The record-union., 1899-01-17
CUTTING DOWN EXPENSES.


the State, together with reduction of
salaries, instances the State Capitol
Commissioners as having ten employees.
That is pecking at a gnat, and II Is
inaccurate, showing that information
on the subject is not carefully gathered
The truth is, the Capitol Commission
has nineteen employees. but fourteen OF
these are laborers. When it is con-
sidered that these men have all the
work to do necessitated by the care
of a. park of ornamental shrubbery and
lawns, and a great building, it will be
found that the number is not only not
excessive but very modest indeed.
We are by no means disposed to an
tagonize worthy effort to effect econo-
mics in State government. But if there
is to be a beginning this session, let
not the mistake be made of assuming
that mere cheapness is desirable What
the State needs is first-class service,
and just enough. It is surplus en-
ployes and excessive salaries which
should be cut off But the State should
not set the example of wage cheapenng
simply for cheapness' sake. Unques-
tionably plenty Of men would project
themselves into the political field for
the office of Governor if the salary OF
the Chief Executive should be reduced
to 81 day. But we submit that 1t
would be none the less ridiculous to re-
duce the Governors salary to $50 a
month.
Unquestionably plenty of lawyers will
enter the field for the bench if the sal
ary of the Superior Judge is reduced
to $15 a month, but there will be none
so bold as to say that the bench will
then be distinguished for the ability and
ircorruptibility which should grace and
dignity it. If our San Francisco con-
temporary is SO solicitous for the cut
ting down process to begin, how would
it do to open the battery in that city,
where the employees Of the Harbor
Commission are so numerous that, ac-
cording to the statement of the pres
ent head of that board, they fall over
each other in the vain endeavor to find
something.to do that viii have the ap-
pearance of service? There are sail
aries drawn upon the water front Of
San Francisco, under official cover,
which, when the service rendered is
taken into account. are excessive, and
others simply mask sinecures.
1t is well to be intelligent upon these
matters Ignorance of conditions OF
service and the needs of the State are
inexcusable among any who propose re-
trenchment Whatever is done in that
regard. and whatever may be wisely
and safely accomplished in the line of
reduction, should be undertaken; let
not the State be guilty of reductions
horizontally made. and without consid-
ering precisely the conditions in each
case.
For instance, there has recently gone
the rounds Of the press a long printed
list of State employees. with the salaries
attached which each one draws, and
this has been paraded as an evidence
that there is waste; and in a sense it is
true but the list is incomplete and in
accurate. One particular class Of items
fallen upon by commentators upon this
list is the watchmen employed for
guarding State property. as. for IN
stance. the State Treasury. the archives
OF the Office Of the Secretary Of State.
etc. Yet there is no reference made in
these comments to the fact that the
State law forbidding employment for a
days service in excess of eight hours
necessitates three watchmen in each
post for a full twenty -four hours. But
policemen. exposed to far more of peril,
and called upon for infinitely more la
borious tasks for cities and towns, serve
twelve hours, as rule. and there is no
popular demand that the hard lot of
the policeman shall be made a matter
of public concern.
In the same list assault is made
upon the salary paid a watch
man for the Governors Mansion" and
its alleged "absurdity' is pointed out
But that results from an ancient ira
dition that once upon time the State
began to erect Governors mansion,
and while it was In course of construc-
ton man was employed by night to
zee that it was not fired, or the lumber
stolen. The building was never COM
pleted as a mansion, but after some
years the shell was converted into what
is now the State Printing Office Into
that structure property of immense
value has been placed. 1t is a necessity
which will net be denied that by night
it shall be in charge of trusted State
enlploye, who shall keep watch and
ward over it, for obvious reasons. That
v-atchman, by the force of habit, we
presume, is carried on the pay-rolls as
watchman for the Governors mansion,
when. in fact, no such building is
known. But there are none so unwise
as to suggest that the valuable prop
erty referred to should be left un-
guarded by night.
We repeat that the demand for cut
ting down excessive cost, and for reduc-
Ing employees by looping of Unnecessary
offlcials and subordinates. Is commend
able, and should be conserved. But let