Southport telegraph. [volume] (Southport, W.T. [i.e. Kenosha, Wis.]) 1840-1850, 1842-01-04

The appropriations granted in every year except
lS4, have been sufficient defray the expenses of
the Legislature. From this it will be SEEM that the
average amount required annually for the payment
OF the Legislature, is something over $50, 900 Now
1t Is an insult to the intelligence of the people, for
any man TO pretend that the Legislative business of
the Territory, cannot be transacted for less sum
than has hitherto been paid. The organic act al
lows the Legislature a session of 10 days, and in
most cases the Legislature has held its session the
full length of time limited by law But every man
knows full well, that the ordinary amount of bust
ness transacted by the Legislature, during its SEES
sion, hight be done in less than half the time 1t
is notorious fact, that at every session of the e-
gslature, more than half the time which should be
devoted to legislation spent in idleng and amuse-
ments. Witness the sessions of '39 and 40-what
a succession of holydays and waste of time-how
many days were devoted TO affairs foreign to legis
laton. Gentlemen who have had practical expert
ence in our Territorial Legislature for the last two
or three years, have informed us that the business
of the session hight be transacted in thirty DAYS.
without imposing too hard a service on the men,
bers. In Rhode Island and some of the other
States which have greater population than Wis
consin now has, or will have for some few years to
come, the legislative business is frequently trans
acted in four or five weeks
What is The history of the present Legislature {?
1t is now nearly one month since the legislature Or
gained, and not a single bill has been passed -
Here then an expenditure of some or thousand
dollars has been incurred, including pay of men,
bers, officers, and contingencies, and nothing ac-
eompIshed Where is there a citizen in Wiscon-
sin, who would tolerate such agents of the people,
were the Territory obliged to pay the expenses
That individual therefore, mus, either be a simple
ton h'nosel', or calculate upon the stupidity of the
people, who undertakes TO demonstrate that the ex
penses OF our Legislature would be as great under
State government Territorial The people
of this Territory too Intelligent and understand
the principles of economy too well, to countenance
prohigats expenditures of the peoples money. Nc
Legislature would dare to spend IS days at the can
itol in the peoples employ, and under the people
pay, were Wisconsin State. Nor would such 2
company of pensioned officers and clerks as now
throng the legislature be allowed: there are six
teen officers and clerks appended to the Legislature
besides servants, &c. There are but thirteen mem
bers in the Council, and this body annually &C
commodities itself with eight officers, chosen from
without its own numbers in the form of 90 secreta
ries," clerks " door-keepers," &c. There
not legislative body in the Union, composed of n
more members than the Legislature of this Terri
tory. which has az many officers But while W
exist s Territory, any abridgment of the numbe
o. officers in tue Leg stature, will not be likely
take psc,.