The herald., 1894-02-20
THK LoAvEs AND FISHES.


In an article in Sundays HERALD,
describing the ''connubisting' that is
now going on amongst local Republican
politicians to secure nominations for
county offices, We published . list of
the Offices and the salaries attached.
The county clerk. recorder. auditor,
treasurer, tax collector and assessor get
$4,000 per snnum each; the sheriff and
district attorney, $4,000 each, and the
public administrator and superintend-
emit OF schools $4,000 each. These sala-
ries are not only high. but they are ex-
trsvagsntly munihcent. Perhaps that
OF district attorney is within bounds,
but it is magnifcently liberal. whilst
the sheriff's. when it Is considered that
he has perquisites which swell his
$4,000 of fixed remuneration TO some
where in the vicinity of $4,000 per an
mum, Ia out OF all reason. One OF the
evil effects of these high salaries is that
they create such . scramble for the
Offices, and are productive of such scan
dalous msnipulstions to get the nomin-
ations, that the best men to fill them
refuse to enter the lists where success
mnst be attained by resorting to means
that men OF good conscience and unfair
nished reputation will not resort to.
Why should the county pay to its
officers salaries altogether out of proper
ton to the value Of services per-
formed? AS q rule our high state
officisls only receive $4,000 per annum.
Surely the office of county clerk
of Los Angeles. should not receive
higher salary than the controller
of state. nor the treasurer more than
that allowed the treasurer of state. The
highest salary paid to the state officers,
if we omit the governor, is $4,000 per
snnum.
We very much doubt whether there
are many of our business men who, at
the end of the year when thew balance
their accounts, can say that thoy are
earning as much as is paid to our county
officers, and yet they have to furnish
the capital which is required to carry on
business, accept all the risks that are
encountered in trade and work much
more constantly and great deal harder
than our county officials. When we
compare the qualifications which it re-
quires to be a successful business man
and those necessary to conduct our
county Offices, the contrast leaves the
latter away in the background.
The Democratic party of this state
will probably make the next campaign
on tue Issue of reducing official salaries
to reasonable figures, of abolishing
many of the expensive and useless COM
missions, of overhauling and extensively
curtailing the pauper and sleemosynary
expenses of the state, and of generally
bringing the expenditures down to an
economical basis consistent with the
times. This programme will include
reformation of the salary schedules in
the county government bill, where these
high salaries are allowed. 1t is high
time that we should get down from the
1849 ideas of compensation to public
officials, and make the taxes ters know
that we are living in the yesr 1894, when
dollars are scarce and good, capable
men swarming everywhere.
II the Democracy will plan its next
state campaign on this principle, it will
bring to itself a strength that will insure
it's success. County salaries should be
reduced at least SO 1-3 per cent. and the
expenditures OF the state can be reduced
at least so per cent. Let the guides OF
the party prepare programme that
will bring about this great economical
reform and show the people that they
are in earnest, and the taxpayers of
the state will rally to their support in
overw helming numbers.