The morning call., 1894-12-09
PLACES PEOPLE KNOW LITTLE OF
How the States Money Is Lavished
Upon an Army of Unnecessary
Dependents.

knife upon the rank growth OF sapp-rs
that draw sustenance from the State, it is
Interesting to know what rich field for
operations he has struck. If retrench-
ment is to be the new Governors slogan
he can have no excuse for failure to carry
his avOwed policy into effect, for the State
roster shows that the treasury is being
looted by horde of sap-suckers
with as little excuse for their exist
ence as the worthless, red-headed, long
beaked bird which the Eastern farmer
considers it his bounden duty TO shoot on
sight as a matter of protection to his
growing trees.
Legislature after Legislature has created
new boards, for which here was no earth
ly necessity other than to make places
with which to reward political service.
Bureaus and commissions have been es-
tabished without even a plausible excuse
for being. Some of the mem bers of the
boards draw money and some do not, but
in all cases there are dependents who are
paid high salaries usually for doing moth
ing. 1t is popular scheme, that of draw
ing good pay without having to do any
thing to earn 1t. and 1t is no wonder that
when Mr.. Budd comes to the city he is
half-suffocated by throngs of applicants
for these sinecuTes. What man who be-
lieVeS that TO the victor belongs the spois
and that the State funds are spoils would
not be Debris Commissioners, for instance,
at a salary of $500?
A debris commission may be a neces-
sary adjunct to well-regulated State
government, but what does the debris
commissioner do? Undoubtedly he has
something to DO, hut it is very question
abe If be earns $500 a month, as the act
under which he was appointed, passed
March "a, 1898, provides for a secretary
Tor him al a salary of $500 a year. To
the unsophistcated taxpayer it would
seem that either the commissioner or his
secretary might succeed in issuing licenses
10 hydraulickeTs Single-handed. 1t is a
function that is performed semi-occasl sion
ally, and il is not very ouerous at tina
Certainly $425 month paid TO two men is
q good round snm for the service. AT
present John T. kidder of Grass Valley is
the head Of this department
The State Mining Bureau costs the peo-
pie S1925 for salaries alone. The employees
are the State Mineralogist, who draws
$3.50 month, an assistant mlnerai0glSt,
chemist, a librarian, statisticiaD, an as
slstant statisticlan and stenOgrapher,
custodian and secretary of the Board of
Trustees, Janltor, museum attendant
and five assistants In the field" The
latter draw, besides a salary of $3.50
month, their expenses, aud have in their
turn an assistant at $50 a month. The
State Mining Bureau costs at a low esti-
mate $3.50 year.
The Labor Commissioner gets 5000
month and his assistant $50, in addition
TO which there are three special agents al
500 month.
There are two Commissioners of Build
ing and Loan Associations, one for San
Francisco and one for Los Angeles, who
draw $500 month.
The State escapes having to pay the five
Port Wardens, who get along quite nicely
at the expense OF the shipping interests,
their remuneration being fees. 1t Is said
that these commissioners make from $1,000
to $1,000 year The Port Wardens iD-
spect the cargoes Of vessels and collect
liberal fees from masters of vessels and
consignees.
The State Board of Examiners has a
secretary al $1,000 a year, and he has a
secretary at $500. and he has clerk and
stenographer al $1,000. Here seems to be
a good opportunity to use the knife.
George A. knight receives a salary of
$4,000 for figuring as counsel for the State
Board of Health.
The Governors stenOgrapher gets $1,000
year and his messenger 500 a month.
Labor at Sacramento comes pretty high.
The gardener employed by the Capitol
Commissioners gets $1,000 year, and twelve
labOrers draw $1,000 Zach. Three special
policemen receive $500 each. Thus to
garden and protect the State Capitol
grounds the State pays SIS, COCA year. TO say
nothing of the purchases that may be ne
cessary.
The State Board of Horticulture pays
out $500 year TO employees, the Viticul-
ture Board $4,000. and the Agricultural
Board S2400. There seems to have been
some neglect in conn ecti0n with the crea-
ton of the latter berth. as the secretary.
Edwin +. Smith, has no assistant or STEM
ographer. At least two other places might
have been made here, and it is difficult TO
account for its omission. II is about the
only berth that the politicians have over
looked. however, for there are throughout
the States civil service roster three men
70 do the work of one.
Martin Kell gg, president of the Uni
versity OF California, at salary of $4,000
year, has secretary at $780, aud the
secretary has hookkeeper to 90 his work
for him at $500. The salaries of the
other employees are at the same high stand
ard, the payroll of the administration foUt-
ing up S206019 So The cnuusel for the
Board OF Regents get $500 a year. The
State normal schools at San Jose. Los
Angeles and Chico cost 10 proportion.
The State asylums we're dealt with in
Fridays issue OF The CALL To pay
the salaries OF the persons who are en-
ployed to care for 800 children at the Glen
Ellen Home for Predetermined Children
the Stale pays S21 6S4 year. This is en-
tirely apart from tue cost of articles of
clothing. food and other supplies and ex-
penses, which is enormous, as the regiment
of employees has to be boarded as well as
paid.
All the State institutions are couducted
on scale of liberality which is highly sat
isfactory TO the leglons of employees and
attendants.
Govern or-elect Budd says that he can
see at q glance that he can reduce expendi.
lures 100000 year if his recommends
tions are adopted. The foregoing details
indicate in some measure the ample scope
be will have for action. Mr.. Budd's
friends say that he is 10 earnest about this
matter, and that many of the places for
which applicants are teasing him will be
abolished altogether if be can bring about
such result. a large mum Der of the Off
Gals who never would be missed hold
Office at the pleasure of the Chief Execu-
tive, and the pleasure of Mr.. Budd VIII, il
is Iromised, be of short life in many in
stances.
FIRE COMMISSION.