The record-union., 1896-10-21

Is ImIted to O,UOU. More Lnau nalI OF
the addition is by law, distributed to
officials Legislative, State, county and
city, and public libraries. The demand
greatly exceeds the supply, and l
would recommend that the number of
copies be increased to 10000 The book
is in constant demand by large per-
centage of our citizens, and by many
teachers and scholars in the public
schools, where it is often used in the
study of civil government.
FEES REDUCED.
| The Legislature in 1895 amended
Section 416 of the Political Code, con-
tanning the fee bill for this office, by
reducing many of the charges; this has
caused a material falling off In the re-
ceipts and revenue of the office In the
past year and a half.
| To remedy this evil and to impose
just and equitable system of fees,
| would recommend that Section 416 OF
the Penal Code, relating to fees, be
amended
ECONOMY NECESSARY.
| To economize has been my constant
aim. Retrenchment in the State Gov
ernment should receive the first con-
sideration of every official; he is but a
servant of the people, and often dis
penser of their money. 1t is due to the
people of California, and to the taxpay-
| ers in particular, that economy should
be enforced in all departments of the
State Government. One should not be
| cxtravagart or careless with public
money If an appropriation Of $780,
600 be made, the sum should not be
| expended, simply because it is avail
| Ix-l,a Ir1f will
the purpose for which the appropriation
W as made. State officials should study
how to save, not how to spend. The
people should be enlightened, in de-
| tail, where their money is expended,
and the necessity for all public expendi-
| lures.
| The State Board of Examiners should
not be clerical, but all that the title i'm
| plies. Much is expected of the board
! ly the people, but it is not at present
| clothed with sufficient power. The
| board should be the legal body to ex-
| anime into all State affairs, and by
| doing away with the worthless but
| costly expense of having members of
| the Legislature make their biennial
tours, the State would save thousands
1 of dollars. 1t is very unsatisfactory to
approve claim after claim presented to
| the board without a thorough knoWl-
| edge Of said claims, the cost of the
| items Of supplies in the open market,
quality and quantity furnished, and the
| labor performed. The State should get
value received in all transactions, and
| the benefit of doubt when there Is
ole.
An inventory should be made bien-
nially of all State property; debit and
| credit account opened with each irsti-
tuition and department, and all property
belonging to the State properly entered
| thereon. The inventory can be made
by the proper officials, without expense
! and reported to the State Board of
| Examiners.
PUBLIC FUNDS.
| All public funds should be kept
sacred and intact for the specific pur-
| pose for which the appropriation was
made: nor should any expenditure be
permitted, nor a charge against the
State created, unless the appropria-
tions for said expenditures are pre-
| 1i0usly made by the Legislature. The
practice Of enacting laws requiring the
payment of public money without the
necessary appropriations, thereby ne
cessitating payments from other funds,
following the custom of first come,
first served" causing a deficit in the
ger eral fund, to the loss and inconveni-
ence Of regular claimants and officials,
ard opening the doors to Deficiencies, is
wrong in principle, works an injury to
the people, and is vicious from a bust
ess standpoint.
All moneys received in behalf Of the
state, no matter from what source or
hot cal,< ha
rectly into the State Treasury, and con-
tingent and other funds not provided
for by appropriations should be pro-
ever could then be expended without
being drawn from the treasury through
! the regular channel.
1t is not sufficient for an official to
save what he can to the taxpayers by
cutting down, whenever possible, the
| appropriation for his particular office,
institution, board, or commission, by
not using all the appropriation If he can
avoid doing So or by permitting no de-
ficinncy, but ne should be equally
vratchful of other appropriations,
claims for which pass through his
hands The official who makes no at
tempt toward economy is not doing his
duty by the people, and is deserving of
censure.
Officials should have a thorough
knowledge Of State affairs, for such
| knowledge is essential to the welfare
OF the commonwealth. Practical ex-
| porience. coupled with close observa-
ton, application. and study, will give
the requisite information.
From the condition Of things, and as
a result Of Investigations, one would
be. compelled to believe that but little
care has been manifested in protecting
the interests Of the taxpayers. Ere
qnently men follow in the footsteps of
their predecessors, keeping in the same
| old rut and following old time Gus
toms without thought or care Of irn
prOVement or of the welfare of their
constituents. It is not sufficient that
| an official or employe should mechan-
| ically earn his salary; if he will, Re
| can more than save his salary, and
oftentimes much more, by proper de-
votion to the welfare Of the State.
An official should have not only the
desire to do what is right, but he
should make it his business to go out
Of his way, if necessary, to investigate
public expenditures and gain practi-
cal knowledge, outside Of his office as
well as in it, Of the necessities for the
vast appropriations OF State money
that are made. He should go into de-
tails and familiarize himself with the
| conduct Of State institutions, and as
| certain upon what business lines they
are being conducted. The transactions
of the State are large, footing UP mill
ions of dollars per annuin, and its af-
fairs should be conducted upon strictly