Crawford avalanche. (Grayling, Mich.) 1879-19??, 1884-02-14
REFORM.

Combination reform" sounded well
in political campaign, but when put
to the test of actual business has in
most cases proven an utter failure
For instance, when David III. Jerome
was governor of Michigan, his private
secretary, Mt salary of 81, 200 a year,
had charge of the executive Office at
the capital, AM was promptly on hand
to conduct the roHtine business of the
office. In every instance where Mr.
Donaldson was obliged to be absent
from his post Gov. Jerome sent clerk
from Saginaw to perform the duties.
But now how changed When com
bined democracy and greenbackism
captured the executive office, it was
naturally expected that the business
would be faithfully conducted at about
the expense which had been piled up
by the rascally republicans. But Jo-
siah w. Begole seems to care just a;
much about the gubernatorial salary
us any of his Republican predecessors;
and his private secretary, Stevenson,
had his pay lifted to 81 600 per annum.
1t is true many Republican members
voted for the Si0o increase, but it was
with the expectation that he would do
as other secretaries had done-remain
at his post and faithfully perform his
duties. But two or three days in each
month is all the time that Mr.. Steven
son has given 10 public business at the
capital since the adjournment of the
legislature. and the executive o..ice tn"
rest of the time is in charge of the jan
itor There is hardly a day but what
important questions come. up which
can only be settled by the files in the
executive oflic. in this city; and yet
COY. Josiah w. Begols and private
secretary Stevens spend most Of their
DAYS and nights ut their comforta BIZ
homes in Flint. OF course .hould the
latter IL obliged to remain in Lans ns,
he could not so well perform the d.
ties Of justice OF the peace, but thf
whole people OF Michigan would be the
gamers thereby. Che Republican some
time ago called attention 10 the pecul-
lar kind OF reform being practiced
in tiic State .wamp land commission
1st IN
-..,..ly,. ,...:.y-.. Ill cUIGI arison to the Ia
Dor performed We do not like to find
fault with am public official, even il
such Official obtained power by a M
representation OF the acts OF Us faith
ful an official as ever served TIE STATE.
Lut our duty as Journalist comrels
us to say that the Office OF State swamp
land road commissioners in this city ina
been closed from about Jan. 9th, anu
that there is now on hand large stock
of Official correspondence bearing post
mar. from Jan, S,h up to the prrsen.
time, awaiting the appearance of the
head of t.. department or y clerk To
take care of it. The voters OF Michi-
gan who dslusively turned their backs
on David II. Jerome, and elected Jo-
siah w. Begole 70 carry out his cut
and dried programme of coinbina
ton reforin," struck n fatal blow al
the faithful and efficient performance
of executive and other public business.
Ii is but justice TO say that we hav' "a
imputations to make against the abili-
ty and integrity of Private Sec. .tary
Stevenson. but he should certainly re-
main at his post, and give his attention
to the public business which lie is ex
pected TO perform. Lansing Republi'
can.