The Louisiana Democrat. [volume] (Alexandria, La.) 1845-1918, 1876-10-04
,IGW gHs, PEOPLES MONEY GOE>,

Nothing tells the story fthe waste
and prohigate expenditure Of our
Radical State Government so forcibly
as figures. ghe millions that have
been os.ensibly appropriated to Rail
roads and Leyees, and T. host Of mo-
nopolies are 40 large as to stagger BE-
lief snd would be received with IN
credulity in any other time than the
present, when Che public mind has De-
come accustomed to such disclosures.
The following is an exhibit o. lie" u
the ordinary expenses of running
the government; the domestic oi'is 80
TOO speak, showing the reckless e<
rayagance of the Legislature and the
shameless cupidity of the executive
officers. The figures and items are
.aken from the general appropriation
Bill OF 1875:
SALARY of Governor -. ....,. Seooo
g. a. Cov,s Private Sec'tY 2500
:, s. f.,v.ruor,s Clerk 1000
Is 20 Asst Clerk TO Governor 1900
j." " Cor. Clerk tOGOvernor lo00
(" 4" Two Messengers in Gov
ernor's office =. 1900
Contingent tx, lenses of Governor 10000
s27 900
This monstrous expenditure, not
less dlsgraceful to the Governor who
could approve the Bill and consume
the appropriation, then to the Lesis-
lature that sanctioned il, is not need
ell for the dispatch of the business OF
the Governors office. Nos even an
extraordinary emergency, such as OF
Cured in 1861, would require so
arye clerical force. One half this
amount would he amply sufficient for
Nil pu poses. But as usual with
ho.,irs that are seized by some sud
lien impulse and proceed to action
without reflection, the last LeglSla
lure. making q grant, coup for econo
NV, reduced the Governors salary
twenty-five Ter cent, thus scaling the
nn.y item that ought to have beer
un,ourhel. If $40 of the superHu
nus lexis had been dispensed with
II large amount would be saved, ant
that could done without constl Il
+ .,,al amen tln,nl. which ever! maj
Z. vii! vote against who reflects mo
men! III out it. To have quietly am
frriivel, reduced the annual apPro
priation. tl,lrt, eigh, hundred dol
'' lars for two idle clerks would no
have been such an Gd cdptandun
t .trnke rs to reduce the Governor
u >alarv TWO thousand dollars, an
" therefore the latter was lone, not fo
" economy (for what is that pittanre
t" hut for political effect. There ar
) periois WHEN the public mind is in
II condition to be fooled ny charlatanr,
s. Comparison with She annual es
IT prl,ses of other manifestations wi
u hest score to exhibit the needles
IL waste of the present. Take 1866
~ the year of Gov. Moorp'a inausur
V ton. These items are frorr The gel
J" y al Appropriations Bill of that sea
T. end contain sser% dollar $hat WI
D. ,x,mR,le4 4or the E&ewusiae Offs
IL Salary of GoYernoa $40
n {" Cows Privasa Secretary y
{. Governors sIrssengpE. 3
:! t'ontingcns expresses n3 Ei0s@Tsr 30
q --4-e-
>; Sl05
- The same aaXoi9,isaab demands a
h, made ny each "a sie subordinate !
=, icere in the State gnsarnmenF, al
~ he same ready compianr& IL q
~, served on Ehe part ofthe Legialatul
ii for he il observed the Const suit
&, nn's provides toa and fixes she sal
J., rieS of these Officers. 1T ia q was'
M iui, improvidrnt and 2erkless Leg
NO tature shat ex,pnls much more tn
these salaries for clerks and cont
49,. gents. Whas are lhe arpwpriatio
h. nf All, for the Secretary " Sta
~, whose lahors cannos ne greater NJ
h, 'han fifteen years agoa
Salary of Secretary of State $50