Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1878-01-04
STATE ECONOMY.

Now that our Legislature has convened we
trust that i, viii have wisdom enough to de-
vise and put in execution some scheme which
will give the people relief from the large
amouns of taxes yearly levied TO defrav State
and county expenses. There is widespread
sentiment that the incidents of our govern
ment are too costly; that 1t is good machine,
but requires too much money to keep 1t in
operation, and the work 1t does scarcely pays
for the capital invested.
Craftsmanship is not clustering storm upon
the floors of either house, lashing itself into
but 1t is constant, faithful and studious at
tention TO the public veal never rushing blind
~ into any scheme of legislation but giving
it mature, deliberate consideration until
every word is thoroughly analy zed and is dis
covered whether il will be detrimental or ben
eicial to the public interest. The legislator
sustains fiduciary relationship to the public
which has trusted to bis wisdom and confided
its welfare to hts hands. And it Is not the
only breach of this confidence to willfuly pass
injurious enactments, but IT is also breach to
permit them TO pass through an absence OF at
teniion to them. The public interest now de-
mands decrease of State expenses, that taxi
alton may be proporiienate to the financial
condition of the people. They not only re-
quire that the many nnwise and indiscreet
laws, such ms we now have for the punishment
Of criminals, shall be altered, but that the
public officers who are absolutely necessary
shall serve the State at tho least possible ex-
pense, and that all snecures and useless Of
ficials shall be discharged. II Is a notorious
fact that many officials are paid considerably
more for li.te service TO the State than they
could get from any any other employer for
twice the work. Because the money that pays
them comes out of the pocket of the public,
that is no reason why they should be paid
more than the same services would earn from
a private individual. Our State officials are
remunerated nearly as well as those OF the
general government, receiving from two to
three times as much as the same class of indi-
viduals earn in private enterprises.
A young lady obtains a situation in the
Treasury Department, works from nine until
three and passes the remainder of the evening
pfomenading Pennsylvania avenue, following
the changes of fashion and adorned with its
costliest decorations and glittering with jew
elry like constellation of stars. In the evening
she grumbles until bedtime about the in
adequacy of salary, which is not less than
nine nor more than fifteen hundred dollars,
to furnish her decent support, while the
ps0s seamstress, Frequently her equal in edu-
cation and often her superior in morals and
geniiity. drops her piiifnl dollar day in the
pocket of her calico dress and is as cheerful
and happy as n millionaire. Just SO 1t is with
the clerks under our State government, they
receive from two to three times as much as
clerk in store who does twice the labor.
Our Legislature should see that this evil is
corrected, that public officials should be paid
npon the same principles as private employees,
and vast amount of expense would be lifted
from the shoulders of the people.