Los Angeles herald., 1892-09-01
OUR LOCAL TAX DEvouRERs.

The attention OF thinking people is
most respectfully directed to the fact
that the election of yesterday, on the
sewer bonds question, resulted in AN
overwhelming majority for the issuance
of the aforesaid bonds. Now we do not
object to this proposition because we
know that the sewer is a physical ne
cessity to the wellb being of the city and
cannot be much longer dispensed with.
But what we wished to direct the peo-
ple's attention to, is the fact that this
sewer building is going to increase the
burden of taxation upon people who
are already taxed to maintain city and
county government, which is costing at
the rate of 1880 per day, $72o per
hour, and $12 per minute. This style of
expenditure would not bankrupt New
York, but it is severe strain upon Los
Angeles.
1t is only too plainly to be seen, by
anybody who will take the trouble to
look it up, that we are being governed
altogether too much. The careful OBJ
server who enters into close examina-
ton of the offices CT the city and county,
will find that the Union League govern
ment, under which we are groaning, has
converted the city hall and the court
house into two asylums for partisan
favorites; that an enormous amount OF
money is being annually wasted in the
salaries of people who do not begin to
render any just or valuable equivalent
therefor; and that in every department
of the city and county government there
are eight people hired to do the work
that should be performed by three. This
| is the way the machine keeps it's wheels
creased for future elec ions, and in many
| departments four nonentities are draw
| ing salaries for performing the clerical
labor that, in years gone by, was accom-
pitched by one competent person.
Do these etax-devourers stop to consider
that in providing clothing and fodder
for the .'Pinafore" relations OF every
prominent Republican, regardless OF
any valuable service rendered or to be
rendered in return therefor, they are
"killing the goose that lays the golden
egg?" Do they realize that, out OF our
total population at least one third are
invalids, come out here to enjoy our de-
lghtful climate, and having no CONNER
cial or industrial interest in our city :?
And do they further realize that these
invalids, being mostly from the older
settled portions OF the republic, where
taxation 10 moderate, are liable to sell
out their residences here and emigrate to
other counties along the coast where
taxation is lighter? These people who
have, of late years, come among US and
been the fractions of the great unit we
cali a city, are intelligent and reasoning
beings. They are beginning to ash if we
are not governed too much? Whether
an army OF office-holders, to be cup
ported solely by taxation OF real and
personal property. is an element OF
positive streL 9Th? And whether. on
the other hand, it does not create a
bureaucracy like those of England and
Germany, in which the offices descend
from father to son, instead of being
filled by the vote OF the people from
time to time?
On this question of feeding an army of
people simply because they are the rela-
tives of influential men in the dominant
party, ard without regard to any actual
need for their services, the HERALD is in
line with the masses of the taxpayers.
1t took its stand by the side of the peo-
pie in the earlier days of its existence,
and has never yet had cause to regret
that step. We hail their integrity with
Joy, we love their broad sense of justice,
and we rejoice in their strength. The
people are always honest, generally
right, and never unpopular.