:

To the Editor:
| see an article in your paper taken
from the Statesvile Landmark. as to the
reduction of salaries. | heartily endorse
his idea. lie is right. There could be a
large sum saved to the State by reducing
salaries of officers. There are as compe-
tent men that would work for six hum
dred dollars per year as there is at pres
ent in the different Offices believe that
10 be true. Just think on the eve Of
every election what a scrambhng Tor the
different nominations!
Is it because they are 50 very patriot
ic? Not, so; it is because they are get
ting low wages and the office holder gets
Il big salary. Do you suppose, Mr.. Edi-
tor. if the salaries were fixed on an
equilibrium with every honorable pro-
fession. that the people would be AN
noyed so much every two years over poll
tics? Never. Do YOU remember just Il
little while since how the county com
missioners were annoyed by petitions for
the little office of superintendent Of the
county home? At least. 20 good men
were ready to take it at $4,000 per
month I say good men-yes. Wake
county has no better. ! don't know.
tAdcilN NlIdl lllt oth't E''a Ft'h'
no. less than 81 800 or $1,000, however.
there is a mighty scramble to get there.
Now ask is it right or is it just for the
taX-paying people to dig out such sala-
rics? | say not. | am farmer and run
from six to ten plows. and have been
somewhat successful. Now after hard
years work and exposure and using all
the economy I could. if | save above
a /
will do well. and how does il stand with
the masses who just can pay their taxes:
| say as m onest taxpayer il is not
right Officeiolders. Insurance conlpa-
MES. &c. are SUCKING the very life blood
out of the poor laboring man. We do
not blame any men that hold these
offices. but we do blame the lawmakers.
Take the public institutions and see thu
enormous - ari, IS rald at tie 81 IL sc
of the people. There are hundreds of
teachers i'll North Carolina who are
teaching at salary of six or eight hun
dred dollars year who could fill posi-
tons which now pay others from two
to three thousand per year. As a. tax
payer of Wake county. / favor the put
ting of salaries on a par with other hon
orable professions. This is just and
flgUt. w HeU tDlS Is uoHe we VIII HdNt
a great deal less politics than we now
have. There would be less scrambling
and scratching. and almost fighting for
the different offices. Yet we would have
plenty of men who are competent and
would be glad to fill these offices. | say
pay every officeholder a living price. but
not price that makes everybody politi-
clans and pie hunters. When the sala
x.NI 10.
other honorable professions. we will have
less disputes over politics and no more
Peoples party. 1t is the money and
not the good of the people they want.
Only n little while back the farmers paid
ten cents for weighing cotton. 1t was
reduced to seven cents, and yet how
anxious the old weighers are to get back
there at seven cents. | think of the
high salaries paid to the officials of the
State farm and how far the institution
failed to be self sustaining. | believe if
such men as W. y. Buffaloe was put
at the head of the State farm he would
make it self sustaining and declare
profit for the State. He would do it just
as sure as the sun rises and sets. But
he is not the kind of a man usually APP
pointed but politicians or professional
men. tudI kHON lbtiiil- VI
and one that goes in big style, &c.
Give the Ignoring people and honest
taxpayers of North Carolina a reduction
of salaries and LET us all have IN equal
show at the mighty dollar. | am not a
politician and don't want an office. but if
| were in the Legislature | would intro
duce bill reducing salaries and fees
and lessen the amount of homestead.
/ remember a remark made by X. III.
Battle, Esq, to me. We We're sitting
talking in his office and some one came
in and paid him some money; he said as
he looked at the coin it is monstrous
how people hustle after the almighty
dollar. Said he if we were half so inter
ested i'll the welfare of our souls,
wouldn't we have different country.
J. r. BROUGHTON.
Garner, n. c., Feb. Is.