Portage sentinel. [volume] (Ravenna, Ohio) 1845-1854, 1852-05-31
Expenses Of the legislature.

Expenses Of the Legislature.
The subject Of expenses Of the Legisla-
,ure has formed the main bur,hen of the
song Of the Whig press since the adjourn
ment Of that body. The following article
from the Cincinnati Citizen, shows that the
opposition prints are resor.ing 10 msrepre.
sen.ation and I(alsehood TO carry their point.
We commend The facts contained in this
article Of the Citizen to the especial a,len.
lion of our truth loving neighbor of the
Whig, who has nude the subject Of Legis-
la,iye expenses the subject cf hypoerilical
comment:
TO the Editors Of the Citizsn:
GENrLEMAN-An article recently ap>
peared in the Cincinnati Commercial copied
from The Ohio Stale Journal, in reference
to the expenses Of the General Assembly
during the past session. The Commercial
sails under neutral flag, but It's columns
have recently contained several articles
commenting on the course Of the Demo.
cratic members Of the Legislature IN q
spirit Of apparent yiruleucy thn, would do
the State Journal itself no discredit. What
may have been the expenses OF the past
session, cannot y et be suited with certainty.
The Journal says one hundred thousand
dollars, and attempts TO convey the impress
sion that this is On enormous expenditure.
Admit that the expense has cast the Sluie
that amount. A glance at the record will
do, fh,f - -,
or unusual. and that the Legislature is
guiItless of a, least one Of the many charges
with which Wing Press, irri,nled by the
constitutional ai,nct Of the Assembly through
the Tax Law, on a corrupt banking sys-
TEN, have SO ruthtess'y asssiled 1t. lie, US
look al the record, to which, as it Processes
10 be searcher after truth, we commend
the Commercial. The appropriation bills
Of December 1850, and March 25, 1851.
applied to expenses OF the General Assem-
bly,, the sum Of $94 600. This amount in-
cludes the allowance for postage, ard print.
ing bills. reports and other matter ordered
by the Two Houses, but includes the sum Of
$4,000, for the purchase Of fuel for the
Legislature and public officers, as we'll as
an appropriation OF $4,000 for the pur-
chase of stationery for the State. These
two latter sums are included because it is
impossible to determine what portion of
them was applied exclusively TO The Legis-
lalure. Supposing then, the cost Of the
session Of 50-'5i, to have been but $94,.
900, the cost Of the last session was but
S6, 600 more. But the Whig press "re
members 10 forget The very essential facts,
that the number Of members of the Assem-.
bly, is materially increased
In the session of '50-'5l, there were
l07 members. In that OF 80 there were
l32-the increase in the number Of MEM
bers. required and involved an increase of
clerks, sergeants at arms, and other off,
GERS. An increased supply Of stationery
wus necessary. The destruction by FIRE,
Of the Old State House, made i, necessary
10 have rooms at considerable expense, and
especially it was believed That public opin-
ion sanctioned on increase Of the per diem
OF members, from three TO four dollars, in
view OF the fact that the cost Of living at
The present day is SO much greater than in
the year 1928, when the law fixed :he per
piem at three dollars, and that members
now pay their own postage.
II would appear reasonable OF first blush,
that the last session should cost more than
the preceding one; and yet moments ex.
animation satisfies is that really in proper.
ton TO fhe number Of members, 1t costs less
The additional expense 10 the State, OF
twenty five members for 150 days. say n.
three dollars per day, would be Exclusive
of milenge) $4,000. This ndded to $94, :
900, is sl03, 900. |. appears then, thar
the cost of the last session, was proportion
ally $4,000 less than that of '50-'5I,
without including mileage Of twenty. five
members, or adding TO our estimate of the
cost of that session, the appropriations for
fuel and stationery.
So let this slander die; We will deal with
others hereafter.
1t originated in the columns of an un.
scrupulnus partisan sheet, and has been
copied by our city Press perhaps unadvised
ly. flour friends Of the Commercial claim
the protection of the neutrality laws, they
should not carry goods con.raband of war.
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