The herald. [microfilm reel] (Los Angeles [Calif.]) 1893-1900, 1894-09-10
THAT BRAND NEW BROOM
COUNTY EMPLOYEES ON THE
ANXIOUS SEAT.
Many VIII walk the Plank in Any
Evcnt-A Small Army of
Places to Be,
Filled.

To fully realize the sweeping changes
which the work OF the Republican
county. convention will cause in the
county government it is only necessary
to make tour OF inspection through the
court house.
A more disoonsolate set OF people 1t
would be hard to find.
II the Republican nominees are all
elected, only a small percentage OF the
present Republicans in office will re-
main. In fact. in the court house only
one OF the present incum bents. Treas
urer Tom File ming, 10 ON the list, and he
has only one clerk, who will no doubt
remain in his present position.
OF course, il the Democrats should sue.
ceed in capturing some OF the plums,
there would be a sweep, but 1t will be
almost "a complete owing to the bitter
fights that came up in the Republican
convention, as ii the Democrats were in
power, as far as the boys at the court
house are concerned.
1t is not such a Bmsil army, either,
the clerks and other employees in the
various departments of the county gov
eminent. Naturally, there are some
experienced men, who have been ia
their places for years and without whom
1t is difficult to get along, owing to their
peculiar fitness and experience, 80 that
the new officials when they come In will
not be able to make sweeping changes
all at once. 1t ia safe to say, however,
that during the four year terms of Office
OF the officials to be elected this fell, the
personnel of the county government will
be almost completely changed.
The emasculating influences that sur
round the clerks in the court house
cause many OF them who have been
there for some time to look with dismay
upon the prospect of being thrown out
into contact with the everyday world.
But as one of the younger employees
said Saturday, 1t will no doubt be the
making of some OF them, who are young
enough and energetic enough to make 1t
an object on the part of dame fortune to
keep them from sinking into mere place
hunters.
There are nearly 300 men and women
employed in the various departments of
the county government. Quite a num-
Der of these are extra, and are not stead.
lily employed, but, as in the assessors,
auditors and tax collectors odice, are
busy during certain seasons OF the year
in the various processes Of the collec-
tion OF taxes.
There are at present, as ascertained BY
an inspection of the auditors lists of
employees. the following employed in
various Offices: Sherif1's Office, 20;
county clerk, 20, with an extra assistant
for registration purposes; auditor, 3,
with 30 extra clerks during the prepsra-
ton OF assessment books; assessor 2,
with 30 or go deputies during the ASSESS
ment OF property; recorder, IL, and 10
copyists; tax collector, 7, with 30 extra
deputies during certsin periods; district
attorney, g.; surveyor. 10; license c,l-
Sssohm ri Ssss5dehirss1 experts = en-
make total at the present tine OF 26l.
There will be a vigorous struggle on
the part of many to retain their places,
and no doubt many will succeed, but
the great majority. sooner or later dur.
ing the next term, will be forced to make
way for others. the friends of the men
who are elected.
1t ia somewhat amusing to see the diff
ferent ways in which the prospect OF
being TUNED out affects the employees.
1t is not as it lie in private business for
some of them seem to have imbibed an
idea that they have a proprietary grasp
on the chairs they are engaged in warm
ing. While the large proportion OF the
present list are pleasant and courteous
public servants, there are some OF the
other sort, who will be vastly improved
by being forced to seek their level, and
rub up against real life.