The record-union., 1896-01-03
WHERE THE MONEY GOES.

The Record Union" has stated that.
with the decline of prices and wages,
the capacity of taxpayers in California
cannot be maintained level with the
cost Of State Government as now ad-
ministered. It has promised, in view
of this fact, to examine in detail into
the purposes for which public money is
used, and into the inequalities in its
payment for public service. We have
already pointed out several signal in
stances of gross inequality in the mat
ter of salaries paid for skilled and un-
skilled service by State and county gov
ernments. In pursuing the subject,
which will necessitate somewhat ex-
tended comments, the Record Union"
will be moved by a spirit of justice and
fairness, since it counts for nothing
to dogmatically charge that State
expenses are too great. 1t must be
shown where there is extravaganza,
and where likewise there is justifica-
tion for retention of any of the items
expense account. All such review and
criticism must have broad and ele-
waited horizon, and consider not only
the present but the future of the State,
for it does not always follow that pres
ent retrenchment is true economy.
Nor is the inquiry to be confined to
outgo from the State treasury, since
there is even larger output of money of
the taxpayers through county and city
administrations, and these must have
examination also. All expense for pub
lie service is at the cost of the taxpay-
ers, and no matter how indirect, the
outgo in one way or another is a call
upon the private purse. Wherein,
then, can there be economy conserved
in branches of government, that the
public expense may be brought into
more equitable relation to the leveling
process in the matter of wages and re-
turns for sale of products?
The State of New York has a popula-
ton of over 100000 souls. and col
lects taxes upon property valued at $4.-
OBS. .05S, $40 California has popula-
tion of about 1.250,000 souls. and COLI
lects taxes upon property valued at
81. .133, ,2S2, 013. The Legislature of
New York, drawing pay for members
for one hundred days of session,
costs the State, including some
very long and expensive tnyes-
LEGATIONS prosecuted in New York
City at heavy cost, $411, $40 SO. The
Legislature of California, drawing pay
for its members for but sixty days
session, costs this State $195.628 for
bare mileage, per diem and contingent
expenses. Thus while New York has
three and fifty-six one-hundredths
times more taxable property than Cal
ifornia, and 4.750,000 more people to
care for, California misses by only $780,
600 expending half as much as New
York for that luxurious necessity, the
expense of a Legislature. This dispro-
portion announces its own moral
Our legislative sessions cost too much
fully one-third or more. The Senate
consists Of forty members and presid-
ing officer, but that body at the thirty
first session had no less than 169 en-
ployes and officers. 1t could have trans
acted all its business, and with equal
facility, and equally for the good of the
State with greatly lessened number.
There were thirteen porters, but six
could have performed all necessary
service, a fact that every Senator
knows to be true, and that not one will
venture to controvert More than half
Of these porters. as also in the case or
clerks, were given place to placate po-
litical managers and persistent politi-
cal servitors.
The pay of the porters of the Senate
cost the people for that session nearly
$1,000. The service rendered was paid
for at a rate of 81 per day. It was not
worth more than So; indeed. like labor
in other industries does not command
the latter figure. The porterage of the
Senate should not have cest for the ses-
sion to exceed 81, 200.
There were seven Minute Clerks-in
addition to one allowed by statute-at
IS a day each. when three could have
performed the entire service. Indeed.
the one allowed by statute is sufficient.
and in fact one good stenographer couid
actually keep the full minutes easily.