Durango semi-weekly herald., 1905-02-16
CITY SALARIES. ETC.

Mdus h-N bPhPN' "'''''"
public matters with only smatter-
ing OF information, jumping at con
ctusions without going into the mer-
its, and this seems 10 he rne case
with some Durango publications. In
the frst place. The Herald Is al
loss to understand just how 1t be-
comes a newspaper to arrange salar-
les, but as the question has been
raised II is mp for discussion.
In the first place The Herald Is op-
posed 10 increasing salaries Of may
or and aldermen Al this time. The
city is not in position to pay IN
creased salaries. If the salary is the
stumbling block in preventing the
selection of good men then we are in
a hard row of stumps But 1t is not
AS a rule there are numerous aspir-
ants in every ward. We want good
men for aldermen. men who com
pose the bone and slnew OF the city
and to this end we trust both parties
will see TO it that only men are Sc
lected who will serve the city well
and honestly. As to the work to be
performed IL is not going to equal
that OF the past two years-not even
TO begin TO compare with 1t. and why
should the aldermen for the next
two years be paid more money for
less work?
As to water commissioner. the
Democrat Is in error In regard to
salary. The water commissioner pays
his deputy, or clerk, out of the $3.50
The Democrat stated the deputy war
paid extra Again, taking the ground
That II is immaterisl who the person
Is that fills the position, so long as
he Is capable, the salary for the work
performed II not too large. This is
on the theory that the best timber
is utilized for water commissioner
Not only does the present salary In
clude the deputy but the water com
missioner does all the plumbing
work for the city, a big item in it.
self II is necessary 10 have man
Tor this position who can be relied
on not to favor single individual.
The collection Of water rents is quite
an item and entails lots of work and
the position requires man who will
follow the ordinance in collection
without fear or favor.
As to city clerk We do not believe
the present occupant or any one VINO
has been connected with the office.
will contend that the salary should
be raised at this time. II was only
$50 until few years ago and the
work has been but slightly increased.
The office nours are short and then
not much doing except council meet
ing nights and the first OF the month.
The position is one that requires
careful and honest work. but for the
actual work IL the best paid in the
city.
Firemen earn all they receive ow.
ing TO the hours they have to put in
and il the city can stand raise no
one will complain.
As to marshal. police and police
magistrate and city attorney. all
fees should be done away with The
marshals salary SHOULD he raised to
at least 800 per month and police
men accordingly and strict perform.
ance OF duty required The city attor-
ney and police magistrate should not
have IL thrown up to them that they
are living Oh the fruits of gambling
tables and fallen women. Pay the
city attorney decent salary. one
that will command competent legal
knowledge. whether IL be $500 or
81 900 per year. and then require him
to do the work
Pay the police magistrate certain
sum per month with certain Office
hours to 10, or 2 To 3. possibly
both. and let the fees heretofore go
ing to the marshal, city attorney and
police magistrate be turned over to
the city.
As to lowering the water rates at
this time il is out of the question. In
fact many people expected an in
crease in rates with the establish
ment OF Florida water. But this will
not be necessary, at the same time
there is no reason way rates should
be lowered until some of the extra
expense liz paid. II cost considerable
in excess of the $l50,00o TO complete
the system and II people are not call
ed on by raise in rates to meet the
expense they will be well satisfied
or course there may be n good many
In fact, we are confident
Of this and an equalization of rates
is but right and proper. Durango has
the best water In the state and out
side Of Silverton the cheapest We
do not believe in meddlng with well
enough.