New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1875-02-13
FEES AND EMOLUMENTS.

1
people, we demand official compensate
to be fixed at business rates. Upon whs
meat can any Cesar feed which elevate
him from clerkship, shyster practict
OF curbstone brokership, one year to
Brussels carpet, doorkeeper and salar
Of thousands payable on his own wal
rant" in the next We wish til
Office holder to be paid-wen paid-bu
the people can not at this time consent t
the rapid accumulation Of fortunes a
their expense. When we say this W
mean it as to all Offices, without regard t,
party or location.
It seems that the arc Of reform ha
fallen impartially upon State and city of
ficials. Scarcely were the yells of tn,
Democratic officers whose perouisite,
were amputated heard before the sam,
heroic and impartial surgery is applied tt
Republican officials of the State. Tht
Governor. subscribes a liberal patron
age; he exhorts the Legislature to make
the rule absolute and to spare no reform
from the idea that it will hurt him or bis
party.
The Legislature applies the rule to the
State Auditor. It provides that certain
perquisites, estimated in detail at eight
thousand dollars per annum, have been
enjoyed by that officer, SO they propose to
give instead a sum which excels the net
average compensation of our best bust
ness men, and amputate the perquisios,
which in many cases exceed the principal
salary. We make no disclaimer of per-
sonal prejudice in advocating these re-
forms without respect to persons, because
we feel more friendship for the Repub-
lican party and the success Of it's prin-
ciples than for any individual whatever.
Reform of all salaried abuses is, in our
opinion, indispensable to the predomi-
nancy of Republican principles. The
princely revenues Of the city Offices and
administration is, in our opinion, the
motive for Democratic agitation, as it
furnishes the chief means of Democratic
success. We would cut their official per-
quisites down because the business of the
people can not support them, but we can
not in justice cut these down without at
the same time applying the same rule to
the patronage and salaries of the State.
Hence we adopt the words Of Senator
Cage: SIN matters of this kind, which he
regarded in the true line of reform, he
did not know the Auditor or any other
man holding public position"
We would prefer an inclusive law, COM
pretending and classifying all officers ac-
cording to services and salaries, but we
are agreed to accept any that we can get
N detail. We are concerned to observe
lilatory motions, and to find Senator
Burch disposed to drop back on the
preaching in these measures and insisting
hat the Auditor is personally impugned
n the reduction of the official compensa-
ion Of his Office. We have no doubt this
'ffcer can defend himself upon any charge
# official misconduct before an appropri-
tie tribunal, but this affords no such &C.
aston. Whether the Auditor has been
blame for the enactment or receipt of |
he perquisites of his Office has nothing at |
II to do with the repeal of all such per-
uisites. So there need be no post
onement of action on the bill for |
hat reason. We must again remind
representatives. that the fury of discon-
INT, and lawless violence is by no means
xtinct in this community, and that to
eparate the Reformers from the Demo-
rats the Republican Legislature must
i've substantial reform. This alone will
lssolve the present conglomerate COM
nation and leave the Republicans the
'ntrol Of the public policy of the State.
lore people believe in the principles of
lie Republican party than of any other
.rty. If game can be won by fair
ay, what is the use of practicing or per-
itting to be practiced any trickery?
Withdraw the complaints of official
'use, and the sinews of political war
om our opponents, and the larger part
them quit the concern and go to work,
aving the imputent malcontents to pro- {
st against principles which they can
yer overthrow. We do not like the t
ennial fight Of Representatives and c
icials from the parishes to this city for t
election under the federal military. The t
'publicans Of this city have full enough r
do to protect the State organiza ton. q
is important that these ele- 2
'nts of ambition, of discomfort, p
d Of popular impoverishment, L
ould be taket out of the contest. The b
ople Of this city are oppressed by heavy 6
alton and assessment, they pay enorm- C
) sheriffs fees, clerks fees, and fright F
amount of official exactions. These Il
pire the Democratic candidates, and "
nish the Democratic campaign fund. a.
these burdens are attributed to the it
publican State government, and it is c,
purpose that every tub shall stand fo
It's own bottom, and each party stand ce
ponsible for its own errors. Ii