New-York tribune., 1882-09-30
nrv0cPACy AND "PLlCENEN. y

The Democracy Of this State Is stefl Y
oppoScd to Il horde of useless and IDLE place
men, 1t says Just that in the platform which
il adopted at Syracuse-a platform filled to
Overlooking with the loyeliest OF ailirmatlons
the most promising of promises.
We'll. d" horde of useless and idle placemen"
is one of the worst sort OF hordcs that state
can suffer from. But what sort OF d
record has the Democratic party OF New ork
in regard to placemen record which Is
consistent with and gives point to its platform
protest against barnacles or record which
turns the protest into 50 much sounding and
very brazen brass In 1879 the Republicans
were i'm the majority in both branches Of the
Ieoislature One Of their number introduced
bill. which was passed, permanently cutting
down the salaries of legislative officers and
clerks. This measure effected an annual say
ng of $4,000. While it was still in COM
u,ittce. the chairman of Ways and Means, with
n view of eflecting further saving, addressed
letter to each one OF the State officers inquir-
ing what reduction could be made i'll their re-
spective departments, either by reducing the
number of clerks or other employees or by
reducing the compensation paid them Note
the replies to this letter. Lucus Robinson, the
Democratic Governor, the expenses of whose
oflice amounted to S2S, 900 year. responded
that no reduction either in the number of en-
ployes or in salaries could properly be made
Allen c. Beach, the Democratic Secretary Of
State the expenses of whose Office amounted t.
500 800 year, wrote to the Assembly COM
mittee that in his judgment no reduction
could he made in his department without detri-
"ment to the State, either by reducing the
number of employees OF by diminishing their
Salaries" Frederick Z. Olcott, the Dem
ocratc Controller, the expenses Of whose
Office amounted to S34 80 year, made no
answer But as no reduction was made, either
in salaries or in the number of the employees,
i'm his department. it is fair to presume
that Mr.. Ocott said ditto to Mr.. Beach.
james Mackin, the Democratic Treasurer,
the expenses of whose Office amounted to
SIG. 600 n year, reported: " 1t does not seem
desirable to make any reduction IN the pres
"cnt number of employees or in the amounts
appropriated last year for the use of this
"oiicen Augustus SchOonmaker, the Dem
ocIatlc Attorney General, the expenses of
whose Office amounted to $4,000 year, re-
ported In my Judgment no reduction can
wisely be made i'll this department, either in
'the number OF employees or their compensa-
"tion" loratio Seymour. jr., the Democratic
State Engineer and Surveyor, the expenses
of whose Office amounted to $4,000 year
reported IL cannot rec Ommend any reduc-
ton, either in the force or the salaries paid"
This chapter of recent Democratic history
makes klndling wood of "the useless and idle
paccmen plank of the Syracuse platform.
| 1t reveals the Democracy of this State, through
such leading representatives rs Robinson,
Beach, Olcott and the rest, whom we have
| called to the witness stand, as resisting the
attempt of Republican Legislature to re-
duce the number OF "pacemen " in the de-
Dariments at Albany. a homely old provcrb
declares that liars ought to have good mem
orics. Gentlemen who engage in the delicate
aud difficult wo k of making platforms for Dem
Ocratic conventions also ought 20 have good
memories. Failing to possess them, they sub
nit and secure the passage of resolutions
which, while admirable in themselves, subject
the party to ridlcule by inviting attention to
the fact that what it has done gives the lie cir
cumstantial to what it resolves. The spectacle
of political organization which, when it last
| had control OF the executive departments OF