The Empire County argus., 1856-05-03
What Has Been Donet

What Has Been Done.
During the last campaign. when the American
party for the first time in California put forward
complete ticket for State officers, two of its earliest
and most constant watchwords were Retrench-
ment!" and - Reform!' The State had been
borne down and impoverished by horde of cast
of politicians from the East, who had battened on
the public Treasury ever since the organization of
the State government, and retrenchment of the
yearly expenses of administering the government
became necessary, as the only means of saving the
State from bankruptcy and the citizens from oner-
Gus taxation. To this end reform was demanded
in the mode of putting rulers over u.s. 1t had
only been necessary with persons aspiring to place
to show that they had done something to advance
the the interests of the Democratic party to which
was given all the glory and honor. One man was
better qualified for Office than another only as he
knew more tricks, voted oftener, and worked hard
er on election day. With these recommendations
at his back nomination was easily obtained, and
elections were matters of form. Once in
Office, surrounded by others who had attained to
position by virtue Of like merits, and all having
about them host of parasites and being in league
with the Administration at Washington and the
Administration agents at San Francisco these Cal
zfornia officials had so long been sucking the life
blood of the State, and had come to feel so secure
An their places, that they snapped their fingers at
the interests of the public, and rioted on the public
money
The people demanded reform, and retrenchment,
and, organizing under the American banner,
pushed their demands to consummaton, and
now the question occurs, hat has been done! -
Three hundred and .ffy-three thousand, eight hun
dred and thirysir dollars, saved the State in the
expenses for this year, compared with those of
Hast year The State Tribune gives compilation
of figures from the Controllers books, comprising
every item of expense for 1885, and appropriations,
contracts, &C.. for 1S56-and striking a balance,
we find difference for year, against Democrat
ic and in favor of American rule, of $3.50, ,S36 06
We extract from the Tribune the following re-
captulation of its figures. We would like to give
the entire article, but it is very lengthy and our
space is limited:
RECAPIruLATIoN.
Expenses of Government, 1886. 1921 o6
1886. S35765 90
Less this year than last. .............s 353, ,s36 O6
We will now show hoW this immense amount of
money saved
In the report of the Controller and from an ex-
animation of the Controllers books, we find the
following amounts were expended for the legislative
session of 1855
Pay and mileage of Lieutenant Governor and
Pay and mileage of Assemblymen. 1885 20
Total l........................... .slS9,578 40
Officers and Clerks of Senate ......s sc, ,945 90
Officers and Clerks of Assembly ........ 6S'73I 90
Total OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES. 25,G76 90
Contingents of Senate and Assembly $50 200 IS
Postage 10 Post Office, special appropriation 2262 26
POSTAGE to Wells Fargo Co., special appro'
Pii"'loh 33l7 80
Total ........:.:..:.......... .S64, $50 23
Grand total expenses of the Legislature for the
year 1000 S3S0,029 SO
1t will be seen that we note the sum of $3.50 65
paid to the Post Office and Wells, Fargo Co. for
postage. The other amounts paid for the enor-
nous postage expenses of the session of 1865 were
paid from the contingent fund.- except IS, 1888, ap-
proprlated this year to Wells, Fargo & Co., for ex-
pressagc of last year, making in ALL the princely
sum of Sl7, ,oO3. IA paid Wells Fargo Co. in one
year.
All postage this year paid from the contin-
gent fund. We take from the Controllers books
the following amounts which have been paid on
account of the legislative session of 1856, and we
add to it the sums to be paid to the clerks and SER
geants-at-arms for services yet to be rendered. and
we guarantee that the amounts will not vary but
trite with the report that the Controller will make
to the next legislature
Session 1856.
ray ana mileage of Lieutenant Governor and
49, 4O,J3O ~
Pay and mileage of Asselnblymen ....... 1l269 40
Total sl5s, ,62l so
Officers and Clerks of Senate. ..... $50 419 90
Officers and Clerks of Assembly ....... 49, 20e co
Aotai $50. .62S
Contiugents of Senate and Assembly s3s s67 70 |
Grand total for Legislature of 1856 . s265 40 %
REHABILITATION.
Expenses of Senate for 1880 $50, ,e8s 20
1000 45,930 90
Saving this year. ar....................sl sl07os 90
Expenses of Assembly for 1855 1892 9S5 20
1856. 6.............. 12,69l 40
saving 'hs year. S20,243 50 |
Expenses OF officers and clerks for 1856 Sl25 66 90
1886. ..... 65,62S 90
Saving this ysar.,..t. .,........,.. SEQ o4s 90