Highland recorder. (Monterey, Highland County, Va.) 1877-1972, 1893-03-31
Curtailing Expenses.

long as democrats are in control.
One of the very first things that
President Cleveland impressed upon
the minds of the members Of his
Cabinet was that each Of them
should be liberal in the use OF the
rruning knife in cutting Off sine
cures and useless employees under
them. Something has already been
done in the cutting of line, but
what has been done is as nothing
hen compared with what will be-
done. President Cleveland wishes
the heads OF the departments to an
ticipate the findings of the Con-
gressional joint commission, which
has already organized, for the pur-
pose of investigating the work of
the government departments, with
a view to a reduction in the num-
Der of employees and an improve
ment in the present slow and In
many instances cumbersome meth
dds of transacting business, wher-
ever possible. To change the
methods will in many cases require
a change in the law, but to compel
every employe of the government
to render an honest equivalent for
the salary received, and to dismiss
all the drones and shirks is within
the power of the heads af the de-
partments under present laws un-
less somebody weakens it is going
to be done. A case came up the
other day which indicates that
there is one Secretary who will not
weaken, no matter what influence
may be behind the shirkers. BY
accident Secretary Carlisle learned
that a $500 clerk-a woman
had only been on duty about half
the time during the last twelve
months. He sent for her chief
and asked why this had been allow
ed. because she is backed by
Congressman-(naming one of the
most infutntial mem bers of the
House," THAT is no excuse at
all" said the Secretary, dismiss
her at once. and understand that
all the clerks in this department
have got to work for their salaries
or get out"
Each department will be thor
oughly renovated and the many
leaks that have been draining the
treasury will be promptly looked
after. The pension list will doubt
less be one of the first questions
brought up and will be revised and
curtailed as far as is practicable.
The pension rolls of the United
States as they now stand embrace
nearly 100000 names and these
are being added to month by
month. The various pension agen-
cies cost over S17O,OOO,OOO and are
distributed as follows: In the west
and Northwest are eight agencies
each Of which settles with the pro-
portion named; Columbus, 1882
Topeka, C2;553; Chicago, 54,346;
indianapolis, 57,771; DeS MOines
4O,541; Milwaukee, 34,941; Detroit
33,387, and San Francisco. 1882
total 367,625.
The total population Of the States
in which these agencies are estab-
lished numbered 22,559,3O0 in 10-
80, and in the following list Of sew
en- agencies the population was
then 6,4O1 $40, the States being
six of the New England and three
middle States-New York, New
Jersey and Pennsylvania; Boston
1880; Philadelphia 1899; Buffa-
10, 96,317; New York, 32,491
Pittsburg, $4,000; Concord, q '441
Augusta, Is, 7G4; total, 212,099
Of the 100000 men called tt
tie front from the North theS'
nine States furnished 1, 2S9,295 be
ing more than half; yet the list il
the seven agencies of the East il
100000 less than the list Of tn
eight agencies of the west, Will
the Southern and border States
having a population Of 22,651,37e
a little in excess of the North an