Western Kansas world. [volume] (WaKeeney, Kan.) 1885-current, 1911-06-24

Paid Ten Years Ago
County salaries are based on county
population but they are not all regu-
lated by the same scale Ten years
ago the county attorney received a
total salary of $500 per year. 1t has
been gradually increased to $500.
This does not include any allowance
for assistant attorneys
Twelve years ago the county super
intendent of schools received $3.50
per year and was not allowed any
thing for visiting schools or for trav-
cling expenses. Now the salary is
1915 and an allowance of about S125
for visiting schools and travelling ex-
penses. The number of school dis
tricts and the number of teachers re-
quired have each increased about one
fifth. The salary has more than
doubled.
Ten years ago the county treasurer
was paid salary af 5000 and no al
lowance for clerk and deputy hire.
1t is now $1,000, including clerk and
deputy hire, and may be sl400.
Ten years ago the sheriff received a
salary of $500. II has been $500 for
several years and may now be as
much as $500.
Ten years ago the county clerk was
paid 5000 per year and no allowance
for clerk and deputy hire. Now the
total salary is about $500, including
county assessor, clerk and deputy
hire, etc. This does not include any
allowance for recording 90 typewrit-
ten pages of auditing company's re-
port.)
Ten years ago the clerk of the dis
trict court was allowed $500 per year.
That is all he gets now although the
law provides for better pay, and al
though more is paid in some counties
of smaller population than ours, and
although TTego county probably new
er had a more faithful clerk of the
court than it has at this time.
Ten years ago the Probate Judge
was allowed $500 per year and that is
all he is paid now. The law provides
for increased pay to keep pace, in a
measure, with the increase of work
and it is conceded that the office now
requires and receives twice the atten-
tiOn that was given it ten years ago
And for all that the salary has not
increased one cent, directly or indi-
rectly. Larger salaries are allowed
Probate Judges in some counties hav-
ing smaller population than ours.
Not one of these officers is receiv.
ing one cent more than a faithful
and efficient public servant should be
paid, and some of them are getting
much less.
The population of Trego county
has almost doubled in the last ter
years; the valuation has more than
trebled; rents have doubled; the cost
of living has doubled; in most cases
the wages paid for ordinary labor
have just about doubled; the work OF
all county offices has been largely in
creased or even doubled in some cas-
es. In some cases the salaries have
doubled and in some there has beer
no increase. The cases do not cor.
respond.
Why should there be so much diff
ference in these salaries? More
pointedly, why should the difference
be continually increasing? Why
should some salaries be doubled
while one or two others are singled
out and held down to the old figure
of ten years ago - the bread and wat
er basis of today? Can any fair mind
ed man Justify this discrimination?
The law itself is very unjust anG
unreasonable discrimination is not
wholly the fault of the law.
No doubt as the community grows
older and more populous the pay Of
public officers should be increased
For their services in the year 190t
three county commissioners allowed
themselves $231.1O. For their servic
es in the year 1910 three county com
miSSioners allowed themselves $451. 40
A. S. Peacock.