The Ouachita telegraph. [volume] (Monroe, La.) 1865-1889, 1878-06-14

before any real reform and improve.
ment can be had. What Is that methou
Is the question for solution, and we
have. In this connection, suggestion |
to make to our readers. How, for In |
stance. would further severe reduc- |
tion In the salaries and emOluments |
of public officers do as an initial meas
ure /? Would that not he the removal
of at least one of the temptations which
induce men to neglect industrial en-
ployments (employments: which benefit
themselves and the community at
large I'm moral as we'll as an economical
and financial sense) and to devote
themselves to that occupation which
generally units, for any useful, profit
able and legitimate employment there
after those who have pursued it for
any length Of time. We mean the
pursuit of Office as a means of subsis-
tence. In many instances the mere
fact that man has held public Office
Is enough to exclude him thereafter
from commercial and business employ
ment, and this without any regard
whatever to his qualifications or per-
sonal character.
Recently we had occasion to examine
the salary lists of public officials in the
other States of the Union, and were
struck with the great disprOpOrtion
between them and the salaries allowed
in Louisiana. For instance, in the
State of Maine with population OF
7OO, 900 the salary of the Governor is
only $500 per annum that of the
Secretary of State, $500; that of the
Attorney General, $1,000 total in Maine
for these four offices, $1,000. And in
the State of Georgia with a population
| n. + I
the Governor receives a salary of only
the Treasurer, $1,000; the Attorney
General, $1,000 total in Georgia for
these four Offices, $1,000.
Now, in Louisiana, with popula-
ton of $50, OOO-a little exceeding that
of Maine-the Governor receives $1,000
per annum, and is allowed besides
contingent fund of SIC, 1000 (for which
he may not be required to account),
the Secretary of State receives $4,000,
the Treasurer 5000, the Attorney
General 5000 total, $31 900 for these
four offices, against $1,000 for the same
offices in Maine and $4,000 in Georgia.
Besides these allowances to the Gov
ernor of Louisiana, he is allowed a
private secretary whose salary is $4,000,
a clerk whose salary is $500, a messen-
6OA :" uNN50 o6aA<sAy 40 PVOV1 u pOASCA '" AOoO
salary is $500; making q grand total
for the Executive Department in Lou
isiana, including Secretary of State,
Treasurer and Attorney General, Of
$34, 500. Besides these officers, there |
is an Auditor in Louisiana with a sal |
ary of $4,000, and perhaps perquisites |
which are not included in the above |
The people of Louisiana,
therefore, pay nearly five times as
much, or 400 per cent. more than the |
people of Maine pay to persons hold
ing similar offices in that State, and |
nearly four times as much, or 800 per |
cent. more than the people of Georgia |
pay to persons holding similar offices |
and performing similar duties there. |
These are mere instances going to |
prove that there is room for a much
greater reduction in salaries of public
officers in Louisiana than that yet made
in 1877 and 1873 for certain officers.
One answer of these officials and
their friends to the argument in favor
of further reduction will be that the
cost of living is greater in Louisiana
than in Maine ana Georgia. Another
answer will be that there is much more
work done in the offices in Louisiana
above referred to. But we are inclined
to think such answers unsatisfactory.
There are many citizens of this State
as well qualified to hold these offices
as the present incumbents, who would
be glad to take them Mt one-half the
present salaries.
The expenditure in Louisiana prior
to the war for the salaries of the four
officers above-named was $4,000,
while the expenditure in 1873 for the
salaries and other emoluments of the
same officers, according to the appro-
priation bill passed by the Legislature,
is $3l 900.
Much more can be said on this SUBJ
ject, and other comparisons made which
may open the eyes of the people to the
extravaganza Of their governmental
administration, Notwithstanding re-
forms lately made in some directions.
We shall return to the subject in "A
subsequent issue of the paper.
A letter just received from III. G..
Goodwin, Esq, editor Of tho Colfax
Chronicle, says t'On Sunday night,
I'd inst, the courthouse ut this place
was entirely consumed by fire, and
evarvfhiner in II recnr13S s3oo<Is md