The Corvallis gazette. [volume] (Corvallis, Or.) 1862-1899, 1894-03-16
COSTLY OFFICERS.
Burdens upon the Taxpayers
Discussed by the Com
mittee of one Hun
dred.

menu was considered IaSti saturday Dy the
committee of one hundred at Portland.
There were some objectionsyto the reading of
the letter at first for the reason that the au-
thor did not want his identity disclosed, but
on receiving assurance from Chairman Gold
smith that it contained information of inter-
est to the state..that it was received in the
spirit of retrenchment and reform and
showed the people "where they were at"
there was a demand that it be read.
81 submit the following as one of the sew
eral branches of state expenditures which
might and should be greatly reduced with
no great loss to the people or state, but be
a very large saving to the. taxpayers.
''The item here referred to is that of state
printing, which, prior to the past eight
years, seldom or never exceeded an ap-
preparation of $4,000 per session, or So
900 per year. The states printing needs
only to be small expenditure when jul
diciously ordered, but, unrestrained, it soon
develops into an outrageous waste of pub
lie funds. In substantiation of these asser-
tions let the records speak:
"Your attention is directed to the appro-
priation bills contained in the session laws
and the reports of the secretary of state;
and it is not claimed that these books con-
tain all that might be of interest to the tax
payer. The session laws of 1880 and the
two following sessions show the uniform
appropriation of $4,000 per session for
public printing, and the secretary's reports
ipHi 70 hot 81,
amount was refunded to the state, not be-
ing needed. Since the dates above referred
to the sums expended for public printing
have biennially shown an enormous in
crease. The appropriation bill for 1887 con-
tained deficiency item of l4.093. 10 for the
printing fund. There has been expended
for the state printing since, and including o.
1887, the following amounts, viz:
General appropriation fund, $25, 900;
blanks, ETC., superintendent public instruc-
tion). S2.7O0; deficiency bill passed in 1889,
S4,4l9.04; total for 1887 and 1888, S32,-
1904.
"The general appropriation bill for 1899
contained these items: General appropria-
ton funds $2S, 900; blanks, etc., (superinten-
dent public instruction), S2,7OO; Resource
of Oregon $3.50. 81; deficiency bill passed
1891, S12, 2,O77.44; total for 1889 and 1890, $4S,
967. 7.O6.
'The general appropriation bill of 1891 in
cluded, general appropriation fund, $40, ,0O0lI
blanks, ETC., superintendent public instrue
tion), S5 100; Resources of Oregon SIN
3s3.23; deficiency bill (passed 1899, S16,
334 81; total, $6' ,s17.79.
"A partial analysis of the report Of tn |
secretary of state for 1891 and 1892 show tha
the state printer was paid in addition to tn
above extravagant allowance, large sum
from other than the printing fund, viz:
General fund-Oregon reports, g cool
blanks, etc., superintendent public INSTRUCT
tion), S3, ,s3937; department work, lO,5O9.-
"a; Resources of Oregon $5,356.2l; total
from general fund, 26.9O4.92. Military
fund--miltary printing, $2,59O.60; total for
1881 and 1892, $97, ,3l3.s1.
"Nor is this all. During the six years
here exhibited the state has furnished the
state printing Office with rents, wood, water,
light, etc., etc. worth at least SO, 900 per
annum, which, added to- the foregoing ex-
hibits, would make the figures as follows:
''For the years 1887 and 1888, S3s, l19. .O4; !;
1889 and 1890, S54, ,967. .96; 1891 and 1892,
$I03, 3,3l3.4l; total, $196, 6,399.41.
''The appropriation bill of 1893 appropri-
ating funds from which the state printer is
being paid contains these items, viz:
General printing fund, 100000; blanks,
etc., superintendent public instruction. 81
$40; Resources of Oregon label(apparently),
$2,67s.43; total available, 0,198.43.
eff the deficiency in 1898 and 1894 is
proportionately greater as it has increased
in the past and the inroads are as great ia the
other state funds, the printing bill for the
two years named will amount to over $3.50,
900. Ii, however, it only equals the former
amounts, then it will be SI22, ,O2S.52. This
exhibit falls short of the facts that reliable
committee could obtain from d thorough ex-
animation of all the accounts connected with
this department of the state government.
A hasty examination Of the public docu-
ments above referred to reveals this much or
more. As a taxpayer would therefore ask
that you extend your investigation SO as to
include all institutions supported by tax"
OTHER STATE OFFICERS.
Mr.. Goldsmith volunteered some informa-
ton about other departments Of the state
government. The state superintendent of
public instruction receives salary of So, 500,
is allowed $1,000 for travelling expenses ard
s3,1oO for clerical aid, making total of ss,-
300. Besides, he receives sums ranging from
81 to $40 for teachers certificates. The SAL
ary of the secretary of state is 50, 500, ard he
is allowed SIC, ,36O for clerical aid, making a
total of 1850. In building waterNorks
and fence on the state fair grounds at Salem
the state expended $11,415. The Oregon
State Animal Association was another ex-
pensive institution. Mr.. Goldsmith did not
know what kind of animals was bred by
this association, but found that it cost the
state $4,000 last year.
Rev. W. c. Kantner will preach the Sec
4