Milford chronicle., 1919-10-03
CIVIL SERVICE SALARIES

With the requests of policemen for higher salaries it is
easy to sympathize We might indeed say that it would
be difficult not to sympahize them "A fellow
ing said Garrick, makes wondrous kind" There
are few who in these days c. L. do not wish that
their incomes larger they not in fact urgently
need such increase We quite ready to concede more
over that the salaries of policemen have not in recent
years been advanced commensuratey with the wages of
most employees in industrial pursuits and that therefore
they are comparatively The same is to be said per
haps even more strongly of the pay other classes of
civil and municipal the Burleson regime
the pay Of posoce clerks and carriers has been
kept at minimum in many actually below the
governments estimate necessity As for school
teachers their salaries often those of street
sweepers and scrub
That is all wrong The employees of the nnbc sbou1d
be paid we'll those private employers That is de-
sable for the credit and honor state It is des
able in order that the may command and retain the
services o the most competent men not bel
compelled TO put up with the inefficient of weaklings
and wastres 1t is desirable in order the best service
may be secured from those who are EMPLOYED since few
men can be expected to do their under sense of
underpay and grievance Dissatisfaction never promotes
efficiency To what extent salaries should be increased
Is a question which be answered only after careful
That deserves such consideration prompt
y, is not think to be denied l.
One point too often ignored is, however to be taken
nto account That is the fxity of place which
public employees generally enjoy In that respect
mere IS radical difference between them and private
employees. The latter very largely subject to dis
nssa at any time at the caprice of their employers or
trough the vicisstudes of business In dull seasons men
re laid off In times of retrenchmen they are dropped
Vhen concern goes out of business absorbed or
employees lose their places In view of such
men naturally demand wages sufficient to
nabe them to save something fall upon in such
mergencies. T
In the public service however national state and munic-
'a such things do not The civil service law pro-
cts men from dismissal except adequate and proved
ause while the nature of the employment protects
lem from being laid off for other reasons There is no
Ill season in the public The police department s.
Id the posofice do not go out business Men and "
omen who do their work faithfully of permanent
nployment Moreover, they more coming ii
be assured OF some sort of pension upon retirement
hen they become superannuated or invalid Obviously
circumstances should taken into account in com 81
ring their salaries with those who in private employ
ent do not enjoy them They possible and pro-
mt for and to the public at little J
wer pay than they should have private employment
comparable rank fir
Perhaps most important point for present enforce
snt however is that in civil employees be
ed in impeding the processes of government or even I
neglect of duty of securing increase pay III
more favorable conditions of service private en-
ymen the right to work is ndsputabe though Is
there it is esteemed disgraceul to desert imperative
" in such way as would endanger life entail de-
uction of property; while more and more forcble in
ference with the conduct the business which has
n deserted is recognized unwarrantabe Certainly -
these principles prevail in private employment, they
st much more prevail in public service fremen to
ndon duty and leave the city conagration police hai
to desert their posts and surrender the city reign hal
crime, may not be punishable under the law but it Y
ely is moral lapse branding the perpetrators with col
II unhess ever again to be entrusted with such public
es while to attempt by any measure of coercion
vent others from filling the deserted places and thus
prevent the exercise Of the essential functions of gov
ment, is crime of the first magnitude-Harveys for
eky.