Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1899-02-04
A TAXPAYERS OPINION.
Increase Of Salaries Us Recommended
by Governor Wells.

Logan, Utah. Feb. 1. 1899.
To the Editors
Tho recommendation Of the Governor
that tho salaries Of officers be In
creased II looked upon with general
dlsfavof In this section; the general i'm.
preston IL that In some eases they are
too high now. - high at least that the
learned and unlcarned. especially the
latter. are clRmoring for Office.
II h generally recognized as cor
rect principle that the office should
seek the man aud not the man the
Office. but this principle u being 10,
vcrscd on Rccpun, 81 there being 40
much more money than honor attached
TO tho Offices. In fact. the honor part
Of II has almost been lost sight Of IN
the effort 10 get the money there IL In
II. aud as result the Offices have been
nlled In many instances by persons
who were incompetent ana utterly I'M
worthy such distinction as the office
should confer upon them The elcc-
ton ~ person To office should he "A
public proclamation that the person 20
elected n entitled ~ the confidence
ana esteem NJ the people. but IN some
Instances this NJ a matter Of fact ~
far from bting IN. case,
Political wire. workers do not ask
who " the best man for the position,
hut their study II how they can secure
the beat onlcca for themselves, They
say, There IL Johli he IN popular
among tho young men. he can got their
votes, and there ~ George. he II IA
vnfits among the saloon element mud
viii get their votes, we must put them
on the ticket for some Office ~ - ~
get the bcnent ~ their influence" aud
their qualification for tho officers cut
no ngurr.
This H MI wrong, but II viii never he
rlghted ~ lonr M the salaries OF oiil-
rors are w much out ~ proportion tn
| tho wages paid 10 iuhofing men In gem
ernl for In this free country Of ours
men NJ very moHger Information aspire
20 positions which only profound stu
dents are capable ~ flling.
A few years nRo such a thing rs nm
office seeker was unknown In the
smaller towns and settlements, hut now
N. army ~ ofilce-Heekers come from
cvory nook and corner ~ the state.
For every office To be flled there ARE
\ ten persons clnmoring Tor u; and that
condition OF things II fast growing
worse and solely because there II too
much money and too little honor In the
| offices
Nor Is this horde ~ ofice-seekerr
/ the worst niiiictinn which these high
salaries have brought unon the people,
/ High salaries mean hlgh taxes. and
moor administration ~ the public NJ
| fairs. Are not the people CARRYING SUM-
| Client burdens already Must their
burdens be san further Increased for
/ tho qualification OF those who secure
| tho oiflces7 We think the people viii
| say no. Cut down the salaries 81 low
| that those who accept them do n he
cause the people who have confidence
| In their ability honesty and Integrity
| desire them TO accept the honor theS
| wish 10 confer upon them. Then the
| Offices will he iilled by efficient. hon
| orahle men. Then Will the bondage and
| burdens OF heavy taxes he removed
| from tho people. The crowds OF ONCE
| seekers VIII cease their clamor for ONCE
| and 20 TO work IN lines suited TO theil
| capacities, and healthier condition.
| financially, win dawn upon us.
ANOTHER TAXPAYER.