Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1854-08-28
$4,000
Footing UP,

N-~~N~ NANc AAsSAAN
was in just given us an assistant Legisla
ture. Then the system would have beer
complete. I can think of but one reason
that prevented them from doing it. Thei
own 'sstealings" would not have been 81
great. That probably was the considera
ton that saved us from this expense
Now, sir, it would be bold man VIII,
would assert that all these supernumerar,
officers were necessary or called for By Thu
public service. No such thing. If The
principals would only attend TO their off
cial duties they could discharge them east
ly enough. They must go off on pilgri-
mage to Washington to help President
Pierce out of a tight place. Or perhaps
some of them are so b1lsily engaged with
Mr.. Ludington and Others, specializing in
School Lands that they have no time to
attend to anything else. By the way, this
little matter about the Ludington land
grab shows how very convenient it is for
our State officers to have assistants. When
some of them were recently arraigned at
the bar of public opinion for their shame
full and wanton breach of trust in reference
to those School Lands, do you reeollect
their plea of Justification? Itgwas that
Mr.. Searer the Assistant Treasurer had
said and done this and that with Ludine-
ton. The Assistant was the man that told
Ludington there was only 10000 acres of
School Lands unsold. He is the scape-
goat for all the sins of the Commissioners.
How innocent, how blameless they are!-
But that naughty Assistant, upon him sho'd
an injured State invoke second advent of
that whip Of small cords. So we see there
is some use in our State officers having
these Assistants at an expense of SIS 900 i
year to the State; since upon them can be
easily thrown all the odium, all the dis
grace of unpopular and improper acts
And the magnanimity too of such course
Of conduct! it is without parallel. But,
Mr.. Editor, | am losing sight of the acts of
the last Legislature. Let us turn to them.
You will see at the close of the volume a
list of acts, ia in number, making appro-
priations of money from SIS to $4,000
I wish you could publish the entire list
1t foots up $89,sS5. No. ia is an APP
preparation Of $3.50, for procuring safe
for the State Prison. No one thinks of
getting a safe for the State Treasury. The
Honorable Senators come in for an extra
allowance of $3.50. ought to except the
Honorable Senator from Grant, James w.
Seaton, who it seems is locked SIS
However, if he is reasonable man he
won't complain since his extra allowance
amounts to the nice sum Of $95. $2,855
is thus appropriated as extra pay to the
Senators of our State. Is it possible that
the attention Of any Of those honorable
and learned Senators was ever called to
that provision of the Constitution of our
State which reads as follows:
"The Legislature shall neuer grant any
extra compensation to ANY public officer,
agent, servant or contractor, after the SER
vices shall have been rendered or the con-
tract entered into. Nor shall the compen-1
sation of any public officer be increased or
diminished during his term of Office"
1885 is small sum, is no violation Of
this provision.
But we'll look further into this matter
IN my next. A TAXPAYER.