St. Johns review. (Saint Johns, Or.) 1904-current, 1909-03-05
COM M UNICATED.


siderable complaint about the siz,
Of the salaries paid the city officials
Some of the complainants claim that
st. Johns pays more money to run
its government than any other city
of It's size in the United States. II
this is true, It seems to me It is
something the citizens of this town
should feel proud of. II is a fine
I'd, ertisoment for n locality to have
a reputation for paying the highest
salaries in Uncle Sans dominion
hn,'her thing about It is that there
Is not another city in the United
States quite as good as st. Johns,
few II any as progressive and up-to.
dao. and very few, indeed, making
the progress this municipality is max.
ing. really do not see where any
of the officials are overpaid. The
small sum paid monthly to the coun.
cilmen and mayor is surely made
quate to recompense them for the
time spent in attending the sessions
of the council and the committee
work that deyolyes upon them. Ask
any OF the "kickers" II he would be
willing TO serve for less amount
and the invariable reply is that he
VI uld mot take the job at any price,
and yet he will kick because some
one else Is willing for the small pit
tance to take the abuse and com.
plants that are continually hurled
al the heads Of the councllmen In
almost any city. While In many Of
the old towns In the East council.
nl,n serve without any compensation,
yet II is a fact that they have little
10 DO. One meeting month is gen.
orally all that IL required, and there
is usually not enough work done 10
make a charge necesasry.
The city attorney surely IL not an
overpald individual For the same
work done for the city nm individual
would have TO pay at least four tmoi
as much ms the city pays. IL this
then .extortion7 One hundred do.iars
n month would not be an cxorbitant
sum for the city OF st. Johns TO pay It's
attorney. especially when there Ia
such vast amount Of legal business
TO bc transacted as now confronts
this official.
Tn, city recorder. with his $1,000
per annum aud 5000 additional for
office help. II not oyerburdcnod with
salary. There are very few profon.
sional men Of today who are willing
10 exchange their services for 800
pr month. The amount OF work |
done at the recorders office IN more
than most people imagine. aud Il
IN extremely doubtful II n good. con
sticniioua man could be secured for
nny less. n 40 he certainly must be-
playing IN very hard luck.
Tho city treasurer In certainly
worthy of his hire. His salary ol
s25 per month might. perhaps. pay
bis board. To properly attend To his
duties our city treasurer at this
stage Of the game cannot very well
v ork NJ something else In the gay.
limo aud attend to the duties of his
,ffico In the evenings. People want
% know whore to find him when they
,Pnt him. and ON salary OF S25 per
month he would necessarily have to
lliyate a Chinamans habits In
rider Il live from that alone.
The price paid the police Ii said
Q be high. II this IL 30. how are
ou going To set good men for lessl
The kicker would not have Il as
gift. II IL surely an unpleasant job
I best and good men for the work
IL hard To secure,
Taken altogether. cannot for the
ie OF mo see whore our city offio'
Is are getting exorbitant salaries
lr the amount OF work that they do.
he public schools have long since .
Dund that II does not pay TO have \
oorly paid instructors. aud cities A
the United states are be- II
Inning 10 find that this rule holds y
bod In regard To city affairs, II y
lere are any individuals who are n
llling To do the work for nothing n
I them please step forward. and II 81
ley are capable their chances for I!
elton are fine, Hut capable men y,
ant fun value for their labors. ana 6t
is only right that they should, The
borer should at all times be worthy u
his hire. The dollar of today viii
lly buy as much as fifty cents would ID
ny years ago, and men who We're
llling 10 do good work for nothing
g getting as scarce as hen teeth.
Fair +. ay.
BOD Cough Medicine for Children.
a. 4