The Wasp — 1894 — page 220: what you’re looking at

What you’re looking at

This political cartoon satirizes California state treasury management. The left panel shows a "State Treasury" vault labeled "Warrants Cashed in Blue Chips," suggesting government financial instruments were being exchanged improperly. The right panel depicts a domestic scene where a woman manages household finances using books labeled with various state funds (School Fund, Sinking Fund, General Fund, etc.). The comparison implies state money was being handled like personal household accounts rather than with proper governmental oversight. The wasp mascot appears at top. The cartoon criticizes mismanagement or informal handling of public funds across Southern California, suggesting treasury officials were treating state finances carelessly or corruptly rather than maintaining professional financial standards.