The record-union., 1894-04-26

the field and ready for war afar off? The
present force reduced to one-fourth the
number, we'll armed and equipped,
might, 1t is suggested, answer as well for
all practical purposes as the whole sixty
nye companies, and thus would be saved
10 the taxpayers $4,000 year-an item
worth saving.
. Those in position to know say, with
out reserve, that the appropriation for
state printing is excessive by at least one
nal1. Ihls extravaganza might be re-
duced, according to this estimate, S62, 800
year.
The State Library, which is made to
cost S27 800 a year, the well-informed on
the subject claim could be made to get
along on half its present cost.
The State Boards of Horticulture and
Nltlculture might very properly be con-
solldated, as the duties of the two boards
are OF similar nature and the expense
OF one of them could be saved.
The appropriation for District Agricult-
ural Fairs is 500, $50 year. They are in
the main horse-racing affairs, and the
sooner abolished as State institutions the
better. If continued let the districts
themselves detray the expense of them.
In such cases it is fair to assume they
would soon cease to be. 1t may be said
OF the State Fair that, if there be any
good in it, it is not worth what it costs,
as managed and controlled for many
years past. 1t, too, is mainly a horse
racing concern, and has been the focal
center OF the sporting men and gambling
fraternity of the State.
The Mining Bureau, it may be avowed
without the least fear of contradiction,
has never been of any value to anybody,
excepting the officers and employees of
that board. By abolishing it the taXpay-
kaT-G fRf fnn~ fofx Il h. S.)E
year.
OTHER RADICAL REFORMS NECESSARY.
There are other matters Of State taxa
ton that might be noticed, but for the
want of space, which deserve the heroic
corrective of radical reform. Everybody
Of intelligence who is informed in rela-
ton TO the subject of taxation must ad-
nit that the State Government of Califor-
MIA has been for many years past and now
is run upon eXtrayagantly high-pressure
principles and methods, for which the
tilIers of the soil, for the most part, are
required to pay in United States gold
coin, the exchange value or purchasing
power of which is nearly double what it
was twenty years ago. as the farmers and
producers OF the country well know by a
comparison OF the prices of products now
obtained with the prices of like products
OF score Of years ago.
The county governments of the State
need 10 be reformed In many instances
the salaries of country officers are far be-
yond any just value of the services by
such officers performed. If the salaries
of these officers could be fixed by the
Board of Supervisors of the county con-
cerned the taxpayers Immediately affected
would have voice in the matter. Boards
of Supervisors would in such cases be
likely 10 heed the demands of those inn
/ raftI eoI GNN,.ra TO-
the support of county governments are
greater than those Tor the support of the
State Government. The two united make
up a sum OF more than So, 600, 900 year,
drawn mainly from the pockets of the
landowners of the State. Ii these bur-
dens are to be continued how long will it
De before at least nine-tenths Of our farm
ers must sink beneath the load? Many
have already Succumbed and others are
fast approaching like fate.
Our State Government, judiciously and
| economically administered in all its de-
partments, ought not to cost for its sup
port more than two million dollars a
year. Now it costs more than twice that
much.
To what is here set forth those who pay
nothing for the support of the Govern
ment. living as they do at the public crib,
may, in the language of Boss Tweed, ask:
''What are you going to do about it ?"
This question, though propounded in the
/ spirit of insolence and arrogance, is new
ertheleSS pertinent, and suggests the
necessity Of earnest and vigorous action,
in order to remedy the evils which so
grievously affiict the overburdened tax
payers OF the State. The remedy must be
administered by those most concerned.
How is this to be done?
My answer is, by electing to the next
Legislature capable and honest men,
whose minds are imbued with the grav-
ity of the situation of the wearied and
worn-out taxpayers of the country, and
who appreciate the necessity of radical
change for the better-men who have the
material interests of the people at heart,
and also by electing some well-known
citizen Governor of the State, whose in
telligence and integrity is all alive to the
condition in which the taxpayers, and
especially the tillers of the soil, find
themselves under the existing oppressive
system OF appropriations and taxation.
Let us be sure to have a Governor of
ample capacity to comprehend and real
ize the necessity of governmental reform
in State affairs and who has a firmness
commensurate with his convictions.
With such Legislature and Governor
acting in harmony, relief would come,
followed by prosperity, in the place and
every side. JOHN CURREY.
Dixon, Solano County, April 16, 1894.
Weather Notes.
The Weather Bureau reports show the