Daily globe. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1878-1884, 1880-11-30
DIssArIsFIsD OFFIoEao1DERs.

A few days ago the GLoBE called attention
to the largely increased estimates of the sew
eral departments for the ensuing year over
1880, and expressed the fear that We were
about entering upon another reign of ex-
travaganoe. From a compilation of the re-
ports of all the bureaus and departments
save the treasury it seems that the total in.
crease demanded is little in excess of twenty
million dollars, the greater amount of which
is asked for increase of salaries and ad-
ditional help. The assistant secretary of the
interior is not satisfied with his salary of
thirty five hundred dollars year, and asks
that it be increased a thousand dollars. The
commissioner of the land Office wants a
similar addition to his stipend; the COM
missioner of Indian affairs regards his SER
vices as worth fifteen hundred dol
lars more than he is receiving; the COM
missioner of statistics six hundred; the
commissioner of patents thousand more;
the auditor of railroad accounts fourteen
hundred, and SO on in like proportion down
to the lowest clerk employed by the govern
ment. The Indian agents are not satisfied
with the liberal salaries they at present re-
ceive and what they can steal from the red
skins, and unanimously ask Uncle Sam to
give them more. So hungry horde of
oficeholders has never been seen since the
government was formed. Even the consul
lar service has made combined raid on the
treasury, she following being sample of
the whole:
To the consuls general at Paris and Shanghai
81, 900 each additional; to consuls at Buepos
Ayres, Brussels, Gibraltar, Honolulu, Kingston,
Canada. Leghorn, Malaga, Matanzas and Port
au Prince. 5000 each. and to the consul at
Panama, $400 additional, making total of
200. To send charge de qtaires to Greece
$4,000 is asked, and $1,000 is wanted in order
that twenty-five persons may be appointed to
represent the United States in as many foreign
places.
Though the country is reasonably prosper.
GUS at the present time, it cannot afford the
liberality towards its servants that seems to
be expected by them. They are all well
paid, receiving larger compensation in
proportion to the duties they perform than
they could earn in any othe walk of life
If they are dissati SIZED with their places they
can resign them. For every vacancy thus
created there would be at least hundred
applicants, each fully competent to discharge
the duties of the place. There would not
be the slightest danger of the interests of the
government suffering by the resignation of
any or all of those who are disconnected
with their present remuneration. They can
go at once, and the sooner the better, for
the woods are full of men who would be only
too glad to step into their shoes.
The appropriations for the next fiscal
year will be made by the present Congress,
which has Democratic majority in both
houses. 1t is not probable that that body
will consent to 80 large an increase of the
expenditures as is called for, but it is alto
gether likely that it will insist upon the
most rigid economy in all the departments.
The party cannot afford to signalize its de-
parture from power by adding to the appro-
priations that it has heretofore reduced to
the minimum. nor do we believe it will do so.
If any increase of the peoples burdens is to
be made, let the incoming Congress take
the responsibility. That it will do so
scarcely admits of a doubt, as the Republi-
can party has in the past achieved reputa.
ton for extravaganza that is the reverse of
savory. 49, -l