The herald., 1894-08-05
POLITICS BEGINNING TO BOIL.

the aspirants nominated and those who
hope to be are becoming immensely
numerous and widely pervssive. To the
intelligent man from abroad who visits
our country and studies it's manners, we
must appear q nation OF politicians and
ofice-ssekers. The intervals OF peace
between the war OF elections must sp-
pear to him az being very limited. In
deed the native here and to the man
rer born" is no less impressed than the
stranger with the fact that we are
always just getting over the fever and
excitstions of an election or preparing
to enter upon q national, state or mu-
nicipsl campaign. The wear and tear
OF these frequent political campaigns is
really very serious business, and un-
less We shall come to have shorter can
vases and fewer of them the exercise OF
the suffrage, from the frequency of its
use. will lose its value in the estimation
OF the great mass OF intelligent voters.
Just now our Populst friends and the
Republicans are holding tue boards
with the loudess acclaim. The Demo-
Gratis are getting good ready" on
them to join in the chorus. The usual
eide shows will, of course, soon join in
the grand hunt for place, and then pan
dsmonium will commence.
There never was q better chance than
now for the people to step in and assert
their independence of the bcss-ridden
parties and organize victory for county
ticket selected alone on the fitness and
ability of the men to fill the offices,
irrespective of party politics. Until the
people take the local Offices out OF parti-
San control they will continue to be op-
pressed with inordinately heavy bur
dena to pay high salaries to men who
make rolitics q business. Eztrava-
gance in evsrv department OF public
service will continue to be the rule as
long as the men who foot the bills re-
fuse to avail themselves OF the only
means they have to remedy the scandal
ous waste they are now subjected to-.
One wonld like to know what the muni-
and city have to do with the arbitra-
ment OF the political questions which
the great parties sre contending for
What the taxpayers want ia an efficient
discharge OF the duties OF our local
officials, reduction of the outrageously
high salaries now paid to ths men who
fill the offices, an economical admins
trstion of the public trust reposed in
them, and an honest and fair deal all
round.
We can have this if the solid people
say so. We can have it this year ii the
voters most deeply interested will al
once come to their senses. Why should
county officials be paid salaries that are
shamefully out of proportion to the value
of the services rendered by them, and
far above the salaries they could recsive
for like services in business life? Why,
there is one Office in this county. which
with it's salary, it's commissions and its
emolu mente, meta to its incumbent from
$4,000 to SIS 600 year. Is it not mon
strous that in these times OF universal
distress, or even in the best of times, Q
man of ordinary business capacity
should line his pockets from suffering
public to this shameful extentP The
whole system of official pay ought to be
severely overhaulsd. Salaries in all
departments should be scaled down with
an unsparing hand, and our pu bile Of
fices should be thinned OF the crowds o.
deputies who now tumble over each
other in their efforts to get out Of esct
others way.
But as long as the taxpayers permi,
themselves to be led by the nose anG
bamboozled by politicians. they will
continue to be plucked and robbed
This would be most inviting and op.
perfume year to try the experiment of
non-partisan county as well ae cit.
ticket. The old parties are ratified b,
the formidable entrance into the field O
new organization, and il the peopl
who pay the piper" would come to
gsther and act on oommon-sense prinoi
plos they could nominate tickets tina
would rsvolutionize the public servic
in our city and county offices.
.-----------------