Nevada County picayune., 1891-03-19
Democratic Municipal Ticket.
RETRENCHMENT.

"Whcn. in the course OF human
events"-in the financiering of State
or National affairs, expenses OF gov
ernment overlalances the income
thereof, retrenchment and good man
acemeut becomes of paramount I'M
portance. In our National affairs 1t
has been shown there will be de-
felt at the close Of the present and
next fiscal years, with which the
Democratic lower House of Congress
will be called upon to deal. How
ever, as regards this subject, we wish
to discuss State matters, as we have
not time nor space 10 discuss it from
national standpoint.
As we have stated heretofore in
these columns, it has become mani
fest that under the present rate of
State taxation the revenue derived
will not meet the demands upon the
Treasury. Nearly half the State tax
is for schools, State levy being divid-
ed as follows: State school, 2 mills,
state general, , mills, sinking fund
(to pay State debt), mill,
Considering our advanced and inn
proved school facilities, this is a very
light tax, and no intelligent, reason
BILE man should grumble at slight
advance. With our more than mil
lion population the cost of govern
ment is only about $3.50, 600 per an
mum, which is much less than many
other States with equal population.
Our State income, for the next two
years, will probably fall short of this
sum considerably-say $4,000 or
500, 900 per annum.
1t has been suggested in the Leg
islature that the taxes be increased
half mill, which we do not object to
provided every possible effort is
made in the way of retrcnchment.
If, after cutting down expenses in a
legitimate, proper way, it is stu
found necessary to increase taxes,
we'll and good should a surplus en-
sue, it could easily be applied to
paying off the State debt.
The Legislature must pass upon
and decide what is to be done, in
cutting down expenses, and fixing
the rate of taxation, and, rs faithful
servants of the people, should con-
suit the views and wishes of their
constituency.
Cost Of each session of Legisla-
ture is entirely too heavy, and should
be reduced. We decidedly favor
Senator Harkey's bill to cut down
expenses of General Assembly. 1t
reduces the salary of the Speaker OF
the House and President of the Sen
ate from s. to 81, and the members
from Sc TO So for each week day and /
50 for each Sunday, and the clerks
and other officers accordingly. 1t
also reduces the allowance for mile /
age from ten cents per mile Travelled |
going to and from the capitol to ten
cents for each mile Travelled by |
stage coach and three cents for each
mile travelled by rail. The reduction
in salaries will save to the State
about Sl4, 800, aud the reduction IN
the mileage about So, 800, making a
total of SIG POO saved by the state
for each session OF sixty days, aud |
a corresponding saving for each day |
of the extension. In session of 50 |
DAYS, it would save over 900, |
which is considerable sum. Cut
ml0Hl DC iudNAc ~ ~ " saw oN''' I
more, but we will take Senator llar-
keys bill \ member Of the Gener-
al Assembly, ii seems to us, might
easily live at the Capital 50 days at
cost not exceeding 500, as splen-
did board can be had there for S25
or $50 per month. AS 80 days
pay at. S. per day (by Senator rs
bill) would amount to $500, member
would then save $500 for his labor.
This is ample remuneration.
We await the final decision on
Senator HarkeY's bill, spoken OF
above, and desire to know who
favors it; If we can get it, wish to
publish the ave and no vote on it.
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THE NEW ELECTION LAW.