Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1901-01-18
STATE SALARIES.

There Is general impression that the
ealaries OF the State officers, executive
ana judicial are fixed by the Coustltu-
ton and that the amounts cannot be
changed without constitutional
amendment That is a great mistake.
The legislature now In session can fix
those salarles, and should make changes
IN them so as 20 render them adequate
to the duties 10 be performed. The
stIpends paid to the Governor ana the
Judges OF the Supreme Court are, In
our opinion, much less than the import
ance Of the offices demand
Two thousand dollars per anuum for
the Governor Is a pltIful sum FOR the
Chief Executive, with all the RESPONSE
blllty attaching 20 the position, the
variety Of situations in which II places
him. the calls upon his time, the social
duties It Involves, and the dignity to
be kept up. AZ least a thousand dol
lars should be added to the meagre
amount, and even more would not be
too great under all the conditions cre-
ated by the important station.
Three thousand dollars as the salary
Of Justice Of the Supreme Court, was
named In the same spirit OF close econ
omy % that pervaded the convention
when the Constitution was framed. To
command the services OF able lawyers,
larger compensation ought TO attach to
the office The honor belonging 70 the
exalted position Is great. But that Is
not enough Of itself The pay should
be commensurate with the labor and
the talent required For opinions such
as have 10 be rendered by the justices
Of that court, any reputable legal firm
would demand fees that would make the
official salaries simply insignificant by
contrast
Five thousand dollars a year ought
to attach to the Supreme judicial office,
or at the very least four thousand, for
each Justice The increase would make
but trialng difference to the taxpayer
but It would serve 70 make the Office
more respectable, and tend to induce
our ablest lawyers 10 accept the place
when their services were desired. The
other State officers ought TO be also con.
sidered and the compensation be regu-
lated according to the work required
and the responsibility attached.
The language Of the Constitution In
reference TO the salaries Is, until other,
wise provided by law" Thus the
amounts named were only for temper
airy purpose. They We're thought sum
Client then, and the Constitution makers
were anxious to avoid anything Ike cx-
travagance when framing the funda-
mental law Of the State. But the con.
ditlons have changed. Utah Is bigger
and much more important than az the
first. and most valuable interests are at
stake, requiring wisdom and diligence
and much expenditure OF time. and the
remuneration should be made reason
ably ample Tor the work performed.
We shall, no doubt, be cited 20 tho
provisions Of the Constitution which de-,
clare, that the salaries Of these officers
shall not be increased or diminished dur.
ing the time for which they are elected
But It Is also provided that THEY shall
receive for their services, quarterly. a
compensation as fixed BY law" II the
different provisions are taken together
q viii appear that the amounts specl-
fed in the Constitution are temporary
in their application, and as there has
been no settlement of the question by
statute. the legislature has power to
make such changes as the case requires.
and thus carry out the intent OF the
Constitution Until otherwise provided
by law" invites action by the leglsla.
ture, fixing the compensation Tor all the
state officers named in that instrument
In suggesting an increase Of salary for
any public officer. we shall probably eX-
cite the opposition 81 a portion NJ our
community as there are many people
10 whom three or even two thousand
dollars a year seems a very large sum
But we shall be supported by members
OF the learned professions and prom
inent public men, who earn themselves
much larger compensation annually
and who can appreciate the value u
such work as those officers we have
mentioned have 90 perform, and the pc.
sltlon and responsibilities they have TO
assume
The Governor ought 70 have a salary
proporJionate. at least TO some extent
70 the dignity and importance OF his
Office as the Chief Executive OF the
State. And the Supreme Judges should
be paid something near the amount
that can De earned by members OF the
bar entrusted with the conduct ~ lm-
portant causes. The whole question of
State salaries needs review, ana we
hope the Legislature will take it into
serious consideration. and viii thus
comply with the requirement Of the
fundamental law.