The Daily clarion. [volume] (Jackson, Miss.) 1866-1888, 1875-01-12

For the present, and until the State has
become rich and prosperous, let all sala-
ries and public expenditures be graded
not according to the merits and capacl,
ties of officials, but be reduced and
graded to the lowest possible scale com
patible with the efficiency OF most
rigid economy Of administration suited 10
the extreme poverty of the people.
Throughout the whole State the QUERY
against this oppression of excessive taxa
ton and still greater waste OF eApendl-
ture becomes louder and deeper every
day, and it comes increasing III volume
and significant emphasis OF tone and ex-
preston from citizens Of all classes and
conditions. All fear the approaching
ruin. and all suffer from this common OPP
Dresssion-the difference being only III
degree.
With regard to possibilities for re-
trenchmeut and reform, We quote and
commend to the careful consideration OF
all the official opinion of Gov. Ames, as
follows: There are opportunities for
curtailment in every branch Of the gov
eminent (Message on Finance, Session
IA, page 81
We ask the earnest attention Of your
honorable body to the following par
ticulars in which by proper legislation
very large sums may be saved.
HE PUBLIC PRINTING, by the gross
ness OF its excuses, amounts to public
robbery. We submit that such Is the
prac ical result whatever may be the
motive on which the extraordinary sys-
tenn is tolerated. Let examples be cited
in evidence.
For the five years next preceding the
first OF January, 1861, the average cos'
of printing for the State did not exceed
5000 per annun.
For the five wears commencing witt
the fiscal year 1870, the average cost O
the printing for the State has exceeded
S73, 900 each year, being an average ex
cess each year on the former Of $50, 900
This enormous increase in the cost 0
public printing cannot be attributed t.
increased expense OF performing the pub
lie work, nor TO the large increase in tn
number of our citizens, for the like cor
ditions exist in Mississippi and Georgia
and yet the recent report Of the Comp
tr0lIer-General Of Georgia shows that tn
average cost of the public printing i
that State, for the years 1872 and 1877
did not exceed SO, 000 Mark the cor
trast according to the above average
The cost Of the public printing for in
poverished Mississippi for those two year
was overnight times greater than the cos
Of the same work done in the same yea
for the State Of GeGrgi ia !
/, ~ = 9
Legislature contain vast amount &
matter utterly worthless to the public an
their enormous bulk, with supplement
added, might well cause the inquiry, VIII
were they gotten up in that bulky torn
if not to swell the profits of the publ
printer? We cite for the contrast tw
examples, and any one may verify tn
figures in our State Library. In tn
year 1886 the journals OF the two house
contained together 1853 pages. In til
year 1878 the journals contain t0getht
1898 pages that is more than five time
the number Of pages contained in thos
two journals for the year 1896. Thos
journals contain in full every little repo
that certain bill do pass or do not pas
and thus they are swelled with ma
OF useless matter. Doubtless the emo
nous difference in the cost for publ
printing in Mississippi and Georgia aris
from the fact that our journals are thu
bl0ated with useless matter, and also tn
official reports are printed and charge
for more than once, and in part becau
OF eXOrbitant rates allowed t. our Sta
Printer.
The remedy for these gross abuses al
waste of expenditure is plain. Let Il
Journals be greatly reduced in bulk so
to contain no matter not useful to Il
public in legislative Journal. Requi
the official reports to be so reduced
bulk as to contain only essential matter
and those to be stated in brietest intel
gibie terms. Diminish both numbers al
quantities. Let no document be printt
and paid for more than once, ard redu
10 moderate rates the prices for publ
printing. Apply like rules Of econon
and justice to the people to the publ
printing Of counties, cities and towns
In this connection it is proper to cs
special attention to the District Printil
Bill, which was publicly advocated upC
the plea, most extraordinary in a fir
government, that it is both just al
proper to tax the general public to ST
tain party newspapers. In the case
public sales, and in many others, t
chief value of newspaper pubIicati
consists in the fact that it gives notice
the people of the particular county
which tho ala ntc io TO l,o ,,,oJo