The herald., 1894-01-28
We ARE BLOWING IN TOO MUCH,
The Chance of the Democratic
Party in California.
How Democrat Can Be Elected the
Next Governor.
The State Fast Approaching Bank
ruptcy-Too Much Paternaiism.
Some Valuable Economic
Statements.

state Democratic central committee, has
published letter to the editor in the
Banning Herald, the following, on the
political situation and prospects:
Whenever one meets a citizen pre-
eminently afiiliating with the Demo-
cratic party, and the question ia ssked
what the prospect may be for Demo-
cratic victory this fall in California, in
variaDly the answer is, chances are
slm." On the other hand prominent
Republicans do not feel over-contident
or certain that this is true. The great
issue that was determined by the result
of the last national election, the tariff
issue. will be removed from the arena OF
political discussion, as it will soon be
determined whether the policy advo-
Gated by the leaders Of the Democratic
faith will have produced the promised
benefits to accrue to the best interests
OF this country. Ii the result should
cause q continuation OF the unfortunate
conditions now existing in this country,
citizens of all parties would naturally
clamor for a return to the protective
policy advocated by our Republican ad-
versarieH.
Tue settlement of the Chinese ques-
ton by O complete registration of the
laboring class, and the prevention of
continued Chinese immigration will
also remove this subject from among
the live issues of the day. The finance
question will hardly prove itself sufi-
GENTLY important after the results OF
Legislation already passed and to be
passed by the present congress, will
have demonstrated their effectiveness
to provide the necessary circulating me-
dunn to conduct the commercial affairs
of this elton.
/ therefore hold that the only impor-
tant issue the Democracy will be justi-
fed in advocating in the next state
campaign with the hope Of any success
full determination, would be to raise in
terest in question that has been too
long neglected and overlooked in the
past, /. g., the most extravagsnt and I'M
called-for expenditure OF public moneys
in maintaining an expensive state gov
eminent, in comparison with the gov
mente existing in other states.
When the state was enjoying extra
| ordinary prosperity, and the products of
the soil were disposed OF at value far
beyond that W hich is realized now, this
load OF taxation was not as burdensome.
as it must necessarily bear GENEROUSLY
upon the taxpayer at the present time.
The continued establishment of char
table institutions, the liberal manner
in which we care for the insane, and
| other charges upon public charity, must
be checked, or we will soon find our
selves bankrupted, caused largely
through and by this unjust iberality, at
the expense OF the producing interests
OF this state.
A few comparisons will not be out OF
place in this article: California ex-
pended in the year 1891. with populs-
ton OF 1.208, $50, $7,946, GIG; per capita.
1857. New York state, possibly one of
the richest and best able to conduct a
state government literally, of all the
statea in the union, expended during
the same year for the maintaining OF it's
state government, s10.0lS, 1894, the pop
ulation being 5,997, 1858; per capita,
$1.65. Neither OF these states being in
debt at the present time, therefore re-
quire no revenue for the extinguishment
OF any past debts. The great state OF
Illinois expended in the same year,
| 81, 1907. 543; population 3,S26,311; per
capita, 81 20. Indiana, s4,47l 946; pop
ulstion, 2, 1872, 404; per capita, $2.U3.
l could present figures from all other
states that in some instances the per
capita amount expended runs 40 low as
65 cents: in Missouri as low as 40 cents.
Does this not prove that it is about time
this subject was freely discussed and
given careful consideration by the citi
zens of this state?
AS an example of the few extrava-
gances that we indulge in, let me pre-
sent few figures on the subject of
printing: Our expenditures for 1891
reached the sum of $245, $40; the
great state of New York, $157, 800 !;
Ohio, $l6l, 945; Pennsylvania, $3.50,
245. All containing nearly five times
our population. In the case of our in
sane, we outrank all the states in
the union. In the year 1891 our ex-
penditures for the maintaining of the
insane was 1888 905. In 1892 it WAS
1915, 587. 1t is true that some of this
money was expended for construction
purposes, but when all the institutions
are in running order, the full amount
of their maintenance will be $500, 900
or more per year. The great state of
New York, SLY 300. Pennsylvania,
s439, 76S. Indicating a liberal expendi.
tura in this state unquestlonably beyond
our ability to maintain.
For the maintaining of prisons and re-
formatories, 100000 per annum. The
great state OF Ohio, 1888, 043; New York,
81, 433. 950-the largest expenditure to
be found in any state east of the Rock
'es, and yet our per capita exceeds it
largely.
Another item that will bear investi-
CATION and correction 10 that we paid out
| in 1891 for the maintenance of the indi--
gent of the state 1925, 1856, and in 1892,
! $4l6,69 As compared with the state
| of Massachusetts,, which paid out liber-
ally in 1891, it reaches $246, 700.
question whether any state in the
union maintains 30 many commissions
! to take charge of one subject or another,
too numerous to mention in this short
article. And the question can we'll be
asked whether in all cases there ia re-
turn to the taxpayer and benefits de-
rived compared with the amount ex-
pended for the same. There is ten
dency prevalent to increase these COM
! missions, aOd for the establishment of
public institutions ad libitum.
The state government must curtail its
paternal inclinations. for it has certainly
become too expensive, and unjustly bur
dens the over-Durdened industries OF
California.
4 Va rannot longer continue TO permit