The Express.
London, England, 1850-01-22 00:00:00

REFORM OF COUNTY EXPENDITURE.

The Wills Standard, a conservative paper, says,
under date Cirencester, Monday Jan. "At the Glouces-
tenhire Sessions, which commerced on Tuesday last, the
long anticipated scheme of a reduction in the county expen-
diture was brought to a denouement. The depression so
sensibly felt by the agricultural int 'a the county, com-
pelled them to reek a reduction in tittle liabilities. The
general expenditure of the county was beyond their reach,
except in conjunction with a movement of all the ratepayers
in the kingdom, and they naturally took the most immediate
and quickest steps to • partial rens' ; they locked with
jealousy on the increased and still increasing items of the
county expenditure. At the lest sessions, Mr. Beale Brown,
of Salpenon, wisely nggested that, as corn was retiuthel in
price, and the other nen:series of life would follow in an
equal ratio, that the salaries of all public officers, should be
reduced, we believe, 10 per cent. Mr. Hopkinson, of Edge-
worth, improved upon this suggestion, and the result was
that a committee was appointed to examine in detail the
sources of expenditure, and to report on each the amount
which might be saved with the least injury to the mainte-
nance of the peace and efficient conduct of county affairs.
At these sessions the report of that committee was submitted
to the magistrates assemoled. The attendance was large,
and afforded efficieat proof of the sympatby which exists be-
tween the rate-paying classes and the magistracy. The mat-
ter was well weighed, and we think the decision arrived at
was such as must ensure • general concurrence. The inability
of the rate.payen to meet the demands on their profits, was
the moving cause of the jewelry, and the resolution arrived
at, after mature discussion, was to reduce the salaries of the
county officers, on salaries above 501. and below 1001 , 5 per
cent., and 15 per cent on those above 2001. Tae prison
dietary was also subject I. a revision. This was necessary,
for in the distressed state of our own neighbourhood, and the
agricultural districts generally, the liberal allowance made
in prisons, to malelactow, wars reward to vice, at the expense
of virtue. The reword of meretricious conduct was not pu-
nishment, as the felon was better cared for, and supplied with
the good things of this world, than was the hard woe king,
honest labourer. The spiritual wants of the inhabitants of
the gaol, we hope, will not be interfered with by the dismis-
sal of the assistant chaplain, as it has been ascertained that
' the chaplain himself will be able efficiently to fulfil the duties
of the office. Toe salary of the county treasurer is also to be
reduced from 1501. to not. per annum. The tees to the clerk
of the peace of the county were also reduced. Wi.h regard
to the reduction in the numbers of the police, much was said
large body of the force
wfour anctscegnatrainekt.d
where they would be slays ready tor sudden emergency in
litnaCpplieearlteednhatheli,tbanng a central position,
' any other portion of the county. That the police force is
too numerous in the county, no one, we presume, would ven-
ture to assert, nor was it asserted. The assertion was, that
they are more numerous than we are able to pay for, and
therefore " we can diatoms fifty men, with but trifling, et any,
reduction in its efficiency." This reduction would have
effected • saving (12,4041 fie. 4d. That this amount would
have been • great boon to the rate-payers there can be no
doubt, and Mr. Hopkineen and the gentlemen of the commit-
tee would have been much lauded could they have succeeded
in effecting it. The suggestion of the Earl of Ellenborough
was also good, and fur ourselves we think one halt ut the ex-
pauses should be paid by the state. The agricultural interest
in the present instance are maintaining men to kegs the
peace and protect the property of all classes. The landholder
receives his dividends, and with these in his pockets he struts
about, paying but • teitle in comparison with the man who
rents a few acres of land, and, as Mr. Cobden says, land can-
not run away, but the property of the monied men may be
abstracted by the felon whom the police are paid to secure.
The one-halt, at least, of the police force should be undoubt-
edly paid from the gen int tuud. The nstgestion ter the
reduction of the salary of the chief constable, was "*lttihad,
cabined, and confined" to 3001. out of .1101. per swum.
This exception wee just, on the principle that the forage only
applied to "costa out of pocket;" but it should be borne in
mind that the forage money in the first instance allowed to
Mr. Letroy was 1901. per year, and that that sum was increased
to 2501., as it was then considered izsetticient. Since that
cheaper, so that we do not see just cause for 2501. of the
period railways have rendered travelling expenses much
salary being free while 3001. of it is mulcted in the forfeit of
15 per cent. The inhabitants of the minety have just cause
to be thankful to Mr. llupktu.oo seed the geutloneu of the
committee who co- permed wits& him in this matter, and
though the result et this movement has fur the present not
be. n so succeitful as might be wished, yet it points in the
right direction, and if the suggestion thrown out by the Earl
of Ellenborough be telloweg up with equal vigour, all may
yet be—for the best."