The Weiser signal. [volume] (Weiser, Idaho) 1890-1904, 1901-02-28

den of nations destiny on his
shoulders for four years, and facing
every moment the danger of assassi-
nation that finally struck him down,
all for $25, 900 year 1t really
seems as if Lincolns work were as
arduous as Mr.. Carnegies, aud called
for as much ability.
John Marshall laid the splendid
foundation of American constitu-
tional law for the salary Of one of
Mr.. Rockefeller's clerks.
Paul Jones on the Bon Homme
Richard, Somers in the harbor of
Tripoli and Cushing driving across
the boom that surrounded the Alba
marie, treated their lives as rubbish
in the presence OF the work they had
to do. They got a few hundred
dollars year for their services.
Suppose there were no way in
which Mr.. Carnegie could amass hun
dreds Of millions in his private bus
mess, and he were offered salary
of 800, 600 year to manage tho
iron industry for the American peo-
pie, is it likely that he would refusef
And if he accepted, would it be pos
sible for him to keep his energy and
ingenuity idle, and soldier on his
Job because he was earning only
800, 900 instead Of $25, 900, 900
year?
There are certain limits to human
capacity, and it is the nature OF men
OF ability to exert their powers to the
full regardless of the pay they re-
ceive. When Napoleon was leading
the army of Italy for simple gene
rails salary he poured out the treas
ures of his genius as lavishly as when
he was emperor, with the spoils of
Europe at his command. He did
his best at Rivoli, and he could have
done no more if the revenues of q
continent had been the reward.
1t will be good while before the
Carnegies and the Rockefellers are
superseded in the iron and oil trades
but there are industries in which the
country is ready even now to con-
slider the advsability of reducing the
wages of superintendent to reason
able figures. The railroads, for in
stance, could be managed just as
we'll by national superintendent of
railways on salary of $25, 600 q
year as by a com bination Of Morgans,
Hills and Vanderbilts collecting
scores of millions.
The telegraphs are ripe for trans
fer to public department. They
constitute national monopoly al
ready, and their management would
be as simple as that OF the post
offices.
The express business is essentially
part of the postal service. There
is no reason why there should be ex-
press miIlionaires when the worL
could be done just as we'll by gov
, ernment employees on moderate Sala
ries.
The savings banks have been at
tached to the postoffice in almos
every country in the world but ours
1t is known by experience that theil
management is function we'll withir
I the powers of public officials.
The telephones have built up enor
+ nous fortunes in this country, bu
! the telephone business could be car
f ried on just as efficsently if its pro
fits went to the people.
q In all these enterprises most of tn,
o real work is done by the salaried of
q ficials as it is. The great railroad
. systems are not run by the million
aires who absorb their profits, but b,
n superintendents, managers and pres
idents drawing from $4,000 to $75,
900 apiece. The millions are mostl,
h made in stock manipulation. Tha
: would disappear under governmen
i ownership, but the working staff
y would remain, and the public woul
r get at least as good service as ever.
to There is always danger IN usin
8. counterfeits of DeWitt's Wit(