Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1909-07-27

70 hold down salaries. II the legislature
will ciip of some needless Offices, l pre-
dict they will 20 home the most popular
set of lawmakers that we have mad IN
many years We need that sort OF
healthy retrenchment all along the line.
Common sense would indicate a neces-
sity for getting our moneys worth In the
states business as well as In private BUS
mess. TOO many cooks spoil the BROTH
says the old adage. and can see no rea-
son why the state house and county court
houses should be constantly piling up
with oficials who can hardly step with
out tumbling over one another.
The public business should be so divided
out that each man has his allotted share.
along with his desk, and then we would
not have to poll the whole body to find
where the praise or blame belongs. we
know. from last years investigation OF
the convict lease and the sworn testimony
OF the prison commissioners, that their
subordinates performed and the principals
plead the baby act" Talk-fests may be
very entertaining in a handsome audience
chamber. but they come high when tax
money is extorted to keep up corps of
officials who amount to no more than the
investigation revealed during last sum-
mer. as to service or capacity.
Good pay for genuine service will never
disturb the mind Of the average citizen of
Georgia, but there is no use in denying
the fact that there is restlessness when
new ofices are created and excellent sal
aries are bloated into larger figures be-
cause the horse-leech's daughter is abroad
crying, ''Morer' "MooreI'
An experience of thirty-hve years and
considerable acquaintance with public
men in state and national politics leads
me to say that the average legislator IL
not half so much bothered by public
questions as he is by the pressure put on
him by people who aim to make their
politics pay. If they can't displace some
body that is in, they must have q berth.
II II needs the creation OF a new office to
satisfy the claimant. I was astonished to
see the men who once congregated in
Washington city and clamored for the Of
fees that a new congress might provide
them. I was a witness to Colonel Fitz-
hugh's troubles as doorkeeper in 1876. and
the dissatisfied office seekers actually
showed him out because he didn't do their
bidding.
Only yesterday 1 came across the old
officil report of Doorkeeper Folks difficult
ties in the 18Th congress, and it would
be racy reading right now to see
what a hurricane of tricks and tricksters
that even a Democratic house of repre-
sentatives could produce and which pass
ed over the country.
So, can appreciate the harrassing ap-
peals that aff1ict the time and patiencs
Of the average Georgia legislator to get
salaries increased and to vote for new Of
fees to stop some clamorous Office seeker 8
mouth and to pay off some workers in
elections.
few interested members buttonhole
the modest and quiet ones to vote for this,
that and the other. until they are alIeost
obliged to act against their better or cool
er judgment when their colleagues press
and press their plans and schemes upon
them continually.
For this reason, and others. 1 feel like
returning thanks for the firmness they
have displayed in regard to increase of
the salaries of judges.
AS a great many of our legislators are
lawyers, they were apprised that certain
judges might try to "get even" with
them with future litigation. but they were
brave enough to say. mo increase" and
the common people heard the no,
gladly"