Year: 1874

| Our state government s,wlthou exception,
unless it is some God-forsaken, morality
ridden, carpet-bag State in the Sonth. the
the most extravagant in the Union.
And though each year the means
to pay taxes is becoming more circumscribed,
the cost Of government advances at a steady
ratio. The people grumble, demand, pledge,
and resolve in favor of r.trenchment; but
still they are compelled to 60 on paying
high and grinding taxation. There is
time when forbearance ceases to be virtue,
and of that time let shirkng officials be-
ware. From time to time, from Legislature
after Legislature have they looked for and
had right TO expect relief, but so far have
they looked in vain. Each biennial report
reveals the sad fact that the State has be-
come further involved, and the debt Of their
country has increased, though no correspond


ing reduction has been realized in the rate
of their taxes. Such condition is alarm


ing. Though it may be explained away
ever so smoothly by the sap-suckers of the
country, the honest, ,oiling citizen can see
only bankruptcy or reputation in the
future. That a system of rigid economy,
which will at once be felt by the people,
is imperatively demanded is painfully re-
allied by all, and all eyes are turned to the
present Legislature, eagerly anticipating
I
believe, has desire to comply with the
demands Of the people in This as in other
matters but on looking aroul they discoverd
such extravaganza and enormous allowances
in every quarter, that they evidently were


in doubt where to begin. But, thank the
Legislature, (if not the Lord) beginning
has been made, though, in our opinion, at
the wrong place. This retrenc ment is like
trimming forest; it must be thorough and
systematic to be effectual and apparent.
This dabbling at the business is like cutting
off twig now and then, or occasionally
breaking down limb which is more than
recompensed by the annual growth, and
consequently becomes yearly more dense;
and instead of serving as shelter for the
herbage beneath, its extending branches
shut out the exhrating rays of tender
light, and that which should be protected
by It's fmy shadow is deadened or stunted
| 10y oppressive darkLess. A bill has been
favorably considered in the House, TO re-
duce the salary of State officials and their
attaches, and lop off few of the latter
This is all good in its way, but, ,as we said the
start is at the wrong place. If the Legislature
really mean business, and we think they do,
they must take broader AMI deeper ground.
The Controller says, in referring to the
Legislature, "That in no department of the
State government is there greater need Of
reform and retrenchment Then let them
commence by reducing their own expenses
at least one-half. With this exemplary be-
ginning let them 90 with ak and pruning
knife in hand through the whole forest of
State officers, attaches and State institutions,
looping off or cutting down wherever it can
be done without positive injury thus re-
ducing our whole system to a thoroughly
economical management, and save to the
t. x-payers thousands where the present bill
proposes to save hundreds. After this let
each county be overhauled and the expenses
of its government reduced in most cases
from one-thrd to one-h half. Such thorough
overhaulms of the whole system, both State


and county, from Siskiyou to San Diego is
needed, and would be hailed with joy and
thanksgiving by the whole people.