New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1870-01-21
P1TRICK,S PROGRAuME.

We must yield to Patrick of Chemung the
palm of present excellence in the art MADE
great by Talleyrand, of using words TO con-
ceal ideas. When the Legislature assembled,
Patrick like all the colleagues of his political
complexion, was confronted by most serious
difficulty. The Democrats were, OF course,
obliged to increase the salaries OF the oinces
they had gained by fraud but as tney hau
loudly promised retrenchnIent IN pupllc ex-
penditures they were reduced to the extremity
of getting their steaings in the stealthy man
ner adopted by sneak thieves. Patrick was
equal TO the occasion.
The filching scheme that fell to him to
father was reported to the Associated Pfess as
a bill providing for additional compensation 10
the deputies, clerks and assistants III the
State Department" but the real purpose OF
the bill was to extend the welcome additions
TO the same officials Z" in the various Depart
"ments of The State Government" which we
need hardly remark is an entirely different
thing. The bill provides for an advance OF 80
per cent on all salaries of $1,000 and under, OF
% per cent on all over $1,000 and under
$4,000, and of 10 per cent on all over the last
named amount Never was law more
adroitly framed to conceal its true effect.
Patrick. knowing the clOuding power OF de-
tails provides in his first section Tor an army
of employees in the offices of the Secretary OF
State. Controller, Treasurer, Clerk OF the
Court of Appeals, Attorney General, De-
partment of Public Instruction, State Engineer
and Surveyor, Insurance Department, Librarians
and assistants, Janitors in the State Library,
Private Secretary of the Governor, and Clerks
and Messengers in the Executive Department,
Secretary and Assistant Secretary OF the Re
gents of the University, Curator OF the State
Cabinet of Natural History, and Superlntend-
ents of the Capitol, State Hall, and State
Geological Hall. Having named these myriads
of needy Democrats, Patrick achieves his
masterpiece by naming $4,000 as appropriated
from the general fund to pay the advances
thereby creating the impression that the JOB Is
not so very bad after all. But, bless you, Pat
rick has barely opened his programme as yet.
He next draws upon the Canal fund without
limitation to pay the same increase to all
commissioners, appraisers, and clerks whomso-
ever. Aud Patrick, being aware that all laws
must be impartial and general to be just, next
filches from the fund appropriated for military
purposes for the benefit of all assistants, clerks,
messengers and janitors in anywise employed
in any of the offices of the Adjntant- General,
Inspector General, Quartermaster General, Pay
master-General Surgeon General, or Commits
sary-General
This bill, which was heralded through the
State as providing additional compensation tor
employees of the State Department, Is the hrst
fruits of the Democratic victory. Introduced
on the 18th. it has been pushed with such UNI
ceasing vigor that it has been favorably re-
ported from the Committee Of Ways and
Means and ordered to a third reading in the
Assembly. Patrick has done his best to con-
ceal the true effect of his project, but we have
some fears that the people who placed his
party in power will have some little difficulty
in comprehending his programme as re-
trenchment measure and may be forced to
consider it as decisive triumph OF Democratic
predilectiOns over Democratic promises.