Weekly Trinity journal., 1874-02-28
RETRENCHMENT AND REFORM.

last refuge ola scoundrel," " and not a ses-
sion of the Legislature passes but what
some brainless demagogues are to be
found, WHO endeavor to make for them
selves basis for future popularity by
singing the praises of "retrenchment and
REFORM" Unfortunately the vapid mouth
ings of this class of politicians generally
culminate in the advocacy Of measures,
which cool rejecting men reject as be-
ing pushed to the opposite extreme, and
liable to be productive Of greater injury
than benefit. In this manner the time is
employed in the discussion of buncombe
bills and resolutions which should have
been spent in useful legislation, and the
public interests suffer accordingly.
This year the retrenchment advocates
are sagaciously employed in demonstrat-
ing that the pay Of our State officers is
too great, and that it should be reduced
to correspond with the pay of State Off
GERS in other States of equal wealth and
population. We do not doubt but there
are auxiliaries to many Of the State Off
ces, established perhaps, through tavorit-
ism, that can well be dispensed with
The late scandal in reference to the State
Treasurer's office, in which that function
ary was accused Of retaining a portion of
the pay of one of the watchmen, shows
that the duty paid for could be perform
ed with one-half the assistance employed
offices and commissions can and should
be abolished, bpt, IN so doing, care should
be taken that the responsible positions Of
the State government should be worth
the acceptance Of men of honor and good
business capacity, The present salaries
of State officers other than the Governor,
range at 81, 900, or less, per annum, with
the exception of Justices of the Supreme
Court, who each receive salary of
$4,000. The amount may seem large,
bnt any lawyer whose legal abilities quail
ify him for the place, is, if engaged in pri
yate practice, in the receipt of an income
much greater than the salary, which in
come must, as matter Of course, be Civ
en- up if he retires from practice and
takes seat upon the Bench. The same
may be said in reference to the salaries of
State officers they are expected to be
responsible for the acts Of their subordin
ates they must themselves be men of
good business capacity they are requir
their offices, and if we expect to command
the services of men who come up to this
standard, the salary mus be at least ade-
quatc TO maintain themselves and famil-
les at the seat of government in a style
which comports with the dignity of
State official.
The expenses of the State Government
are mere bagatele compared with those
of the counties and municipalities. 1t is
to support these that the burden of taxa
ton is most heavily felt. But while time
is frittered away in the attempt to make
buncombe political capital, the affairs Of
the counties are neglected, and legislation
affecting their interests is rushed through
without being read, upon the assertion
that it is merely local MEASURE" and
by this means the legislature frequently
connives at measures increasing county
expenses. Politicians generally work to-
gether, and look out for their own inter-
ests while affecting to study those of the
the people. The county officers incum-
bent generally exercise great influence
in the nominating convention of the DOM
inant party and representative desr-
Gus of reelection finds it to his interest to
propitiate that influence to some extent,
by way of legislative favors. In this way
fees and salaries are kept up; county
debts do not diminish the rate of taxa
ton remains the same from year to year,
and such will continue to be the case un
til the legislature gives share of its at
tention to local legislation, instead of fol-
lowing its present plan of dispensing
with the reading of bill when its author
asserts that the measure is "purely To-
CAL" Retrenchment and reform must
begin with the counties, for there is where
it is most needed. Most of the older
counties of the mining region are over
burdened with debt, their population and
resources are diminishing year by year,
but brawlng politicions can make no po-
litical capital by investigating their af-
fairs compared with what they think is to
be made by opposing an appropriation of
a few hundred dollars for postage stamps,
or by moving to knock off portion of
the salary of a State officer. Let re-
trenchment and reform, like charity, be-
gin at home, and the people will say