Evening bulletin. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1895-1912, 1903-03-26
SpENDTHRIFT SALARY RATE

also OF clerks and bookkeepers in the
different grades.
would also like to know the price
OF rents and also the cost of butter.
eggs. pOtaties as well as any other art
Icles he may choose to name; not for
getting AT the same time to mentoin
profit or percentage "A retail merchant
is satisfied to make on say groceries,
hardware and any other line a low
wage man has to patronize.
1t is hardly necessary to say those
towns not only furnish abundant free
schools but school books and all sta
tiunery used by the pupils.
CITIZEN.
Honolulu, March %, 'O3.
The communication from Citizen
is not unexpected. Every time any
thing is said in Hawaii toward greater
economy in the conduct OF the Gov
eminent, more especially for the re-
duction OF the tremendous pay roll the
Taxpayers are carrying, there is always
u good number ready to rise in their
places, usually Interested parties, and
state that the price of living is so much
higher here that it is impossible to live
at lower salaries.
The Bulletin is prepared to admit
that the expense of living in these
islands is higher than in many cities
and towns OF the mainland but 1t Is
not ready to accept the view that the
price of living Is so much higher than
the salary list of the Territory would
indicate.
lust as Citizens" communication
indicates, the personal element Is for
ever entering into the question of Gov
eminent salaries. Legislators may
start with good intentions in an en-
deavor to put the salary lists on prop
er business basis, but Immediately some
clerk comes along with the statement
why | cant live on such a salary.
have hard work to get along as 1t Is. y
This may be very true from the stand
point of the officer but such arguments
do not count in the business commun-
ity. The fact that a present incum-
bent feels that his salary Is not ade-
uuate to what he deems to be his needs
is no criterion for establishing the
rate which the Government should pay
There is nothing on the records to show
that a Government Office ever went
begging for want of an applicant who
was willing to take the chances, glaC
indeed to get the chance to live on the
stipend granted by the appropriation
bill.
Every man in the Government or on
of 1t knows that well regulated bust
ness house establishes its salary rate
with due regard for the cost Of living
but finally according to what the posi-
ton, taking into account its response
bilities and the knowledge required, II
worth TO the employer. 1t Is the worl
of the position rather than the mar
occupying 1t which determines the sal
airy. There are OF course notable eX
ceptions to this rule, in the case o
men who make themselves invaluable
to their employers and are from tim
to time promoted or the excellence o
their work makes II possible TO In
crease their salaries. This same theor
is carried out in governments thoug
1t finds expression in promotion t
more responsible duties.
The Bulletin in urging reduction q
the salary rolls does not as many, par
ticularly office holders seem to think
advocate a general 25 or so per cen
reduction OF each officials salary re
gardless Of the amount of work don
or the responsibilities of the office. !
general reduction OF one per cent how
ever might well be demanded after tn
experiences OF the last campaign. On
of the features OF that campaign wa
the assessment of each ofiiceholder ON
per cent OF his salary. II the oltlc
holders find II possible to contribut
this amount from the sum appropria
ed them by the Legislature and SUI
piled by the taxpayers, for the purpos
of carrying the election they are Gel
tainly able to rebate, through salar