Daily national Democrat., 1860-02-18
Consolidation.

a good deal has been said, pro. and con .
concerning the report submitted to the meet
ing, last Wednesday evening, 10y the commit
tee appointed at a previous meeting to take
into consideration the question Of consolida-
ting our city and county governments. BY
one Of our contemporaries, the report seems to
be viewed with marked disiavor, and argu-
ment. are adduced hostile toward it. 1t seems
to Us that, before giving any weight what
ever to attacks upon the report, the people
she uld first carefully read that document for
themselves and judge Of its objects by its
own language, showings and figures, instead
of accepting as the positions of the committee
the bare statements of those opposed to the
system of reduction contemplated. Although
their positions may not lie misrepresented,
they are still unaccomponied by the very
forcible arguments and exhibits which sustain
them, and Which have been adduced and ar
ranged at the expense of much close investi
CATION and patient arduous labor, With a
view of giving the masses Of the people an
opportunity to carefully examine this report
and judge for themselves Of its merits, ne
present it in full in to-doy's issue
We need not, We think, urge oar fellow
citizens to give their attention 10 this highly
important subject, for it is question which
will naturally force itself upon the considera-
ton of every intelligent man among us So
far as mere noise and buster are concerned,
the office holders seem to take a more decided
interest in the matter at present, than any
other class of citizens. With the instinct of
the swellow (no play upon the swallowing
propensities Of officials which feels the first
breath Of the storm while yet the sky is clear,
and hastens to his distant shelter under the
caves, the holders Of office are ever quicl; to
catch the first pulsation Of movement which
may sweep from under their feet the very
comfortable ground upon which they stand
| But the fears of office holders have nothing
to do with the sutiect The people must de-
tern.iue for themselves the simple question
whether they will continue to pay the euor.
nous taxes which now Cypress them or
whether they will reduce their burdens. The
matter rests with them Nobody desires to
take any snaP.judgment upon them. The
Consolidation Committee which makes this
report, is constituted of men of all parties,
and it is therefore impossible that there can
be any partisan character, whatever about
the movement.
While the county is being run in debt and
taxation as onerous as it is, this is no time for
suPineness on the part of the people. Even
as we write on this very question of the re
duction of expenses, bill is pending IN the
legislature which has Cor its object an in
crease, as We are informed, of the fees Of the
Tax Collector in this county. When it is re
membered that the net profits Of that office
legitimately earned too, amounted the last
term, TO nine thousand dollars, the propriety
of increasing the fees attached TO it must GER
tainly look little dubious. The people
should begin, we think to understand that
the Object Of electing men to office is not to
make rich men out of them, but TO carry Oh
the government, as it should be, and a fair
compensation is all that they are entitled to.
a reduction of official salaries and fees.
both in the city and county offices, is Ger
tainly advisable.