Tazewell Republican. [volume] (Tazewell, Va.) 1892-1919, 1909-10-21
ment Tin one gross item for each year,
as follows:
Increase over
previous year.
Total increase forpast five

Total increase for,past five
| years. ...... ......... SIPS, 971 %
Average yearly increase
for past five years - s 25, 1874. 25
The Governor undertakes to Justify
the deduction of the increase in salaries
of judges and the expense of the Cor
pOratlon Commission by the claim that
the former was occRsioned by the
change IN the judicial system, aud the
latter by the creation of the Corcora-
ton Commission. But as the revenue
to apply against these items has been
included in the receipts by the Auditor.
be properly includes the full amounts
paid for these departments as expendi-
lures. The Governor contends that the
increase IN salaries is justified by the
increase in revenues. The only correct
method by which 10 ascertain the in
crease In the salaries of officers of the
government is, therefore, to determine
Whether the revenue has increased in
proportion TO the increase in salaries.
This result will show whether the Gov
ernor's assertion is we'll founded. His
figures show that the revenue has
largely increased, it is true. His state
ments also exhibit an enormous increase
IN expenditures The Auditors reports
show that the revenue for 1898 amount
ed to $5.526, GIG 43, while the expendi-
lures amounted to So, 7S6 0IS 10. show
ing an excess over and above receipts
of $3.50. 402 q for the year 1908 The
increase in revenue for 1908 over that
OF 1903 is fraction over fifty per cent.
The increase in salaries of officers of
the Government for 1908 over 1903. is a
fraction over one hundred per cent Is
the Governors assumption well found
ed? Undoubtedly, as he says, both in
tegrity and wisdom are required to ad-
minister the affairs Of the government
The public can readily determine what
measure of administrative wisdom and
skill the fore going exhibit displays.
The Governors failure TO commend this
vital feature of the situation is worthy
OF at least honorable M ntiOn.
Here are few items of increased ex-
penditures in recent years, not men,
toned by the Governor, and picked out
at random:
Governors secretary increased from
$1,000 90 to Sc, 000.0D
Governrr's assistant secretarg from
$4,000 to $l20000
Chairman # Board of Fisheries (now
Com'r of Fisheries) increased from,
$1,000. 90 To $500 90 >"
Secretary Of Ruard of Fisheries in
cress d from $1,000. 90 t" $4,000
Board Fisheries. salaries, expense and
boats increased from $40, 700 70 S55. 600.
Officers and directors penitcntiary
from $Sl72 n to $12 $50.
Guards "enitentiary from $27, FOL 40
TO 500, $50 90.
Superintendent: publjc instruction
from 81, coo To $500 %
Clerk to Superih' endsnt Public In
stTnction from 81, 800 10 81, 800 90.
Police and empIo, eos capital square.
governors mansion ard library from
$40, 377 81 to $40. $50 70.
TEACHERS sALARIEs
The GaveEnor says that under the ad-
ministration of the Republicans the
State was unable to pay the teachers.
He also compares the salaries of teach
era for the year 1883 with those foF
1873: Evidently he overlooked Superin-
tendent Aggleston's official renort on
this subject In which he says: 1T is
hard enough that teachers in Virginia
have to be paid such low salaries. That
they should be required to wait for
weeks, and sometimes months, fo-
their small wages. and that in some in
STANCES they have to discount their war
rants, is disgraceful condition of affairs
that should be remedied in some way"
The Governors comparison Of salar-
les of teachers shows how progressive
the Democratic party really is. Ac-
cofding to his figures, it has taken the
Democrats twenty-five years to advance
the salary of male teachers less than
hundred dollars q year. and that of the
female teachers about half that amount.
Perhaps the party policy in regard to
the school system Is better illustrated
by the attitude of its leaders towards
the salary of the Superintendent of pub
lie instruction which in about three
years has been increased $500. % a
year from $4,000 to $3,5O0 OOl. Al
similar rate of progress is noted in the
salary of one Of his clerks an increase
Of thousand dollars year in the same
period. There is vast difference be-
tween the modest teacher, who devotes