Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1841-1853, 1852-09-02
FRIDAY MORNING, AUGUST 81, 1852.

Whig Economy and Financiering-COntinued.
The expenditures of the last term of Governor No
bes administration, found in the Auditors Reports Of
1895, sc, and 81, comprising three years, fol-
lows, to-wi:
Expenditures for 1896. 36................. 126 S.64
Expenditures for 1897 .............. 9I656l
On making the calculation it will be seen that the
average annual exper dure for three years to
hundred and nine thousand ioO hundred and thirty
eight dollars and ninety eight cents yearly difference
of thirty thousand re hundred t,reny- dollars
and Twenty-Five cents in favor Of the average expenditures
during the years 1850 and 1871 of Governor Wrghts
administration without taking into any expen.
diture connected with the system of internal improve
During the period Of the prosecution Of system Of
internal improvement involving expenditure of many
millions Of the public money, the whole power OF the
State, Legislative and Executive, in the hands of
the Wing party. In less than year from the passage
Of the internal improvement bill those in authority
pointed the rocks which foundered. But it
was easy matter to breast the power of those who
had millions their control The patronage of the
State Government under Wing rule, was enormous.
The pay of officers and their contingent expenses
nected with the system, greatly than hun
dred thousand dollars per annum In gancing at the
report of the Auditor Of State for lS42 find the fol-
lowing items, in connection with the prosecution Of the
system
General contingencies of construction. 1894 657 10
General contingencies Of Board of Improve
Contingencies Of Fund Commissioners i5I5s. iS
1886 743.o5
What these contingencies were, it would be difficult
to determine. The fact is known, from the public
Cords that in addition the money actually expended
in paying and laborers public works.
for something in relation to which the report of the
Auditor tf State is entirely silent.
In addition this, the contingent expenses of the
Engineer Department for year, reported by Gov
ernor Noble at the session of 1899 40 were SOL Co.
and in the four years may be safely put down at $780,
OOO Many other contingent expenditures, growing ont
of the system doubt omitted in this calculation
The figures here stand before prove that for
contingencies alone, some ssren hundred dollars cere
expended and in instances the items suppressed
unworthy Of consideration. This sa specimen of the
extravaganza of the party which is now hunting mp
items of expenditure paid to clerks, doorkeepers wood
choppers, &C., in connection with the Constitutional
Convention and our last Legislature.
With regard to the Constitutional Convention and our
Constitution the people well satisfied that every
question was fully and freely discussed The present
Constitution is document of which every citizen Of our
State should be justly proud Ii is true that the Con-
venton large in point Of numbers, and the cOnse
quence was that greater number of officers were re-
quired attend upon its deberationshe whole nvolv
ing expenditure of several thousand dollars more
than would have been necessary had the work been
fded to the hands OF lew individuals. Wing mem
ber of some celebrity, who has great aversion TO for
egners and who is of the Scott electors in this
State at an early period of the session. moved that the
old Constitution be adopted and that the Convention ad
ourn sine die Had his motion been adopted, large
expenditure would have been saved. The Whig argu-
that the Convention too large and consequent
y had many officers, and spent too much money In
answer this the people of Indiana have tested the
policy of a large Convention. The work has been ap-
proved and our new Constitution stands forth TO the
world the pride and glory of the State. small body
might have made good Constitution but no true mind
ed Indanian would be now willing to risk the expert
ment, for the sake of saving iow thousand dollars
Had the work performed by the clerks door-keepers
and wood -sawyers been let to the lowest bidder.
few dollars might have been saved but what citizen Of
the State would have justified conduct like this. The
Democratic party have generally advocated liberal
wages to aborng men, and those who are acquainted
with the expenses attending winters residence in In
dianapalis well know, that fortunes have been
made by the prices given clerks and doorkeepers.
The last Legislature, the first under the Const
tuticn has been arragned for extravaganza in the
ployment of clerks and keepers and for taking
newspapers for general circulation The three thousand
dollars paid John ID. Defrees the editor Of the Ind
ana Journal many Democrats will admit TO be extraya-
CANT except it be under the principle admitted by
merous Wings in different parts of the State that the
circulation of his paper has tendency build mp the
Democratic party.
An immense work has been accomplished by the last
Legislature. An entire code of laws adapted to
our present Constitution, has been passed To perform
this task successfully every law in force in the State
had TO be separately examined-humerous committees
had be appointed, forming it were, separate le-
gsative bodes and clerks became necessary order
to enable the Legislature TO continue in session while
bills copied and arranged by the clerks of the
spective committees Instead of passing bills as here
to(ore adapted to a particular object or county laws
had be passed general TO the whole State and suit
as far as possible all cases that might arise under
them.
The Legislature determined TO GO into q full and
complete revision Of the aws-a committee was an.
pointed for that purpose, from the Houses and the
rest of the members took Cor forty days
the expense of a continued session This committe in
order accomplish this great work, in that short Pc
riod employed several clerks to assist them in their