Herald and news. [volume] (West Randolph, Vt.) 1878-1943, 1905-05-18
Nh. RANGERS SALARY.

Concerning the offer said to have
been made recently to Hon. Walter Z
Ranger, state superintendent of educa.
ton. of a similar position in Rhode
Island at a salary $1,000 a year larger
than Vermont pays him, many news
papers are taking occasion ito remark
thai it was poor policy last fall for the
/ Vermont legislature to refuse him a
raise in salary and thus stand a chance
OF losing him; that il he is worth 5000
a year to Rhode Island he ought to be
worth that amount to Vermont; and
that his probable removal will be Sc
rious loss to our educational system.
Granting that Mr.. Ranger has
proved an excellent official, we still
believe the legislature took the proper
course in regard TO his salary. Bills
were in to increase the compensation
OF almost every state official through
the entire list; the whole. if voted,
would have totaled many thousand
dollars and become a permanent in
crease in state expenditures. Begin
ming with the bill 70 increase their
own compensation as members OF the
assembly, the legislators killed each
and every similar measure, the result
being that there was no increase in the
salary list. The view adopted was
that while there was so large a num-
Der OF well-equipped candidates ready
to take any OF the state offices at exist /
ing salaries il was unnecessary and
therefore uuwise to hang up a larger
purse to be striven Tor. The legisla-
ture responded to sensible business
rule of action. While il might have
been willing to compliment Mr.. Rang .
er and other applicants as a matter OF
personal appreciation, as custodIans OF
the state treasury it did not feel at lib
erty to vote gratuities in this way.
The only argument used in favor OF
the Ranger increase not used In the
other cases, was that il the increase
were not voted Mr. Ranger might
leave the state. After having allowed
himself to be reelected at the old
salary, without any mention OF such
a possibility, many members did not
consider it good taste on his part to
come forward with threat Of this
kind. Others considered it undigni-
hel to jew" with another state in
this way. Still others resented the
Very active lobby that promoted the
measure. After the question had been
once threshed out and the matter
decided adversely, the proposition
came up again in somewhat different
form two or three times, and finally
the House, completely disguised. sat
down on it hard for good and all.
1t is an easy matter to increase
salaries, but extremely difficult to
limit or reduce them. II Is not true I
that our public servants in Vermont
are generally poorly paid, considering /
The paying ability OF our people and
with the returns Of private
business and the scale OF wages. 1t
probably is true tha;, compared with /
arger and richer states, we do pay
less. But the first comparison. rather .
han the last, should be the determine
ng one. How foolish it would be
ior Vermont to vote an immense I
salary roll simply because other states.
lble TO handle it easily, do
When one bin OF this sort was up 7
N the House last fall member made A.,
IN effective argument and killed il by
simply quoting the following pro-
Vision Of the state constitution:
As every freeman. 70 preserve his
(it without a sufficient
.state) ought 10 have some profession. I
,alling. trade, or farm. whereby he =
nay honestly subsist. there can be no :
necessity tor, nor use in. establishing I
,fhces Of profit, the usual effects OF ,
which are. dependence and seryiitv.
inbec0miug freemen, in the possessors
n eNpectants. and faction, contention. 4
md disc0rd among the people But :
I any man is called into public service !
o the prejudice Of his private affairs.
.e has a right TO a reasonable COM :,
sensation. and whenever an 0Hice :
through increase Of fees or otherwise. 8
.ecoLe 50 profitable as % occasion 4
8any to apply Tor b. the profit ought
o he lesseue8 By the legislature Z
Men There is a Dun. Heavy Fesuns Z