The state rights democrat. [volume] (Albany, Linn County, Oregon) 1865-1900, 1883-04-27
msaE EvlarxcEs Or ExraAsAsAscr.


low indignant the people were some
1ears since over the needless and
use OF public funds In
he Offics Of attorney general OF the
United States, and especially because
OF the fact that the then attorney gene
eral. Geo. H. Williams, had provided
himself with q landaulet at public
expense.
It was hoped and believed at that
tlme, that the crlticlsms indulged In
SO unsparinaly by the press and the
people would teach these people In
the department Of justice to reform
the manner Of conducting the affairs
Of the department In an economical
way and according 10 law and justice.
But from reading the report OF the
attorney general for 1882. we find
much food for reflection. It appears
they disregard these words of disap-
prevail from the people, but continue
to expand the fnnds Of the public Ia
the most extravagant and authorized
way. . ua Sa
II was intended by our forehthers,
when establishing our government,
that Il should DO siImple Ia ell Its
workings. That Il should be cheap
and economical. That It's working
should be 50 plain as TO be understood
by ell citizens, high or low, rich or
poor. That Its expenses should be as
closely guarded and eurtaIled as those
of well regulated business enter
prise. But, alas, how far have we
departed from these wholesome FIRST
principles. Il would appear from
reading this report that not only the
officials themselves, but their subor-
dInatas and families must have many
ef theIppersonal and private expenses
paid from the funds Of the public. as
an example: For the year ending
July 1st, 1882, the department was
charged and paid for s425 ear tickets.
During the same time department
carriage was kept with q driver at an
annual salary of$72o, besides Items
Of horse hire almost beyond number.
Now the attorney general and his
assistants receive salaries ranging from
$4,000 to 5000 per year, while thc
clerks in the department receive frem
5000 to $4,000 per year. Nov il g
clerk Of the department should see ft ia
take Q street car ride to attend some
show or theater, we think be should
ray for bis ticket as an ordinary mortal
would have to do, especially in view oI
che fact that be Is the recipient Of 8
large salary from the government.
There is no more reason for paying
Tor car tickets than there would be In
paying for shaving and sbAmpOOing.
We End in this interesting report
that for the two years ending July lst
1882, the department was charged and
paid for washing 5000 towels. Now,
the people want the attorney genera
and bis suberdinates to appear in theil
person neat and clean, but .he unso'
Phisticated ordinary mortal will thinl
it should be done at their own expense
and not at the expense Of the govern
ment. While they want to SEQ thes'
officials cleanly as to their person, they
ara more anxious 10 see them. cleanly a
TO their conscience and official integrity
We find also the following charged Il
and paid for by the department:
| Hair brushes, many items Of ordinar.
washing soap, several charges 70
alcohol, lprohibitienists, take notice,
and then charges for the bottles tha
contained it, numerous charges of bors
hire, clerks daily exercise evidently.
We find these items "0ne stiff ha
for driver $4O0." Combination knif
for driver s2.75." "RubOer Coach
4
mans coat $3.50. A number of charge
for lard and soda, etc, etc.
| It viii be hard TO understand wb.
the government should pay for hal
knife, or coat for this eeachman wbe
be receives regular monthly salary q
$4,000.
When We look upon these evidence
Of prOfigacy and extravagance in higl
places we are not surprised at th
growing distrust q over the countr
with Republican rule.