Southport telegraph. [volume] (Southport, W.T. [i.e. Kenosha, Wis.]) 1840-1850, 1843-02-28
CONGRESSIONAL.
Debate in the House of Representatives.,
February End, on the Bal concerning
the LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY of WIS


consia.
On motion of Mr.. DODGE, the committee
took up "a bill concerning the Legislative
Assembly Of Wisconsin.
Mr.. CAVE JOHNSON wished TO hear some
reason for the appropriation contained in
this bill"
Mr.. POPE explained that it was necessa-
ry, in order TO enable the Legislative As
sembly to meet. There was now no sp-
and the Governor refused to
cooperate with them, until an appropria-
ton should be made, and their meeting le-
galized.
Mr.. ADAMS called for the reading Of the
bill. He thought it had not been reported
with due consideration. He wished the
committee to consider we'll before they Ge-
cded whether the governor or the legisla-
ture of Wisconsin was right.
Mr.. PORE explained the BILL The Leg
islative Assembly supposed they had assem-
bled according to laws" and therefore,
those words were inserted in the bill. At
his suggestion, they were stricken out, SO
as to leave it an open question whether the
Assembly met according to law in Deem
Der.
Mr.. WARREN wished 10 know why il was
necessary for the Legislature to sit fifty
days.
Mr.. POPE explained. According to law
the Territorial Legislatures were allowed
to sit IS days. But in consequence Of the
expenses which had to be incurred, in the
shape Of mileage, &c, at the meeting Of
the Legislative Assembly in December, the
committee thought proper to limit the ses-
sion to be held to SO days.
MIR. L. w. WILLIAMS referred to the
law passed at a former session Of Congress.
and asked if it did not prohibit sessions of
Territorial Assemblies, from being held
without an express appropriation being
first made.
Mr. BRIGGs called for the reading Of the
law.
Mr.. DEAN explained the organic law Of
the Territory of Wisconsin on this subjecA
That required there should be meeting
of the Legislative Assembly on the frst
Monday of December Of every year.
When the governor refused TO meet them,
on the ground that there was no appropria-
ton, they I'D ourned Now the object OK
this bill was to pay them for their meeting
or this occasion; according to the law Of
the Territory. Important business required
their early meeting, and he hoped the bill
would be passed.
Mr.. BRIGGs wished to hear the facts
At the last session Of Congress law was
passed, which provided that no session of 8
Territorial Assembly should be held, un-
less an appropriation had previously beer
made. Several members, Gan appropri-
alton was made."] Now be wished to
know whether the appropriation was made
for the meeting in December last
Mr.. DoDGE said an appropriation was
made in the civil and diplomatic appropria-
ton bill of 1912.
The Clerk read a clause from that bin.
which appropriated 100000 for the pay
and mileage of the Legislative Assembly of
Wisconsin.
Mr.. BRIGGS wished to be informed whe-
Their the appropriation was for services past
or prospective.
Mr.. DODGE explained. That appropria-
ton was for the Legislative Assembly Of
1912, but WIS misapplied blythe Secretary
of the Territory, and applied to the pay
ment of arrearages, and old debts of the
Territory. That officer contended that he
had ample reasons to Justify him in SO do
ing If then, the Secretary misappied the
funds for the payment Of the Legislative
Assembly, it was not their fault.
Mr.. BRIGGs laid that he was not pre-
cisely relieved from its difficulties If he
understood the gentleman, he said that ,he
money was appropriated for one purpose,
but that the Governor applied it to anoth-
err.
Mr.. FILLMORE, without intending TO en-
ter into the present controversy. begged
leave to make an explanation. Al the las.
session Of Congress, an appropriation was
made for this Territory, for the year 1912.
In recommending the appropriations, how
ever, the Committee Of Ways and Means
found claims for large arrearages which
they refused to allow; andthey only recon-
mended the amount of appropriation that
had been made the year before. When the
bill came up in the House, a motion was
made TO insert an appropriation for AREA
RACES, which was rejected. The bill then
went TO the Senate; and finally, for the pur-
pose Of avoiding these arrearages in ru.
tu'S' seeLioh was ihseTteu,ploVlulng tha!,
hereafter, no sessions Of the Terrltorial
Legislatures shall be held without an APP
preparation from Congress to pay them.
This was the state Of the case, so far az
the Committee Of Ways and Means vas
concerned He did not see how it applied
20 the present question.
Mr.. ADAMS moved to strike out the pro-
vision for mileage and perdiem for the
members of the Legislature Of Wisconsin,
who met on the first Monday Of Dec last.
and whom the Governor refused to com.
municate with. on the GROUND that there
was no appropriation to pay them.