The Houston daily post. [volume] (Houston, Tex.) 1886-1903, 1899-02-24
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SALARIES OF PUBLIC OFFICIALS.

The mayor OF Savannah Ca, has re-
Gently caused CONSERVATION In the ranks
OF the offceholders of that city by sug-
costing that official salaries were dispro-
portionately high. compared with salaries
and wages In other lines of work in sa-
vannah, and advocating 20 per cent re-
duction in the salaried list--including his
own compensation.
In this day and time such suggestions
are so rare that tho motives of the Of
fetal making them are liable TO be ques-
man in thousand, rich or poor, will vol
unfairly, or through mere buncombe, sur
render 20 per cent of good salary, and
especially an official salary, the honesty
and patriotism of the mayor of Savannah
can hardly BIO questioned Commenting
on this incident. the Atlanta Constitution
remarks:
The Constitution has had occasion hereto
ipie TO draw attention to the fact that, while
employees In commercial and agricultural life
mad their wages largely reduced through the
operation OF our financial laws the strangc
anomaly was presented OF the constantly in-
creasng salaries OF nsen who worked for the
public. Throughout the country 1t Ia no I'M
lite. were moro than well paid at $50 mouth.
when suddenly transferred to some municipal
OF state ofhce, strut around and look upon
themselves ms being worth thousands year
where hundreds n year before was more than
they ever gained. The result of such pneh-
ing OF the public purse at the expense of the
ra,e payers was to make office-holding tho
most profitable business In the country There
might be some excuse for this II at the same
time the most trohtable talent had been ke-
cured, but as every one Knows, the political
ward heeier doas not look for talent go much
as compliance,
Unfortunately for the welfare OF the
country. there Is too much truth in the
Constitutions remarks. Here and there.
In almost every community, the public
get something like their moneys worth In
the services of some specially faithful and
capable servant. but that this is the ex-
ception rather than the rule there can be
no dispute That the general average of
official salaries has not gone down--while
money has increased In purchasing power
Ito the general average OF salaries In
other branches of work. Is equally true
1t is simply a ridiculous imposition to
see mere routine clerical work, or subor-
dinate executive positions, requiring no
extraordinary talent, or costly preparation
for the discharge of the duties, command
ing from $4,000 to $4,000 a year In county
and municipal governments, while brains,
I special fitness and years of experience in
commercial life do not receive half such
compensation II is the moro remarkable
to sec these fat emoluments often en-
joyed by men who, as the Constitution
says, could not in any other line OF et-
fort command as much as $1,000 year!
When the public talk of too heavy bur-
dens of government and the necessity
for retrenehment and reform, It Is snsu-
lar, indeed, that the only reductions sug-
gested are of nature to cripple some
part OF the public service rather than 10
discomfort the officials by bringing their
compensation down to something like a
Just measure OF their work and capacity.
And yet IL the latter course were pur-
sued, many thousands annually could he
saved to almost any community that could
be mentioned.