The record-union., 1897-02-08
RETRENCHMENT AND ECONOMIC
ADMINISTRATION.

Assembly bill 1S5 proposed to reduce
the salaries of all persons in the ser
vice of State institutions and depart
ments % per cent. 1t makes no dis
tinction whatever and cuts down the
small and i'll paid along with the we'll
paid and the overpaid servant and en-
ploye Of the State.
For that reason-itS manifest in
equity-we have not believed that the
intelligent author of the measure was
sincere in its introduction or that he
had any idea whatever that it would
prevail and become law, as the Record
Union has heretofore SO expressed it
self. The bill has been reported back
from committee with 2 recommendation
that the author have leave to withdraw
it. This is of course a polite way of
killing a measure and this particular
one may be considered dead.
Probably the purpose of its author
was to emphasize the necessity for re-
trenchment in all governmental de-
partments where it can be done in JUS
tice to wage earners and without in
jury to the public service; or possibly
his intention was to give those who
pose as professional reformers and
wish the pace for the swiftest and
most competent to be set by that
of the slowest and least capable. to ex-
ercise their ingenuity in reducing State
expenses
That retrenchment in some directions
may well be made the Record Union"
long ago pointed out in elaborate
statements Of foct, as for insance
when it showed that some officials of
whom is demanded very highest tech
nical knowledge and mental ability.
requiring long years of study and
training TO fit them to be competent for
certain stations, actually receive from
the State of California less reward for
service taking their whole time. even
when aided by a number of deputies,
than some other officers who have so
little TO do that official service does
not require them to neglect their pri-
vate business, and of whom no special
intellectual ability or training or
high skill are demanded. There are
heads of commissions receiving fine.
large salaries, who have little to do. not
enough to draw them aside from busi-
ness. while other Commissioners VINO
must give much time and laborious
thought 20 their duty receive no reward
whatever, and are compensated only
for actual travelling expenses.
Some time ago the Record Union"
PORTED out these inequalities in detail.
naming the officers and what is de-
manded Of their incumbents. But there
is very broad distinction between
equalization for retrenchment and a
sweeping and indiscriminate reduction
of all rewards for service How. for
instance, unjustly grievously would
such reduction operate in the case of
the men and employees who have care
OF the insane wards of the State. Here
is class Of people exposed TO risk.
hardship and unending service; a SER
vice fearfully and dangerously taxing
the nervous system. and constituting
steady mental strain. OF such skill and
ability are demanded Of special or
der, while the heads OF such institutions
must be men and women of admins
trative skill, fine natural ability and
trained intellectual faculties.
To horizontally reduce salaries would
be to put these men and women upon
the same level Of reduction as the en-
ploye OF whom no high degree of
ability is demanded, and who performs
no arduous or absorbing work. In the
matter of the employees at insane asy-
lums the salaries paid really cut but
a small figure in comparison to the to-
tai expenses of conducting those insti-
tutions when costs Of construction,
additions, transportation, etc, are
taken into account. 1t is altogether
probable that inferior salaries would