The Democratic sentinel and Harrison County farmer. [volume] (Cadiz, Ohio) 1851-1852, 1852-06-02

Expenses Of the Lez islature.
We fud the following in the Caisen of
saturday. Il ehte.ualiy shows up one OF
he JOE,issl's professional productions, call
ed IL plain Terms a lie. and for that purpose
We t-pnbl.sh is--iStat sma
10 tks kl.fSrso TIE C,GseA:
GzSTLENES-An article recently appear
ed in the Cincinnati Commercial, eopied
from the Ohio State journal, in reference 10
the expenses Of the General Assembly du-
ring the past session. The Commercial
sails under a neutral fag, but its columns
have recently contained several articles COM
men:ing on The course of the Democratic
members of the Legislature in spirit Of ap-
parent virulency that would do the State
Journal itself no discredit. What NAV have
been The expenses Of the past session, cannot
be stated with certainty. The Journal says
one hundred thousand dollars, and attempts
to convey the impression that this is an
enormous expenditure. Admit that the ex-
pense has cost the State that amount. 4
glance at the record will demonstrate that
1t is neither exJrsvagant nor unusual, and
that the Legislature is guiltless of at least
one of the many charges with which Wing
Press, irritated by the constitutional attack
Of the Assembly through the Tax Law, on
corrupt banking system, have so ruthless
ly aSaIled il. Let Us look at the record, 10
which, as it processes to be searcher after
truth, we commend the Commercia The
appropriation bills of December 1850 and
March 25. 1851, applied 10 expenses Of the
GoieraE Assembly, The sum OF S94 ,0O0.--
This amount includes the allowance for post
age, and printing bills, reports, and other
matter ordered by The Two Houses, bat in
clules the sum OF $4,000, for the purchase
Of fuel for the Legislature aul public officers,
rs well as an appropriation OF $4,000 fol
The purchase OF stationary for tie State
THESE TWO latter sums are included because
IL is imp Dssible TO determine what portion o.
them WAS applied exclusively to the Leyisa
ture. SuppoSIng then the cost OF the ses-
sion of 5J--'5, 10 have been but S94 900,
the cost OF the last session was but sc, 90
more. But the Wing press remembers to
forget" the very essential facts, that the
number OF members Of the Assembly is ma
terlaIIy increased.
Ii the session of 5l--'5l, there were l07
members. In that OF 50 there were 1872
the increase vi the number of members, re-
CURED and involved an increase Of clerks,
scrscants at arms, and other otficsrs. An
Increased supply OF stationary was necessary.
The destruction by fire, OF the Old State
House, made 1t necessary to have rooms at
considerable expense, and especially it was
believed that public opinion sanctioned an
increase OF the per diem of members, from
thrt 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 the per diem at three dollars,
and that members now pay their own post
age.
ltwould appear reasonable at first blush,
that the last session should cost more than
the preceding one; and yet moments ex-
animation satisfies US thai really in proper
tiCn to the number OF members, it costs less
The additional expense to the State, oftwen-
Iy-tivc members Tor I5o days, say at three
dollars per day would be exclusive of mile
age) $4,000. This added to $4,000 is
SlU3,OO 1t appears then that the cost of
the last session, was proportonaIly $4,000
less than that Of '5O-L5l, without including
mileage of 25 members, or adding to our es-
Innate OF the cost of that session, The appro-
pra,ions for fuel and stationary.
So let this slander die; we will deal with
others hereafter.
1t originated in the columns ofan unscru-
puouS paruzan sheet, and has been copied
oy our Press perhaps unalvisedly. Ii our
friends Of the Commercial claims the protec-
ton Of neutrality laws, they should not car
rY goods contraband Of war.