Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1877-12-04

i'll Oue hcilSc lllslS illlCdHt anu tiiHlh5' IL
is the particles OF money which make up
the volume Of taxes and expenditures
as water-drops compose the ocean;
and there can be no retrenchment which
does not took after the almost innumerabIe
small payments which, added together, con-
stitute the sunl-total of expense. The great
est political philosopher yet produced by
the EngliSh-speaklng race taught and en-
phasiZed the truth that no craftsmanship is
sound which does not take care OF the mall
economies Of government. Moreover, the
taXing-power is limited to Well-de fined OBJ
iects. The government las neither the legal
nor moral right to draw from the taxpayer
any sum whatever beyond its just needs.
The ablest southern statesman OF the last
generation said: 81 hold that those who
make are entitled to what they make against
all the world except the government, and
against it except to the extent OF its legiti-
mate and constitutional wants and that for
the government to take one cent. more is
robbery" ...
But the facts are startling. which show
that the increased and unnecessary expenses
Of this government are such as cannot be
disguised by any sophistry or derision.
They are augean accommodations which may
not be allowed to continue with any just
regard for the purity or the efficiency OF
the government. Let the ordinary eX-
penses for the last eight years be compared
with the corresponding expenses before the
war. Leaving out OF the calculation all dis
bursemcnts on account Of free schools, and
the public debt, and all extraordinary
or temporary expenses, the remaining
ordinary expenses for the current sup"
port Of the government during the last
eight years have averaged Loss, 1860 an"
nuaIly. During the ten years ending With
the year 1860 inclusvely, the same ordinary
expenses were s5SS,236.37 annually. The
area Of the State was then more than third
larger, and its taxable values were almost
twice as great as they are now. And yet
the smaller and poorer State now cXpends
every year upon the current support OF it's
government $467,740.13 more than was
spent for precisely the same purpose
before the war, when Virginia -four
ished in the plenitude Of its wealth,
prosperity, and power. If the cost OF
governing the present comparatively small
and impoverished State be brought down
even to what the government OF the larger
and richer State cost before the war, the
saving will more than cover any possible
future deficiency IN respect TO the debt. IL
the cost Of the government be made to bear
the same relation to area, population, and re-
sources that it did before the war. then the
present annual revenues will suffice to pay
full interest on the debt, support the gov
eminent and the schools, and leave an an
nual surplus in the treasury OF some hum
dreds OF thousands OF dollars besides. Let
it be remembered, in this connection, that
municipal and county expenses, the latter
now including the salaries OF county Judges,
have also. is 4 general thing, been grle-
vously and enormously increased since the
war. When these facts are all considered,
and when it is proposed to lop Oft the whole
OF this increase Of taxes and burthens,
ask by what authority is the movement
charged to a false, narrow, or niggard
economy?
proceed to point out briefly some OF the
particular expenses which can and ought
to be cut down:
The accounting business Of the govern
mcnt has run into needless enlargement and
complication, and the capitol is oycrcroWd-
ed with unnecessary officials and employees.
II that business were conducted according
to the improved methods now very gene
rally adopted: ii it were made subject to
direct supervision and guarded against in
terruption and intrusion; il it were so re-
arranged and distributed as to neccssitatc
continuous labor on the part OF all en-
ployes throughout office hours, and il the
number OF hours were the same, or any
thing like the same, prescribed for public
and private business elsewhere, then it cam
not be doubted that half the official force at
the capitol would easily accomplish twice
the amount OF o1licc-w0rk now done.
Even the Government OF the United
States, with all lis alleged eXtravs-
gance and all its vast means, is said
to exact of its employees longer and more
continuous daily labor than is required
in like cases by this impoverished State. 1t
Is certain that trained and skilled clerks and
ether employees seek, in commercial and
other departments Of business, far more
laborious employment, which occupies
them, daily, almost or quite double the
number OF hours now actually given to
ofce-work at the capitol. The clerical bu-
sincss Of the government ought to be done
in the manner and at the cost fixed for cor
responding work by the fair competitors Of
private business. Some who are most cX-
.perenced and capable Of advising in such
matters affirm that if any commercial house
were to conduct All accounting business
equal to that OF the State at the same expense
Incurred by the State the result would be
swift and inevitable bankruptcy. An in
vestigation will also disclose the fact that
the perfect and symmetrical system OF checks
and balances which the founders Of the
government devised to guard the treasury
has been married by the interposition OF
official machinery which is not only need
less and expensive, but productive Of con-
fusion. But for this departure from the
original system, it is my opinion that such
q dcfalcation as that which occurred in 1878,
and which appears TO have gone on through
many months until its discovery in January,
1874, would never have been possible.
The task OF rectifying and retrenching
the official service OF the government is one
Of great responsibility and difficulty, and
it involves long and arduous labor. With
great Difference l suggest that the lcgisla-
tive sessions are SO crowded with multliari-
Gus and urgent matters that legislators can
not spare the time required Tor such an
undertaking. a special commission ought
to be carefully created With authority TO
employ the best experts and practically to
re0rganiZe the departments at the capitol.
Among other heavy burthcns on the trca-
slry which can at once be reduced are those
imposed by the penitcntialy and the lunatic
asyllms.
The crowded condition Of the peniten-
| tiary and its consequent cXpcnsvcncss are
| due to no increase OF crime among the pco-
pie but to the fault OF the law which ranks
as felonies such offences as ought to be pun
ished as misdcmcanors, summarily and in
cxpcnsively. L commend to your attention
| the bill matllrcd ut the last session OF the
| General Assembly which cmbodics partial
revision Of the criminal code.
| The lunatic asy,lms are encountered with
many cases OF seniIe IIInacv. These uninr.
tunate beings arc inoff"nslvc aud tractabc
| imbcciIcS, who ore known TO be incurable.
| 1t Is said that many OF tllcm have CompC,