The New Orleans daily Democrat. [volume] (New Orleans, La.) 1877-1880, 1878-01-15
Cons stituti0nal Amendments Executive
Department

Thoughtful. observant men have long been
eonyinced that we are too much governed; The
machine is entirely too com plieated and by far
too expensive, I he official salaries are as d
general thing. too high, and we do not enough
regard iha honor Of holding important govern
mental offic g The Legislature meetitIp now
for the first time untrapmeled by O struggle
for it's own existence and for free government
is pltdgr d to carry out TO the utmost every
haze tio many idle consumers eaiing at The
public crib and producing nothing in tangible
conInod ties or In security to life and properly.
IL may not, theni be useless to suggest from
time to time such amendments as may be made
In the organic and statute law in the direction
Of economy as might be made without .detri-
ment to the people. Let us commence with the
highest. Is not the Governor paid more than
70 the pnv1Trdty Of our people warrants Eight
ut sl2oo. porter at 1920. and q contingent fund
besides. Is II large compensation.
In many states, richer and more populous
some $1,000. and In others $1,000 From fs55 10
1894 when we were rich and prosperous the
Governor got only 5000.
highest ambition, to be, ch.sen Governor by
the great r. M and j. bic people OF Louisiana There
est Integrity. The purest patriotism and the
most command Dg ability. The salary should
be not larger than will enable him to live de.
Gently in republican simplicity. Cheap as living
is in New Orleans salary Of 5000 would be
ample
Then we might dispense altogether with the
ONCE Oh lJSuenHnt t0V6rnDr. Let the Senate
choose it's own presiding officer. The labors Of
the Hoard Of Liauidatio happily are about fin
ished. Then the Li.utsnsnt Governor has moth
sixty days. He should only then be paid, like
the legislator, durl lDg the session. and IL we con
have biennial sessions ofthat body and get their
$500 for services for which We now pay 5000.
Under the old regime the Leutenant Govern
or was paid like tho Sneaker Of the House. only
during the SESSIONS of the LEGISLATURE.
What use have we for State Treasurer. nm
less we desire TO pay q pompouss. consequential.
ancient citizen to look wise and spend his time
with himl He keeps the States money in q
bank. Why not let the bank. which is chosen
the Auditors warran be cnecks ON the bank
whenever there are funds to the credit OF the
State? Let every collecting officer Of the Stare
deposit his collections directly with the bank.
to the credit Of the State and take a receipt Of
the cashier. The president and ca hier would
be as much and more Of n check on the Auditor
than the useless fgurehe nd called the Treasurer
has ever been or can ever be.
For this ancient fragrant luxury we are pay
s12.soo per year. to have the States money used
strncted. pretty expensive luxury, which is
neither useful nor ornamental. We are too
The Auditors Office would bear considerable
reduction without detriment to the public SER
vice. In 1855 his salary WAS $4,000. and he had
salary Of $1,000 chief clerk at $1,000 book keeper
at 5000, ASST tant book keeper at $1,000 two as
s1stant book-keepers at $500 each $4,000; q tax
roll clerk $780, register aud warrant clerk s1750,
and mes 4enger AID porter s72o: ,tal OF sls 77o
salaries. besides fees of office. when we are
poor and distressed. against 1000 to pay from
porous.
The greatest evil Of high salaries and high
taxation is that 1t Wifhdraws capital from pro-
ductive industry and 1t Is consumed unpro-
duntively. The measure Of the injury to the
community is not simply the amount taken
away. but the diminished production conse-
lapu pur1tt al tf
use in productive enterprises.
ICONOCLAST.