Manchester Democrat. [volume] (Manchester, Iowa) 1875-1930, 1909-12-08
AN HONEST OFFICE HOLDER.

They have found an honest man in
the city government Of New York.
And strange to say, he has been at
filiated with Tammany hall. H is
name is Jacinto Costa, which has
decidedly foreign sound and appear
filtated with Tammany hall. He is
one of the attorneys connected with
the city government and it is his
duty to pass on the legality of papers
that involve some eight millions Of
dollars yearly. This man noting an
attempt is 10 be made to cut down
expenses. suggests voluntarily that
his own salary be cut ten to fifteen
per cent. He believes that valuable
as his services may be, he is being
paid too much. He has observed tlN
ways of politics and the salaries tina,
are paid to favorites and has be-
come convinced that many men are
overpaid out of the public treasury.
His letter is so remarkable in itseN
that We are going to present it In
Its entirety, as curiosity in politi
cal literature as we'll as revela.
ton in political methods. Here it is:
Il observe that you are engaged in
the work of readjusting salaries, and
in this connection l beg to submit
my views, inasmuch as am an EN-.
ploye of the city, having held the
position of assistant corporation coun-
sci for twelve years.
u believe that my salary should be
reduced by from ten to fifteen per
cent. It is true that my duties may
be regarded as important, because
pass on the legality of matters in
volving more than eight millions of
dollars annually Of the city's money.
Il have never used political back
ing Of any kind. and possibly this
is the reason my salary is not higher
than it is, but have always felt
that merit and not pull is recognized
in the city service.
81 would suggest wholesale reduc.
ton in the various departments, not
of course, excluding your own office.
There are some Of your own appoint.
ees who am sure would stand for
substantial decreases.
1T is the general belief that there
are many employees of the city In
and out of the finance department
now receiving $4,000. $4,000, $500
$4,000 and upward who do not give
services which at a liberal appraisal
could be valued at one-tenth Of that
amount.
Il recognize that these men ran-
dsr valuable political and personal
services to the heads Of departments
and their political creators but they
should be paid out of sthe. trasauries
the political organizations instead o.
out of the city budgets.
Now, beg to assure, you that
not all of the city employees are
looking Ior financial advancement.
for one. stand Tor impariality to
those who are the Il neficiaries Of
fayoritisms as we'll as ito those who
are not. Perhaps some will decline t,
remain in the city service II their in,
comes are cut.
1T is generally conceded that the
city service could stand great deal
Eof pruning If it were done intelligent.
ly, and reduction Of from ten to
fifty per cent in the clerical and leg:
al force would not result in disaster
to the interests of the taxpayers"
One of the New York papers com.
menting on this remarkable docu.
ment says that the facts revealed
have been generally known. Hun.
dreds of places have been made for
political heelers and favorites and
the salaries that they have been
'paia have been based on poyiHc6|