The Montgomery advertiser., 1907-01-25
LETTERS TO THE EDITOR
Equalizing Salaries |.
Editor The Advertiser:

Editor The Advertiser. No more important or deserving measure has been introduced in the Legislature than the resolution by MT. Wolf raising committee to inVes- ttgate salaries with view 10 fairness and equalization At recent sessions bills raising salaries have been passed through agencies which the beneficiar- les happened fortunately to command at the time. It might have n oeen tn, m and interests equally deserving were never considered When 8 portion or those employed in the public service son with others. discontent and perhaps inefficieney follow. True, the discon- tented have the option to resign, put their successors, as soon as familiar with the facts, would have the same discrimination of which to. complain. Equal rights to all. special privileges to none." is a wholesome principle, ana should be applied at far as practicaple. No attempt to approach an equitable basis for salaries has been>smade. The merit system has rsceived scant atten7 tion. The methodS pursued have par taken too little of public investigatlon des.do al private or political pull. It is to be hoped that the comrnitte will be appointed and that 1t Will arrlYe l those who may have a snapAneed fear anything So far as those whose tune and energies are absorbed by the pup | lie service are concerneo, the lncrSas- us. ] ed cost of living justifies raise. That was one reason assigned for increasing 1 the salaries of Supreme Court judges. It applies to other public workers, the same as to the judges. Fairness.
 The Tag Tax.
 Editor The Advertiser:
 I notice in Fridays paper that bill l has been introduced to appropriate the guano tag tax to the. general school fund. This is step in the right dl- rection. step that should have been | taken when the tag tax was first lev fed. But the bill should be so amend ed that this fund might go to the rural l schools and not to the general school l fund.- for it is the farmer from whom l this tax is levied, and 1t is nothing l more than justice and equity that the l farmers children receive the eNcIu- sive benefit of it.
 It is not\in harmony with a govern 1 ment for the people, by the\ people, | and of the people, to put a special tax | on an article that is used by one class | of our citizens, and let those who, by their occupations do not have to use this article and. therefore, escape this tax, share equally it's benefits with l those who have it to pay Especially | is this so when the article taxed Is as necessary as guano
 I think our lawmakers should do this much for the farmers, for in all his trying times the plea for ''protec- l ton haS never 1dlIen rom ms IDS . l During the oppressive times when the l products of his labor had scarcely any value on the markets, and his home was beiNg swept away, he did not fill our legislative halls with lobbyists asking for special fayors." Not only has he not done this but on the other hand has been slow to even ask for his rights. And to give him this mon ey would be no special favor" but simply returning to him what is just lY his and his only.
 For the past eight years have taught the rural school and know of a fact that the tag tax given exclu- sively to the rural schools would serve 1 a great purpose, as 1t could be used to | hire an assistant for the one-teacher l school, during the fullest part Of ses- 1 sion and thus enable the teacher to 1 make his work more thorough--to give | value received instead of hurrying over | his work in order ito get around" I hope our Iegislat0rs will view this matter in the light of justice, equity | and the golden rule and give the tag taxto the rural schools.
 Respectfully,
 J. W. Steely.
 Hartford Ala, Jan. 21, 1907
 | (While The Advertiser publishes the above, it must repeat a former state- ment that 1t is not responsible for po- sitions taken in letters to which 1t gives publicity)