The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1879-12-06
superauOus Offices.

The Hagerstown Mea, Of November 18th
Publishes the following pertinent artielo:
No doubt members OF the Legislature arc
being pressed by application for pieces in that
body. Il has been so for some years past
aud will, we fear, be SO gov. One of the
abuses Of which the people righuully com
plain was the great number of superlluous and
useless employees in the Senate and House.
The idea seemed to prevail that as ahese
bodies could employ persons without limit as
TO humber, they should do il to CRAFTY the in.
diyidual applicants rather than serve the in.
terests Of the State bypraetieing economy and
discountenancing plRcemen. Accordingly we
have witnessed the most unseemly scramble
and contention for places. And such is the
elamor in the beginning Of the session that
members are hardly able TO attend TO their
legitimate Legislative duties. Ii is said that
al one time there we're so many employees
that they nearly equalled the number OF mem,
beers in both branches Of the Legislature.
la other words, instead Of running one
Legislature, we were, in fact, running two
-one elected by the people and the other
made by appointment Hence the large in.
crease Of expenses Of the Legislature. There
are several reasons for the existence oil
this evil and not one OF which, we affirm,
is entitled TO the respect Of an honest man.
Some members are prompted by motives oil
friendship, some by sympathy to give favor.
able consideration TO applicants, and some
again are influenced by political reasons.
They have their henchmen at home who have
on all occasions supported the interests of the
member, slbseryed his political projects aud
promoted his personal ambitions These
must be provided Tor, and the cheapest aud
easiest mode of provision is to put them upon
the State, in the shape of some pretended
employment. We take ii for granted that no
honest, disiuterosted or patriotic citizen will
undertake to say that any OF these motives OF
reasons are, ia themselves, sufficient TO put d
man in q place not required for the public
service. The service Of the State has nothing
whatever TO do with the qualification OF per
sonal friendship, sympathleS or political re-
wards The simple question for the member
is whether the necessities OF the State require
the service of any one, and il they certainly
do, then, within that line, personal reasons
may exert a legitimate influence, though not
at the sacrifice OF that far higher duty which
every one entrusted with an appointing power
owes to the State in securing us the para.
mount object capable, efficient and honest
officers to discharge public functions
We trust that members Of the Legislature
will set their faces against any effort to EN-.
ploy more persons than are absolutely requir.
ed Tor the Service. There is no more moral
right in members to billet friend upon the
treasury of the State than to billet him upon
his neighbours corn-crib. No one has the
| right to be pensioned upon the State, under
the pretense Of holding AN office. Ii there is
merit in the individual TO be pensioned, dis.
| close il in proper form and let it DO done by
the solemn act Of the Legislature, and let i
be called by its right name. No money should
ever be drawn from the Treasury on favor,
but only as prescribed by law and as required
for the public necessities. There is no ex,
cuso for the preparation of such wrongs and
none should be taken by the people. There
was an undisguised significance in the result
| Of the late election that must have impressed
| itself upon the members of the Legislature,
as it has most certainly done upon the body
Of the people. Could we but express the
hope that it was equally impressed upon all
who are disposed to apply for positions
/ Whilst, upon the one hand it is the highest
duty Of the members OF the Legislature to re.
fuse the employment of any one not required
for any service, il is upon the other, far from
honorable for any one to hold a place where
no service is rendered and where none is re.
quired, and at the same time receive pay fol
| il. Sinecures should have no place in free
governments, They are both the hane and
the antagonists of free instituliqns. The great
sentiment Of free institutions is the like OPP
portunities to all aud fayors to none.