The emigrant aid journal of Minnesota. [volume] (Nininger City, Minn. Terr. [i.e. Minn.]) 1856-1858, 1858-01-20

pruning Dia0KS lOr AuuI'
tors Office 10 90
7. N. Nevson, Territorial printing LAG 20
j. r. Brown, {" 1873 90
Thomas Foster, Owens l. Moore do. do. 1889 90
Combs l. Brother, furnishing stationery for
A.. W. Tullis. Sheriff. Ramsey County 29O ~
j. Prince. Deputy " 800 o.
j. w. Heath, for warrant, No. II returned 8 W
ture ,lS 90
Van Hamm. stationery for Treasurer's Office 90
Total s23, 732 IS
The FIRST item that strikes our attention is the Attor.
ney Generals bill. The disproportion between his salary
and his extra services is great. The first is but $3.50
the last $l,l73 10. We would like to see a bill Of par.
ticulars for the extra services. If the Attorney Gen.
erals services are extensive he should have a salary pro-
portionate. If not, he should have no fixed salary at
ell. If he is paid a salary for wearing the dignity Of
the Office and doing nothing, and well paid besides for
all his extra services We would for one object to the
arrangement.
We would ask in the second place who the 'Commis-
sioners Of Emigration are, to whom 1915 is awarded
for one quarters salary. We have heard that some such
officer is to be found in the city Of New York,-but wha.
his duties are we know not. We certainly do know tina,
We have never in any way heard Of any advantage be-
ing derived to the Territory by his existence. The Ter.
ri:ory needs no such assistants. Men of intelligence
and means End their way here Of themselves, and paup
ers we do not want. 1t is time that all such extraordi.
nary causes of outlay should be abated. Fifteen hun
dred dollars a year can be saved by the abolition of this
Office, and the interests Of the Territory served to that
amount.
We have also q total sum Of nearly $500 expended
in the translation of the Governor Message into differ.
ent languages. This we consider an unnecessary outlay,
and more a matter of qualification to his Excellenc,
than Of advantage to the State. The language Of
this country is the English, and to this all ~emigrants
should be taught sooner or later to conform. The re.
tention Of different languages in the community, and
their recognition by our Legislatures can only tend to es.
tablish lines Of difference among our people, who should
be a. one. Moreover where large bodies of foreigners
exist in our State they have their own newspapers into
which any important public document finds its way
When our finances are, as they are now, embarrassed,
every species Of unnecessary outlay should be Topped off:
We are struck by the recital of sums of money paid
for the public printing. This sums up an enormous
total; $l4,590 expended in one year for printing! That
sum it seems to us would buy out al the printing Offices
in 81. Paul. The celebrated J. r. Brown gets about
one half Of the amount. We would much like to have
some information As to the details Of all this outlay. 1t
will be noticed that the bills for printing make up near.
ly tpo-shirds Of the sum total Of the amounts drawn
upon the Treasurer for the year. If this is an unneces-
sary leak in our financial Golfer it should be stopped at
once. 1t is certainly an enormous one.
The Treasures Report shows . rather crippled state
Of the public affairs. It must be recollected that the
above sum Of $2s ,722.45 vas not the amount pail GU,
BY, but the sum .drasss on the Treasurer. The real
amount paid out was %, 7s7 ~, leaving . balance due
on these drafts Of "a, 1885 lS. Besides this it seems
that the Treasurer sold the Bonds of the State to the
amount Of 5000 with interest at the rate Of 20 per
cent per snuum to defray the expenses Of the extra
session Of the Legisls,urej which sum makes with the
former amount . total Of 81 1886 Is owing by the State.
VI this amount $6, 100 comes due in May next. Add
to this sum Of ST. 1856. Is the expenses Of the present
session Of the Legislature and the printing bill for the
year, mako the drss $e,ooe, and the second $l4, 600,
and We have a total, Independent Of the salaries Of the
different Offices Of government, and other contingent ex.
penses Of ! 7,3S5.lS. Apportion the salaries and CON-
tingent expenses upso the basis Of the statement Of
drafts for this year, making IN aggregate of s., $50 81,
which added e the former amount makes a total of
$54,025.l5. s,sss5, 5 a..
It INST likewise b rec~ollected that hitherto We have
been in q state .. .~upilags or wsrdship and the United
States has paid many Of our earea'es' soen IS '"e 'a'.'
r'es OF our Governor, our Judges of the Supp" eour.'
&c. Now. however, in addition to oil the foregoing vast
accumulation Of indebtedness we will have to foot the
salaries Of that numerous list Of officers we lately elected.
This will add It least $4,000 more to the amount above
I-.-As.->1 = - -. = -
close Of tho present year Of at least I $4,000.
What have We to pay this with? The seAo1e amount
rece'oed BY he 7srrifory from sares during The year
1857 'oa' $S.746! We may therefore calculate upon
perhaps $S,746 at the end Of 1858 to pay an accumula-
ted debt Of $4,000.
In view Of this state Of our finances there are two
things to b looked to. First, strict economy in the sd.
ninistration Of the Government. Every unnecessary out.
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