The Cook County herald. [volume] (Grand Marais, Minn.) 1893-1909, 1907-02-23

Another commissioner suggested that
by combining the wages paid the janitor
with the extras paid to others for work
that the janitor ought to have done. the
amount might be sufficient to pay for
one mans whole time. Ithen requested
that the auditor give us list of the,
numerous extras, and it was found to
consist of just three items! One for 81.
another for $3.50, and third. for 80
cents, a grand total of $500! And yet,
forsooth, because of this paltry 81 it
was asked that we vote an extra $500
rs times the amount) to the new janl-
tor just elected, and it was done! the
writer being the only one voting in the
negatiye-tho the official minutes as
published do not Indicate that there
was any oppositioa-his contention be-
ing that the entire time of a man was
not required, nor even an average of
half of eight hours day.
No one questions Mr.. Nelson's right
to be an applicant for any position he
desires, but many question the propriety
of paying at the county's expense dou-
bic what another would do the same
work for and fail to see how CIVIC hon.
esty is subserved by this style of "con-
servative" business 'spolicy."
There are doubtless fifty, more or less,
persons in the county who would gladly
move to the county seat, if not already
residing there, to do the janitoF's duties
at less than the amount recently voted.
Quite number, representing at least
three different commissioner districts,
have already so expressed themselves.
In these republican days of pros
perity," the same prosperity should be
melted out to all the people. and not to
a limited coterie of favored ones only
# the county Is compelled by action of
the board to pay $500 for what it could
get done for $500, there is direct loss
OF the other $500. But if the board is
bound to make donations, more of a
spirit of fair play would be manifested by
donating like amount to each bona
fide settler in the county who has lived
here as long as either of the officers in
question, and by 80 doing has made it
possible to have county officers.
It every present county officer were to
disappear from this mundane sphere,
the settlers and taxpayers remaining, it
would be but a drop in the bucket and
only question of short time before a
new crop of officers would be on hand
again; but reverse the tables-remove
the taxpayers and settlers, leaving the
officers only, and the latter would die of
starvation. In other words, the officers
are to considerable extent leech upon
the body polite.
We IN Hovland make no pretense to
perfection in our alleged "over-zealous'
pursuit after so-called ''imaginary
wrongs" But 1t sometimes seems nee
essary for some to 60 to extremes, per-
haps, in order to arouse the many from
their seeming lethargy and bring up the
mean to somewhere near where 1t should
be. Vixen public conscience once be-
comes thoroly aroused things that are
now taken as matter Of course will not
be tolerated.
With the county running in debt to
the extent OF over $4,000 annually, it
would seem proper for some to become
over-zealous, if you please, in the inter-
ests of the greater number, to Offset the
zealousness displayed by the few in be-
half of the few, at the expense of the
many.
We recognize that the taxpayers have
a right, to be sure, to pay double wages
for supposed services rendered if ma.
jority so desire, but they also have a
right to know that they are dong so,
and what they are being compelled. by
the officials elected to serve them, to
pay tor.
All we ask for is the putting in prac-
tice of our honored President Roose-
velt's policy of square dealing-with
special privileges to none.
We of the First district have neither
the disposition nor desire to be captious
or resort to the use of sarcasm IN mat
ters that have to do with the public
veal, believing that the subject is broad
enough, and important enough for sober
consideration and discussion along the
line of the greatest good to the greatest
number; and wa believe that tendency
TO make light of such matters savors too
much of buffoonery to be countenanced
for moment by any fair minded person.
We regret there being any occasion
for controversy but we believe that the
people as a whole are entitled to know
what they are paying for and why. That
being done our responsibility ends, and
etch Individual must then act for him
self.