New Britain herald., 1923-12-13
CITY SALARIES

The December meeting of the com- mon council is the official time for presentation of requests or recom- mendations for salary increases. Mem- hers Of the common council will re- member that when such requests have come before that body during the year, the objection to considering them has been that the December meeting was the proper time for ac- ton on these matters, The December meeting is approaching; the requests will come, to bc referred to the salary committee. Of course, with subsequent action unon them.
 There IS no dissenting voice to the statement that it is a time for econo- my in city affairs That needs no em- phasis, The only remaining question is, therefore, how best to effect true economy. Certainly no member of the common council, or no taxpayer, believes that efficiency should be sacrificed. None believe that inius- tice should be done efficient and faith ful workers for the city The former, the matter of efficiency, is a practical affair. The latter is one of sentiment more or less. There are people, Of course, who would go farther in re- warding loyal service than would others. In this discussion tho practi- cal view is taken, eliminating the mat fer of sentiment altogether in spite Of the fact that practically all people feel that sentiment in some measure. But sentiment should be allowed to play no more important part in this matter than it does in private affairs.
 It would he a ridiculous thing were all people who employ a cook in tho household, for instance, to whom the duty Of buying food is entrusted be- cause the householder is too busy at outsde tasks to attend 10 if, to employ the cheapest help possible to obtain. Tho waste in buying would far more than make up for the saving in wages Or the inexperienced cook, even though doing no buying, is able to waste enough food in large house. hold to pay the difference in wage be- tween that given the inexperienced and that demanded by the experienc- ed Similarly in the great corporations The cheapest person, if placed in au- thority, becomes a great liability, ln- crease in salaries quite aside from any sentimental aspect. may indeed mean true economy. As an official or em- ploye becomes familiar with the work, countless ways present themselves for saving money to the city. This knowl- edge can not be passed on; the in- stances are too complex, the occasions foo individual
 + is believed that many members Of the council and possibly the efi- cient salary committees we have had, are too little inclined to give the pro- per weight to their own knowledge of the situation, thus looking askance at farorinp a salary increase because they wish honestly to do as their con- stituents would have them-snd their constituents usually oppose salary in- creases. It is for the benefit of the members or the council and salary committee who have the courage 10 do as they think proper in this matter that the statement is made that they, council member and salary committee members and the boards know better how to effect true economy than do We who have not the full knowledge possessed by them.
 There is no inconsistency in urging the policy Of economy and at the same time emphasizing the fact that refusal to sec the wisdom Of some salary in- creases is not always true economy in ]. the long run. But any increases made i must be granted only where economy ] Is the cause served.