Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1902-01-07

ANN'NNNNAN HNhi NNAANN'tR h'A hf'N WV
agreed concerning Il. Tho Constitu-
tional Congontlon was influenced by a
spirit Of close economy not to say par
slmony The small salaries agreed
upon suited, porhapa the great body
OF the people when about to enter upon
the responsibilities and expenses Of
Statehood But they were not at any
limo adequate 70 the services and dig.
mites OF the positions TO be filed They
were far below the incomes obtained
IN the professions from the ranks Of
which the officers were selected. The
Legislature very properly endeayored
TO rectlfy this, and the court has placed
upon their enactment the judicial seal
Of its oonstltulionality
II 70 not Just IN the discussion OF
this subject to put blame on Governor
Wells because Of his application to the
courts to settle the salaries question,
IT Is not correct 10 state or lnslnuate
that Nc demanded an increase In his
pay The Legislature, both Democrats
and Republicans united. made the IN
crease after fun debate on rs proprlc-
IT, Il was not granted on any de-
mond or request by the Governor or any
OF the state officers. Il was the result
Of a desire to carry out the duty Inn
posed by the State Constitution on n
principle Of fairness and justice, IN
payment FOR services rendered,
After the law vas passed the dis
pute arose which has now been settled
by the highest judicial authority of the
State and during that contention the
state Auditor refused to issue warrants
for the amounts OF salary designated
IN tho law, There was hesitation on
the part Of the officers, although they
believed they were entitled to those
sums to take the necessary stops FOR
the purpose Of settling the matter Gov
crnor Wells has simply showed the
courage Of his convictions, and he dee
serves the thanks Of his associates and
Of the public for bringing II to an issue,
We DO not pee wherein he can DE rea-
eonably blamed Cor his atep On the
contrary We think he 10 entitled to
credit for stepping forward and obtains
Ink 4 decision IN the only manner that
could be made cffectuaL
10 people whose Income Is very small
END who toll daily for q bare subaIst.
oncc, the salaries named IN the Constl-
tuition may seem ia be SUFFICIENT for the
State officers, and II may appear to
them that The Increased amounts are
excessive But they should not guago
The value Of the talents and abilities
necessary FOR the proper performance
OF official duties Of high character by
the wages Of the laborer or the mcohan-
io, or the income of a small farmer.
Why2 Because those qualifications are
uncommon, Persons possessing them
can obtain much larger compensation
Tor their exercise In those professions
that are lucrative, than even the In
creased salaries fixed by the LegIsla-
ture.
The state can afford TO pay rs officers
q fair compensation for their time and
services and which win be oonsonant
with the dignity and Importance Of
those positions Compare the present
salaries with those OF officials In other
states, and II win be seen that there Is
nothing In thom excessive, Double or
treble those sums are earned by law
yers, and doctors and other profession
al Gentlemen ana many Of them would
not accept either OF the State Offices
with the salaries attached, even with
the honor attending them associated.
Now that the matter has been settled
judicially and finally there should he
no further ill-feelins over II, nor should
there be any lnsnuations against the
gentlemen. or either Of them, who prof.
by the courts decision on the law
which has fixed their compensation, We
think they are all fully entitled to every
cent Of H. and also that they cannot
be fairly censured FOR the course they
have pursued in relation to It. We be-
lioye, further that The opinion OF the
court Is fortified by sound reasoning,
and fair construction Of the Intention
ana meaning Of the law enacted by the
Legislature and the Constitution of the
state OF Utah