The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1869-03-27
what's Retrenchmen, and r. Rprorm9


and Reform, " and the ostensibe duty of which
is TO seek perpetually for reformation Of the
existing abuses at the Capitol. What suoh a
committee is tolerated for in such place is a
hidden mystery; and II it showed the least
symptom of carrying into effect the object OF
its creation, we feel sure it would speedily be
abolished. AS it is, it is found a pleasant
recreation to have a buryiug ground in
which to inter the various buncombs measures
of reform which public policy required should
be from time to time introduced. 1t would
never do TO defeat them; so il they are in
reality an improvement, they can be safely
killed by reference. Now the COMMITTEE
on Retrenchment and Reform" have been
eogitSting an entire session over the salaries
OF public officers and the expenses Of govern
mept, and as the public complaint has become
q little too strong to be treated with contempt,
have made report. We published synop
sis of it yesterday in our later editions, and
from it we are enabled to judge of the nature
OF the reform proposed. The mountain has
been laboripg and has brought forth mouse.
The report OF the committee, after cutting out
glittsring generalities which mean nothing,
amounts simply to this:-The salaries OF the
various public officers ought to be cut
down. "All right /" say the people. "Thst
sounds ike reform, and deserves considers-
ton" Now what public officers are provided
for in this bill ''Ths richest, of course" say
ths people. Not at all. Poor ignorant, men
You know nothing OF the way reforms are
conducted at Harrisburg, II you suppose the
influential are to be reached. IL is The clerks
and messengers of the various departments that are
to be reduced. Clerks who now work for
whole year for $500 are to get $500; those
who get $500, after having been in the ser
vios for years, are now to get $1,000 per
annum; while the $1,000 ones are TO
get $1,000. So also with the messsn-
gers. Men who devote all the year to
faithful service are to get 500 in place
OF 5000. This is the great REFORM, This ia
the cardinal measure which General Harry
White has been favoriDg for several months
The richest Offices are not touched. The fees
of the State Treasurer are not put into the
State Treasury. The salaries Of the members
of the State Legislature are not cut down in
proportion. Net at all. They are only made
"permanent." The hangers-on around the
halls of legislation are not to b. trimmed od,
as they richly deserve. This pssters and
folders are not to 60 uncompensate1. a
change is recommended in regard TO lsgisls.
tive appropriations, but It Ia not ioond In the
bill as reported. 1t is only the worst paid
subordnates who are affected.
Now let US look at the result Of this great
f'reform," 1t ia said It will save S20, OGJ per
annum. II will do no such thing. /. will, =.
the most liberal estimate, not amount 70
Sl2 900 year. Now let US look At soms Of
those other slight leaks which arc not stopped
by the committee in their report, aud, after
looking at these, we will leave 1t 70 our rsadsrs
whether the retrsnchment report does not take
in at the spiggot and let out at the bung -hols,"
as homely adage has 1t. What were ths ez
penses of the two houses Of the Legislature
last yeari The Senate spent, az tho Auditor
Generals report shows, Sll9, TO 05; the House
spent s233, ,454'51. Total legislative expenses,
1858. .224.56 What does the committee OF
General White say to these fgures' Ia there no
room for reform herel Can't more be saved
than by cutting down poorly-paid clerkSl In
three months the Legislature spend 1853, 900.
At that rate the annual expenses would bs
81. .4O0, 900. Why not begin at home, Mr.
Billingfelt, and save here? Let as look a.
the items of these fabulous figures. The mem
bers get $1,000 each. The report of the com
mittee recommends the continuance Of their
nav at that fgure. This would be $4,000 year,
for they receive $1,000 for three months ser.
yios. -Four thousand dollars a year to
each member! For whai Misrepresenting
their constituents, passing bad laws, and de-
fsating or neglecting good ones Yet $1,000
is TOO much FOR a faithful aud honest clerk II
reform don't mean buncombe, let the $1,000
bs cut down to $500. That would be saving
SG2, 900 year, and be just reduction Again,
ths miieqge TO the Senators last year was $3J47
snd 10 the members $73Os, total $lO, s55. As
every man of them rides on free pass, and
don't spend one cent for travel, We think that
this sum could bs dispensed with. la fact, il
practical retIsDchMsnt IL meant, let the mem
bsrs commence a. the beginning and not at
ths sBd. The 600 year saved by cutting
of tbs messenger, who has large family and
works all the year, is not the reduction the
DsOpls demand. No one wants an att&che TO
work for L 81 than fair compensation, and the
popular sentiment will not encourage such re
tam" AZ this. II they are going 10 make re-
sgetiegz, cut of the pastors and folders, the
lesssJs and lssehss who surround the Capitol,