The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1906-11-14
OFFTCLAL SALARIES

There is considerable argument in
favor of increasing the salaries of state
officers. and it is said that a movement
to secure such an increase will be
started in the early days Of the coming
legislature.
The salary of the governor was
raised four years ago. and while 1t is
by no means great. it is sufficient to
allow citizen of ordinary means to
serve the state without having
means of livelihood outside of his Of
fetal salary. This was not true form
erly- During the four years that w
E. Stanley was governor it cost him
$4.VOc more than h:s salary to live IN
the executive residence W. J. Bailey
drew on the income from his big
Nemaha county farm to make up the
difference between his official salary
and his expenses. Both Stanley AMI
Bailey received $4,000 a year. At that
rate, the man without an independent
income could not afford to be gov
ernor- With the increase of the gov
ernor's salary to $1,000 a year this
has been remedied, although it is
doubtful IL a governor can save any
thing even out OF the present salary.
When the salaries of state officers
NTAC 44hAC0 1GcAA etJO LHEy were prop
ably a fair enumeration, but times are
different now. The office Of state
printer was created two wears ago
and his salary was fixed at $4,000
year This salary is probably all
right. 1t requires a good business
head to run the state printing plant,
and doubtless there are country news
paper men in Kansas who make more
than that. But the Office does not re-
quire all of ones time. 1t is doubtful
if Kansas ever had state printer that
did not have other business to which
he gave great deal OF his attention.
But If $4,000 is fair salary for the
state printer, is it also a fair salary
for justices of the supreme courte The
supreme bench should attract the best
judicial talent in the state-and it does
do so. but more because of the honor
alta ched to it than because of the sal
airy. Most of the attorneys who have
gone on the supreme bench in recent
years have done so at a financial sac
rifice. Lawyers who were able to
make an annual income of $4,000 ten
years ago are making $4,000 and So
600 year now-perhaps more-but
the salaries of judicial officers have not
been increased at all.
II SoyOUV Is all I1&nL LOT the state
printer. is $4,000 enough for the at
torney general? Perhaps that would
be sufficient If the attorney generals
duties were simply to help county at
torneys in the supreme court ana to
pass on little questions OF law for
other officials; but in these days the
attorney general should be a man of
sufficient ability to go into the courts
and enforce the laws of the state
against the big corporations that pay
several times that salary to their at
torneys. Can the state expect to get a
man for $500 who can compete with
the $4,000 lawyers of the trusts-un-
less it be some unknown lawyer who
wishes to make a reputation?
Similar arguments might be made
with reference to state auditor, super
intendent of insurance. and other Of
hces.
On the other hand. there is no
dearth OF material with which to fill
the offices even at present salaries
The honor is sufficient to attract most
men, even those who have the ability
to make more money as private citi-
zens, and the fact that a public service.
well done. carries with 1t considerable