The San Francisco call., 1898-04-02
COMMISSIONERS IN LUNAcY..

II reports from Sacramento it appears that the F State Commissioners in Lnnacy as a result .oi =: their consultation in this city have decided upon series of economies in the asylunis Of the State which will result in saving according to one account $I45ooo, and according to another $tzooo, annually .. <. .: -::==> :... : :.::
 A saving of such magnitude in State instftutions voluntarily undertaken by the mrn who: have charge of them Is something so unprecedented that to prae- tical politicians 1t will seem like evidence that Com nnssioners in Lunacy are very mulch fhe< same as luiatic Commissioners. The seeming, however. Is ohthe surface only It appears from the details Of the plan of economy proposed that as n1ch care has been taken of the big men in the asyiums and tie Commissioners themselves as the most astte tax eater could desire and that the economies are to be accomplished solely at the expense of the men who receive small salaries, and whose positions, being largely under civil service regulations are not avaiI- : able for patronage. <".. * # : -:
 The reports state the Commissioners have agreed that the medical superntendens and assistant ply siciaps, all of whom are now receiving good large salaries and free board and lodging at the asyltrns are to get an increase of pay amounting to $1oo for each years continuous service, and each of them Is further allowed one servant at S25 a month Thus far there is no saving to the State. Something had to be done to make up for the increase of pay to the big men and for the employment of private servants at the expense of the commonwealth The prlning- knife Of cutting economy. was therefore applied to the wages of the subordinate officials and the thing was done. . ~..- ~:::: ... -a
 The Commissioners in Lunacy have followed the precedents that have prevailed in this world since ever man was first given power to pay Peter at the expense of Paul. The trick of showing generosity to one set of by practicing economy on another is of the accomplishments of men in authority which was reduced to fine art. generations ago Nevertheless it has never become popular A Lon don fishwife when reproved for swearing at an eel for squirming when she was skinning it alive de tended herself by saying that she had been skin ming eels for twenty years it was time for them to get used to it and quit squirming; The eels, how ever, have never got used to it. Neither has man. kind got used to the economic plan of sknning sub ordinates, which the Commissioners in Lunacy have seen fit to follow. They are still squrmng.
 A few years ago MT. Pullman tried the plan on an extensive scale at te town of Pullman In order to maintain the large salaries paid to tile heads of de- partnents in his business and at the same time save enough to enable him to give $1ooooo to church for the worship Of the good God, he reduced the wages of every workingrnan in his employ The re- suit was tiiat memorable squirm which agitated the whole nation and led to serious civil disturbance It is evident therefore, that this method of prac- ticing* economy is. not acceptable to the American people. Californians will gladly see reduction of expenditures in the various institutions of the State but they will not approve plan which provides big officials with private servants at the expense of the State and takes the cost out of the pockets of men who have been working for small wages and have neither servants nor perquisites.