Year: 1861

tenton 20 the subjoined extracts from the Gin
cinnati Commercial and the New York Tribune,
discussing both the necessity and the proprety of
a retrenchment in the salaries Of all public off.
GERS, and desires their publication. We comply
with the request cheerfully, ssthe suggestions of
those prints can not but strike the public mind
favorably. Except sth army contractors and
few other instances, the compensation of those
engaged in trade, in commerce, in manufacturers
and in all kinds of employments have been ma
terialy lessened since the commencement of the
war. and with but little probability of improve
ment while il continues. Rents have also de-
clined so that the incomes of the owners
of real estate will be greatly reduced
and in many instances cut down to merely NOM
inaI rents. " lille incomes and rents are being
lessened, taxes areincreasing- public burdens
are rapidly augmenting. Is it not obvious, then
as matter of strict Justice, that the salaries or
compensation Of all public officers should be re-
duced to correspond with the new order of af-
fairsy This matter should promptly receive the
consideration of those who have it in their power
to effect change. Let US begin at home. Our
City Council have it in their power, by reducing
the salaries of our city officials, to tighten the
burdens of the taxpayers. Will they, in this re-
gard, heed the universal demand for strict econ
omy in all public expenditures, and reduce the
pay of Office holders so as to correspond with the
lessened compensation and incomes of private
citizensl Congress is, also, called upon to lessen
the public expenditures by retrenchng the CON-
pensation of the immense army of office-holders
who are fastened on the prolic treasury But how
can Congress reduce civil salaries without first
reducing their own pay? What right, these hard
times, has Congressman to pay himself by his
own vote, over 81 600 for some eighteen months
service in a safe and agreeable position, with the
power of dispensing favors to his personal favor
ties and friendsl The expense of carrying on
the civil department of the Government con-
sidering the times, is enormous; and many saIa-
ries are double what the recipients could make in
any other way; and hence in great part the parti-
sanship and struggles solicitations and corruption
to get Office in both the State and nation Ger
tanly there is a necessity of reform in every de-
partment of the Government from the highest to
the lowest and now is the time to bring the civi,
expenditures down to an economical standard
We most heartily indOrse the suggestions of our
Republican contemporaries to that end, and we


ope they will continue their good work in testing
the patriotism of the army of Office holders who
are greedily nibbling at the public CRIB.


The Cincinnati Commercial SAYS:


The deplorable civil war in which we are en-
gaged-like all other great wars-will produce
hard times. The holders of property will not only
have to put up with increased taxes and reduced
rents, but must contribute largely to the support
of the families of soldiers and to meet the thou
sand demands upon the patriotic and liberal.


There is class of persons among us, not as
yet affected by the tghtness of the times, who
should bear their share of the burden. We refer
to the holders of office. We are expending very
large amount in paying the salaries of municipal
officers. Every salary, high and low, should be
reduced twenty per cent. Wemight go into the
county offices, also, and reduce the emoluments
of their incumbents, largely to the public advan
tage. The same thing might be done with our
schools Of all the salaries paid out of the taxes
levied upon the people, not one should furnish an
exception to the rule. Rents and provisions are
low-and salaries should fall also. The way to
carry the war is to make its burdens rest even
ly upon the shoulders of all.


No opposition can be made to the proposition
to reduce salaries, unless through selfshneSs-and
in times of public trial and calamity, the selfish
are the unpatriotic.


NATIONAL RETREScHMENT.-Tie New York
Tribune of a late date, has the following upon the
same subject:


The sore trials of adversely are not without
their consultations. If they seattle, they also pu-
rify. We shall inevitably emerge from our pres
ent perils poorer but at the same time less
prodigal and more .frugally'goveTned people than
hitherto. One of the best signs of the times is
the following act, which passed Congress at its
last session with little or no opposition


IAN ACT providing Committee to examine


and report as to the compensation of all Off


GERS of the Government, and for other pur-


poses.


"Be il enacted by the Senate and House of Rep
resentatires of the United States of america ia
Congress assembled, That for the purpose of sea
ling, equalizing and reducing the compensation of
the various officers of the Government, Board
of Commissioners is hereby organized, to be com
posed as follows OF two members ofthe Senate,
to be appointed by the presiding officer of the Sen
ate; three members of the House of Representa-
tives, TO be appointed by the Speaker OF the House,
one officer OF the navy and one officer OF the ar
my, to be appointed by the President. That said
Board shall examine and report, as soon prac
ticable First, fair and Just compensation for
each officer of the Government second, such pro-
visions of law as will regulate the expenditure of
all indefinite and contingent appropriations, inclu
ding those for the Courts of the United States
third, for the more economical collection of the
revenue fourth, what officers or employments,
if any, may be dispensed with without detriment
to the public service.


SEC. 2. And be Il further enacted, That said
commissioners have leave to report by bill or bills,
otherwise, at each House at the next session of
Congress, and have leave TO employ clerk, at
compensation not to exceed four dollars a day for
the time actually needed.


APPROVED July 81. 1861"


Ii would be rash to speak of reform initiated
as lift were accomplished but there is certainly
good beginning. The whole field of public ex
penditure is brought under review, and a commits
sion provided that ought to be competent TO do
justice to the vast interests involved in its proper
exploration. That some good must result from
such a scrutiny is inevitable; that saving of at
least ten millions per annum might be effected,
if the commission should be composed of men at
once capable and hearty in the work, there can be
no doubt.


The public mind is ripening if not already ripe
for thorough reform. To extract thousands
from the Federal treasury without rendering the
public any equivalent therefor is not reckoned
half so good joke as it was even one year
ago. The next Floyd that gets his head and
shoulders into the crib will not find it nearly so
easy to draw them out again as John B. did He
will not have time allowed him for the commits
sion of any large amount of treason thereafter.
Fort Snellings will not be sold nor Willetts
Points on terms so advantageous to the operators,
official and unofficial, as in the famous cases on
record. To charge the Government some hun
dreds and even thousands of dollars for an imag
mary journey home from Washington to Texas
or Oregon and back again to Washington be-