The Birmingham age-herald., 1914-05-31
USELESS JOBS ARE DOOMED UNDER NEW ADMINISTRATION Retrenchment Is WatchwOrd in States Policy for the
 Next Four Years LEGISLATORS ARE
 UNITED ON ISSUE Cotton Statistics and Immigration Commissioner Will be First to
 Feel AK When Solons Assemble
By HUGH w. ROBERTS

Retrenchment is all the talk. Every body has adopted conservative pol icy in matters of public expenditures. In this regard Charles Henderson when he is governor will have no difficulty in making good his promises.
 There Is no question but that dark will be no more officeholders earning wages without commensurate labor. Nominated members of the legisla- ture are determined to put Alabama on as firm a financial foundation as possible. There is danger lest they go too far.
 MT. Henderson has announced that he will oppose all measures carrying appropriations which the state will not be able to make. Thomas F. Kilby. to be lieutenant governor, declares that he is in thorough accord. Many of those who have been nominated to serve in the legislature have expressed satis = faction with this programme. A revi- sion of the obsolete taxation system obtaining in Alabama with provision for the equalization of the burden, the abolition of needless offices. and the combination of others, together with indulge in reckless appropriation of the peoples money, will be features of the next administration. It will be a con- structive administration unless perpet- ual and money mad agitators succeed in their nefarious scheme of injecting private and selfish enterprises.
 In the first place there will never be another cotton statistician in Ala bama. In the second place there will never be another immigration commis- sioner in Alabama. For some years these needless offices. these sinecures, have been retained because of the ne- cessity confronting governors of pay ing political debts to the lieutenants who had been faithful. MT. Henderson, 1t is said and believed, has made no foolish promises. Therefore it Is safe to predict the passage of the offices of cotton statistician and immigration commissioner. two delightfully."- juicy plums for which able bodied men, de- siring neat salaries without the neces- sity of labor. have for many years longed with watering mouths.
 According to the plan, the functions now discharged by the cotton statisti- elan and the immigration commissioner will be performed by the commissioner of agriculture. As is pointed out, the commissioner of agriculture should per form these duties. And furthermore, there seems to be a determination on the part of nominated legislators to make the commissioner of agriculture buster than he has ever before been.
 It is anticipated that this plan will encounter little opposition, and no seri- ous opposition.
 There is no question but that certain members will make an effort to se cure the abolition of the jobs now held by John H. Wallace, Jr., fish and game commissioner, and Dr. w. H. Oates. mill and prison inspector.
 It is very probable that MT. Hender- son would not lend his influence to the destruction of the self-sustaining office of fish and game commissioner. He naturally feels very kindly to MT. Wal lace, for MT. Wallace rendered him valuable assistance in his campaign. It Is not known what will be the attitude of the nominated governor in regard to the office of jail inspector
 The charge brought against the of- flee of fish and game commissioner is that it is useless. worse than useless, on account of the general disregard of the laws the commissioner has earnest ly tried to enforce. The charge brought against the office of jail inspector is that it is needless in virtue of the fact that county commissioners, if they are honest and competent, are able, with the assistance of county physicians, to reach conclusion as to whether or not a prison Is sanitary. Dr. Oates has done a fine work in securing the construc- tion of many new jails. The opposition may not prevail