The Austin weekly statesman. (Austin, Tex.) 1883-1898, 1885-01-15
NECESSARY rErRENcuMENr-

THE STATESMAN INDUCED IN 4 III
lie reflection We terday, on the state
fish commission, in which there was
some misconception as to amounts ex-
pended. Under the present admins
tration the expenditures have not been
so great as formerly, but the question
at issue is the same, whether one OF
two dollars be spent on this establish
ment. 1t is one of the Injuries of the
state government. which Is almost
universally recognized as useless. AS
said yesterday, we do not pretend to
say that many of the states placemen
viii advocate the suspension OF
ths fish commission, or of the state
police Or of the insurance, statistical
and historical bureau, but we know
what the public thinks of these as
Establishments, and what the people 'le-
sire in relation to them. They are
useless appurtenances of government,
and their establishment as well as
their existence will not bear scrutiny.
The fish commissioner may now cost
between eleven aud twelve thousand
dollars for two years instead
of for one as formerly, but
the decrease in cost cuts
no figure when the people are suffer
log for lack OF money. Government
has no right to continue expressions,
and the maintenance of these unnec-
essary luxuries, not to call them follies
and farces, are insulting to the ele-
mentS in whose interest government
is conducted. 1t is very well known
that forces are now at work, of a char.
acter very different from the honest
and outspoken ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
elect, attempting to prove that the
departments namedEare very necessary
appurtenances of government, but
neither carefully prepared pubiica-
lions nor oral arguments in the inter
est of -placemen, not of the people,
can convince anybody 6f such 2eces-
sity. The expense of these depart
ments amount to very large part of
the present deficiency; they are among
the burdens that weigh down
taxpayers ia this distressing
financial period, and with their contin-
uance, when confiscation stares tax
payers in the face, pubic relief
would be grossly ignored. Mr.. Gibbs
was right when he recommended that
| the pruning AK be laid at the foot of a
parasitical growth about the body pol
! itic. These things, relics of radicalism
and the outgrowth OF personal ambition
and personal pecuniary gain, should
haye never been established. IL there
were ever any merit in the fish COM
mission it has passed away, since il
has, like the republican party, served
its day. In ali these years it certain
ly ought to have distributed carp all
over the state, and these fish, if any
body else should ever want them, can
be obtained almost anywhere. Some
people are very anxious indeed to give
away what they have, Be
sides, applicants for fish to
professor Baird, at Washing
ton. " ere respected before there was
ever fish commission in Texas. The
federal government has poured thankful
after thankful of all sorts of fish in our
Texas waters, and the story is yet to be
told where one of them remains. But
the state fish commission has not
labored for the general production CT
carp for the people. It has devoted
Itself alone to special and
private interests, dealing out
4 few carp to those able to have
private pools. Though the state fish
commission has been in existence six
years, in view of the capital, the asser.
ton is ventured that carp has never
yet been offered for sale in the mar
kets of Austin, lnor in any other city
What is the use Of such an establish
ment? 1t costs, as is said in extenuation
only a few thousand dollars, but these
small" useless expenditures create de
licences, and will continue to create
them. AS to the other establishments
referred to, it may be repeated that The
insurance, statistical and historical
bureau may be wisely and efficiently
reduced to the work OF a clerk, under
the attorney general or the ptrollel
while the state police force ought not
to be tolerated longer than il
will take time to pass {
bill suspending its operations
1t is relic of the blacklist, darkest
days of radical:sm, once condemned il
unmeasured terms by every person il
the state, and especially by those now
unfolding it. The people demand
economical government, and it is now
a necessity, because they cannot affort
10 sustain any other sort of govern
ment. Above all, the law-makipg de-
partment of the state government
owes it to the people to cut off every
expense that is not an absolute neces
sity.