Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1841-1853, 1850-02-28
For TIE STATE Sentinel.
The New Constitution.


If asked soere the reduction of expenses should begin
answer, might begin at the Capital Tie legislature
consists of 5O members. Each msmber receives three
dollars per day. For six weeks this amounts to
$I5,900 Reduce dollars per day and the saving
would be $4,000 per annum. Surprising the members TO
average 100 miles travel eac IL cents each per mie
"a cents both ways, the expense would be S2,lOO ke
duce one-haf and the saving will be 81 200 per
Adopt biennial Of the legislature, instead of
nual, and the saving may be sci down a S2o0OO Tor
each session abolished, or SI2 500 per year saved.
These items, surprising ih.m To be- c"rrrci would
amount $2OOO0 Including The expenses Of printing,
paper, fres pay of members, &c. This calculation will
be found enough for all practical purposes,
though it does pretend any exactness. This is
only branch of the public service but it is fair spe-
cmen of what may be done in other branches. If
would govern the public expenditures by severe
economy no, despise the day OF small things
little here and little there, saved will amount to
$50 600 per annum But only $50 900 per annum saved
and put six per compound interest, with the
saved added each year, would constitute sinking fund
sufficient TO discharge the entire State Indebtedness in
less than sixty years.
know it will be said that 50 per day is much
pay members Of the legislature, and that twelve
per mile will not more than pay travelling expenses.
But my is that body goes the legisla
ture a money making business-that we should COM
mand the services of the very ut two dollars,
that do three and that can travel from Indiana
Boston, Mass expense Of six cents per mile, and
upon the best steamers aud railroad cars-stay a week,
aud home with three dollars in my pocket This
would be a distance OF about thousand miles, and
the COST including meals and lodging would be less than
two and half cents per mile. believe that the six
New England States pay only dollars per day the
members of their legislature where the cost of living is
much higher than in the Western States. In fact seve-
raj of the Western States pay them but dollars.
Provision will have TO be made for dividing the State
into judicial districts for the election of Judges, into
Representative districts election of
members Of the legislature and for congressional dis
trcts all of which should be single districts if possible.
Two single Representative districts might constitute one
Senatorial district And it will be for The Convention TO
say whether all legislative power shall The
people every two years-whether Senators, Representa-
tves and members Of Congress, Governor Secretary Of
State and State Treasurer shall be elected bienniay
The Office OF Lieutenant Governor might be abolished
and the Senate left elect It's presiding officer
the the House of Representatives.
The Judges should be elected for term Of years, and
then be ineligible forever after.
The veto power of the Governor should be extend
ed require majority Of twolhds Of each branch
of the legislature to pass law its defiance.
Some provision should be made for the organization oil
the Senate aud House of Representatives, whenever
might be equal divisions of parties, that the pub
lie business should suffer has recently Wash
iagon, and Columbus, Ohio. SWITZERLAND.