The Globe-republican. [volume] (Dodge City, Kan.) 1889-1910, 1892-09-16
WAR HOE THEOPPRESSORS?

wnSro the En Dyes were OOIy
Receiving Starvation Allowance.
During the long campaign of 1890
the alliance lecturers daily promised re-
lief to the working men and women, and
at the same time denounced the corpor-
ations, the soulless men and vampires
who sought to reduce to state of serv-
itude those who were dependent upon
wages for the support of themselves and
their families. How we'll these prom
ises were kept may be seen in the vari-
Gus appropriation bills after they were
trimmed by the house of 1891. In them
are presented cold facts, from which
there is no escape. The attention of
workingmen is called to the fact that
this trimming" was practically the
only work done by the alliance men,
bers, except the extravagant investiga-
tons instituted.
A few of the appropriation bills
passed, which the senate was forced to
accept or see the institutions closed, are
here presented.
Commencing with the reform school,
the salary of the superintendent was re-
duced from $1,000 to $1,000 year. A
saving of 5000 was effected, at cost to
the state of losing the services OF man
acknowledged to be the best reform
school superintendent III America. The
matron, who has charge of 300 boys,
was reduced from S400 TO $500 year,
and another change was the result.
Ten officers and teachers. who had been
receiving in the aggregate $4,000, or
an average of $3.50 a year, were reduced
to $500 a year, thereby saving from
these already poorly paid people $500
annually. The night Waterman, whose
duties require him to have supervision
of five buildings, inside and out, from Z
p. IN. until Z a. M, was visited by the
reformers. and reduction of $50 year
followed, he having been plutocrat on
salary of $50 month. The econom-
ical streak did not end here. The head
farmer and the head gardener were each
receiving $685. month. The house
generously permitted the state to pay
these two men S25 a month, effecting
saving of $685. a month on each.
Four attendants had been receiving $15
a month each, which munifcent salaries
were reduced to $3.50 each, while the
state treasury is enriched by saving of
$40 month, taken from the wages of
men who had been contracting extrava-
giant habits on salaries of S15 month.
The baker had S6a a month taken from
his salary, while streak of compassion
induced the house to take only SIS
month each from the two fremen. The
who we're receiving 1915
each. seem to have been overlooked.
The deaf and dumb Institution was
not left untouched as to its laborers and
workin gmen, the following reductions
having been made: Engineer, S15 a
month; two assistant engineers, $3.50
month each; two supervisors, $1.75
month each; teamster and gardener,
$3.50 month each; the latter are now
allowed s14.16S month; the night
Waterman loses only SIS month, and
the cook was asked to contribute to the
state $3.50 a month.
The industrial school for girls was
found to be extravagantly managed.
The matron bad $685. month taken
from her, while the engineer, who had
been receiving $500 year was cut
down to $500. The teachers salaries
were reduced from S4OO to $500. and
one teacher cut off altogether, although
the number of inmates had increased
fifty to one hundred.
A net reduction of 50, $50 was made
ct the institution for the blind by cut
ting out the item for smoke-stacks and
stacks, for which there APP
peared to be no use SO long as air was
cheap, and the windows could be low
cred whenever the air in the building
becomes too foul for endurance.
The sum of S54, $50 had been asked
for new cottages at the Soldiers Or
phans' asylum, because OF its crowded
condition. The popul;sts said S10,99O
or nothing.
At the penitentiary no employee es-
capped. In spite of the fact that the SUI
of the mine had refused a
salary of $4,000, rendered by the Home
mine, for the purpose of remaining with
his pet state mine for $4,000 a year, he
was reduced $3.50 year. The farmer
and the gardener lose 5000 year each,
while the ,other employees were COM
PEELED to drop 500 to 5000 year all
around. The chairman of the house
ways and means committee. Mr.. Rogers,
of Washington county, admitted that
this wholesale reduction would cripple
that institution, but the axe had to be
applied.
The house refused to create state
agent at Washington, to prosecute
claims free of charge, for the veterans
residing in this state. This bill was de-
rided when it was received from the
senate. and Speaker Elder said, on the
floor of that body, that lit was another
to fasten fat Office on the
state. l think as much of the old SOL
d;ers as anyone. but believe in letting
them hustle tor themselves. / am under
no obligations to them In this senti-
ment he was heartily cheered.