Southport telegraph. [volume] (Southport, W.T. [i.e. Kenosha, Wis.]) 1840-1850, 1842-01-25

House and the Council, is amply sufficient for our
present population, and small augmentation of
the number would be every way adequate, to the
proper representation of the people for the next ten
years. We therefore propose that the larger branch
| of the Legislature consist of 80 members, and the
smaller branch of Is. This will give one member in
| the House to every two thousand inhabitants when
our population numbers 10000. This number of
representatives would be sufficient until we have
population of at least 10000.
With regard to the pay of the Legislature $500
per diem is all the people should ever consent to
give, when adopt State Constitution Some
OF the States allow their Legislators but $3.50 per
day. One of the greatest evils in the organiza-
ton of Governments, is the pecuniary emoluments
allowed to officers. 1t leads corruption, bargain
and sae-candidates make the spolls of office the
primary object of their ambition.
The committee also propose to give scren Off
GERS to each house. This we unhesitatingly pro-
nounce the height of extravaganza. There is
scarcely State in the Union which allows so
many officers to the legislature. Michigan has but
three to each house-three to each house is enough
for MISUNDERSTANDING and Stationary the Com
mttee estimate at $S.500-this is at least S., 500
too much. Fire, light, and contingent expenses
are estimated at SO, 500-ths is rather indefinite
item, and we think this estimate higher than ne
cessary-still will not change the estimate
The committee estimate the length of the session
90 days. But few sessions of the legislature in the
New England continue 60 days, and persons who
have much experience in our Territorial Legisa-
ture, have informed us that the business ordinarily
transacted during our Legislative sessions mi CHIT be
easily disposed of in thirty days,-however, we
will not curtall the estimate of the Committee
Our estimate of the Legislative department will
then stand thus:-
Legislative Assembly with 30 members in
one branch and fifteen in the other-45 in
all, with an allowance per diem of S.. 90,
and session of 60 DAYS, $5 400
Mileage at an average of $25 each LIPS
Printing and stationary 5000
Three officers to each house at So. 90 per day 72O
Fire, lights and contingencies, $500
$l6745'
Next we propose to consider the Committees
estimate of the expenses of the Judiciary depart
ment, which estimate is as follows:-
"Four Judges with Salaries of $500 each, 5000
One Chancellor, salary 1900
Expenses of Court and Jurors 10000
$4,000
Wisconsin is at present divided into three Judi
cial Districts of the United States Court there
cannot possibly be occasion for greater number of
judicial districts than exist, for many years to
Va ;loJ
why then should Wisconsin with scarce oae-siati-
eth of the population of New York, require half as
many judicial distrctsl Twelve hundred dollars
would also be sufficient salary for the Judges, un-
til Wisconsin has three times its present popula-
ton. salary of 81 200 would also be sufficient
compensation for the Chancellor. The item of
$4,000 for expenses of Courts and Jurors is high,
but when we reflect what proportion of our popu-
latlon are lawyers it probably will not be safe to
lessen this estimate--Our estimate of the judicial
department stands as follows -
Three Judges with Salaries of $1,000 each $4,000
Chancellor 5000
Court and Jurors 10000
$l4,80O
To which add the estimated expenses of the
Legislative Department, 16,745
Executive Department 1880
Total estimated expense of State Govt 1874, 495
Total estimate by the Committee $5O,O5O
Excess of the Committees estimate $l5,555
In the foregoing estimate of the expenses of
State Government, we have based our calculations
upon the examples of other States 1t is true there
expenses not brought into the account,
attendant upon the States, from which we have
drawn our examples, but it should be borne in
mind, that we have in no case taken the LONGEST
rates for which the services we have enumerated
in those States are rendered. The Committee ad-
nit that their estimates of the expenses of State
Government, greater than is absolutely neccssa-
ny for that object. They say their estimate is ''not
as to what such expense might in a spirit of rigid
economy be made; but upon what it will in all
probability in the Issue really come up to- Now
this is equivalent to saying that the people of Wis
consin will never form a State Government upon
principles of economy! To such sentiment as
this we are at war. We 60 for an economical
Government--the great body of the people will 90
for an economical Government, and if such Co
vernment they cannot obtain, they will remain in
their Territorial attitude until the stars fall down,
and the lights of heaven extinguished.
THE AvAILs OF LABOR IN WIscoNsIN-Many
people at the East we apprehend have but an i'm
perfect idea of the relative difference between the
East and the West, in the amount of labor requir-
ed to raise crop of grain. The West furnishes
an abundance of evidence that its soil repays the
laborer's toll with far richer harvests than the soil
of the East.--Mr. Strong, of Pleasant Prairie, in