The Massachusetts spy, and Worcester County advertiser. [volume] ([Worcester, Mass.]) 1825-1831, 1831-03-23

by the jackson papers concerning the expendi-
ures OF this State, the Boston Patriot contains
an interesting article, from which we have
room only to make the following extract
STATE EXPENDITURES.
L have examined the printed documents of
the Legislature, to ascertain whether there
Is any ground for complaint. | found the ex-
pendltures Of the las: year, which were, from
peculiar circumstances, ian increase of Repre-
sentation, &c.) unusually large, TO have been
S33O, 44O,2S. OF the above amount $S5, Il9,
were for the compensation of the Counsellors,
Senators and Representatives, and SOS 900 for
the support of State Paupers 1t is well known,
although often kept out of sight, that the Gov
ernor has repeatedly urged upon the Legsla-
ture, the Importance of reducing the represen-
tatlon In the House of Representatives, the ex-
pense of which was last year $75,805. The
whole expense of the Legislature of Maine is
about $4,000, and that of New Hampshire
$4,000 per year. The difficulty of reducing
this enormous expenditure is inherent in the
case itself. The people themselves, through
their representatives, have not been able to
agree upon a plan which shall promote the
desirable object. The small towns adhere to
their privilege of being represented as corpo-
rations, and so long as they do, it seems to me
but fair to state, however, that the members o
the Legislature from large towns, have always
been ready and among the foremost to endeav
or to compromise conflicting views on this sub
! ject. 1t must be obvious, that the obstacles to
retrenchment in this particular do not exist in
! the Executive
| The payments to towns for support Of State
panpers are enormous, it will be allowed But
would the people be satisfied with repeal of
the Laws on this subject they were re-
pealed the burden would fall upon towns very
unequslly. During the last FIVE years, the fol-
lowing sums have been paid to the respective
towns mentioned, from which it will appear
how unequal the burden would have been had
we no State law to provide for their support ::
Cambridge $l7,349,l3 Charlestown S22
80; Roxbury $2457 ,33; Boston So, 97S, 81 :;
Middlebor6' $43l0 Scituate only $3.50; East
Bridgewater $ll06,35.; Northampton $685.
40; Troy $22,25, &c. Had there been no
law to allow payments to be made to the towns
for the support of alien paupers, Boston would
have saved an expense Of $4,000 which would
have teen thrown upon the country towns in
which the paupers might happen to live. The
tendency of the present law doubtless is to pro-
vide an asylum for the poor and thus to dimin-
ish crime. No other State, however, has such
law. If we should deduct the sum of S6S, 900
disbursed to those who bear the burden, and
reduce the expense ofthe legislature to $4,000
! a saving of State expenditures would beimade
of Sll3,0O0 annually, but the burdens of t01cnS
would be increased as above stated. Deduct
this saving from our whole expenditure of last
year, and the balance would be 1913, 440,28.
! The amount Of the Bank Tax and the Tax on
Sales at Auction were 1921 $40, AS; more than
sufficient TO have betrayed all the expenses of
the government Were this reduction made,
Boston rrould pcy more than one half the ez-
penSes Of the Government.
Another fact will dissipate the delusion on
this subject In most of the States, Judges
and Registers of Probate and County Attornes
are paid in fees by the people. In this State
they take no fees, but are paid from the State
treasury. The avs to provide for this mode
OF payment were in fact to promote retrench-
ment, to reduce and make certain tho compen-
sation of officers, and to prevent the taking of
Illegal fees; and yet this mode of payment in
creases the State expenditures, while it dimin-
lshes the burthens of the people.
This State pays upwards OF $4,000 annually
: to Agricultural Societies to be distributed in
premiums for the benefit Of the Mechanic Arts
and Agriculture, This too is provision moi
found in the laws of some States whose expens
es are compared with ours; and notwithstand-
ing the money goes into the hands of the Work.
ing Men oftho community, it seems to increase
; the amount of State expenditures and to swell
the clamor of the demagogues who wish tc
ride into Office upon any hobby whatever
The sum of $4,000 was appropriated last
year to pay for the completion of the new
State Prison, temporary expense, and one
which will be ultimately repaid in the better
management ofthat Institution, in consequence
fthe acknowledged improvements which have
been made in it. An appropriation of $50, 00C
was made TO erect the Lunatic Hospital TO re
lleve toocnS from the support of Lunatics who
are poor. S520o,33 was paid for the support o.
Deaf and Dumb persons at the Hartford Asy.
, lum, and $lOl7,64 for the support of the Asy
lum for the Blind Will any man in the com
munity raise his voice against these expend
lures for the humane purpose of relieving thC
, poor and INDECENT who are pressed with a com
plication of msfortunes? l might 90 on Il
expose the fallacy of other statements, but
!. have said enough, trust, to satisfy any reason
able mind.
ought also to notice the fact that last veal
tiue quarters salary were paid TO many officers
who had received but three quarters in 1899, in
consequence of their being no meeting of The
Governor and Council in December, of 1929
This contributed to swell the expenses of the
, last year.
Mr.. Editor, wish every Working Man in
the community would look into this subject
There never was at any moment of time les.
cause of complaint on this subject than at the
present The amendment to the Constitution
passed by the present Legislature and to be
submitted TO the people, the bills to fix the
salaries of Sheriffs and Clerks, and tho bill ia
transfer the criminal business of the Supreme
Court to the Court of Common Pleas. which
will make great-saving in -oftenet -eleasine
the gaols, will diminish the expenditures of the
State and of the people to an amount from
$4,000 to $4,000 annually.
/ desplse can't can value law which
abolishes unequal, exorbitant and unjust fees
paid by the people directly to public officers
even though it may make an array ofigures in
the State expenditures. There is common
sense view of this subject which the people will
take and decide correctly and honestly.
NATIONAL EXPENDITURES.