Lincoln County leader. [volume] (Toledo, Lincoln County, Or.) 1893-1987, 1895-01-17
The Spirit Of Reform.

it. 1t might be said to be the
program of the present session as
laid down by the leading republican
paper of the state, 1t will be inter-
esting to note low CLOSELY th2
advice laid down is followed by the
legislature;
"Never has there been so auspi-
cious a time to reform the excesses,
the extrayaganoes and the mul
tifarious abuses.that have crept igy
to every department of our 'govern;.
ment, from state to precinct, as
now. Never did the needs of the
country so cry for this reform.
The excesses have grown from year
TO year, by little and little, till we
have come have, instead Of simple
and. economical government, be-
lieved by the founders to have been
established, one of the loosest and
worst p)undered the country pre-
sents. This condition has grown
and existed by sufferance when
prices where high, profits large and
taxes easily paid. But the de-
preston of the last year which has
swept over the world has made tax
pa ying difficult with all, and i'm
possible with many, and the many
are increasing. With every busi'
ness and every Individual in the
grip of hard times, there is abroad
in the land resolute determination
thatthese abuses and extravagapces
shall stop short, that government
shall cost no more than it need,
and that the hand of official cunning
and greed shall be withdrawn from
the longtime rifled pocket Of the
hitherto patient taxpayer. This
impulse will be felt by the incoming
legislature and by the new members
of the state government, and by
their example extends to the
counties, towns and districts. If,
under these, searching and sweep
ing reforms are not now instituted,
we may we'll despair of their ever
being accomplished.
The last legislature made some
inroads upon the fee system.
They are what should be but a
beginning. The system is an
abomination, and should be cut up
root, and orapch, legal and illegal,
And it. is vice of the system that
more fees are taken without the
law over it than are provided for
under it. The offices Of secretary
of state, treasurer, and superinten-
dent OF schools are fruitful fields
for the knife. Those who know
the new secretary of state doubt
not that he will enter faithfully in.
to this work. Sheriffs, county
clerks and recorders have been
made salaried officers with more
thau.ample salaries, and yet some
of them are left with lucrative fees
in addition that should be at opce
and forever wiped out. Let there
be no hidden emoluments, but let
the salary acquaint the public with
the full amount of the compensa-
ton. And in view Of tht changed
condition of the country, many
of these salaries should be reduced
to take effect from the passage OF
the act, not at the end of the term
Of the incumbent, No officer has
vested right to office or Tree against
act of the Legislature. s%
There are sinecures in the state
departments and in the cohnty aud
city officers that should he abolish.
ed. The acts under which state,
district, county and city officers
are enabled to make emoluments
beyond the limits of compensation
proper to the service and to the
times, should be reviewed by the leg
islature, and all excesses should be
annulled or amended. The state con-
victs should be put at work and
made to earn their prison living
The asylum legislation needs thor
ough scanning and overhauling, tc
the end that no one should be Sent
there who does not there belong