Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1854-09-04


Wisconsin River, for sale on excellent terms.
1t is cheap at the price he asks.
For the Grant County Herald.
Taxes and Taxation.
Mr.. EDITOR: The $2,855 ertrc compen-
sation, voted to the members Of the Sem
&c, - ~ be seen, IS most naoable VIC
lation of the Constitution. 1t is needless
to inform your readers that the Constitu-
ton also prescribes that "each member of
the Legislature shall receive for his seryi-
ces two dollars and fifty cents for each
days attendance during the session." DC.
$3.50 was found to be quite inadequate to
pay the honorable gentlemen, SO they dou-
bled it,Emade it just $500. And these
men no doubt, are all strict construction
lists of the Constitution. But when it
comes to voting money into their own peck
cts then how elastic the Constitution, in a
moment, becomes. Is there not wisdom
and sense in the saying, "that the circum-
stances being altered, that alters the case 2"
And SO after giving our sincere thanks to
the honorable Senators for their modera-
ton in only committing petit instead of
grand larceny, we pass on to other appro-
priations. l observe about So, 500 are APP
propriated for stationery-that is l sup
pose for paper, ink, sealing wax, gold pens,
knives, gold chains, &c, &c. That would
amount to about $50 member; some
thing handsome certainly, towards buying
stationery. [ notice, too, that in the album
dance of their wisdom, the last Legislature
made an appropriation Of $4,000 for their
successors. Yes, James Halpin is authori-
|zed to purchase all stationery necessary for
the next Legislature, and $4,000 is appro-
priated. Of course James will find it all
necessary-gold pens and other nice things.
A man who don't do much writing, and
for whom half ream, costing 1,50 is am
pie for year or longer, can't well under
stand how member of the Legislature in
a few weeks can use up $25 worth of pa
Iper. Butstationery is very general term,
and like charity covers a multitude Of sins.
By the way, Mr.. Editor, do you know any,
thing about that James Halpina He re-
eeiged from the last Legislature $4,000,
$831,60 Of which was for smudries. /
think VIC may call that James a lucky fel-
low. Although the Grecian sage said no
man could be pronounced fortunate before
his death. l wonder if James would have
any objection to telling us taxpayers what
was embraced in that charge of 1881 80
for sundries. Did you adopt that James
as a convenient way of charging for oys-
tiers, cigars, liquor, &c? IF it aoas, we
think the amount quite moderate indeed.
But we must pass on.
In my review of these appropriations
had purposed notice of the most outra-
geous sums voted for printing. It would
seem that the abuse and corruption of the
Legislature in this particular have been so
great that dt has attracted the observation
and exposure of Democrats thomselves.-
And | ask you to print the accompanying
article taken from the Wisconsin Patriot,
a newspaper published at Madison, BY an
old and influential editor and member Of
the Democratic party. And I think he
and all others who break away from the
trammels OF party and expose its corruption,
and rascallty, and denounce them for the
good OF the State, deserve the thanks of ey
cry taxpayer | hope such manly indie
pendence will meet, as it should, its re-
ward IN the confidence of men of all par
ties. But to the article:
"Our purpose is to call attention to the
extraordinary quantity ordered, as well as
the amount appropriated for the printing
at at the last session Of the legislature. The
Constitution which provides that aall prin-
ting authorized or required by the legisla-
ture, for their use or for the state, shall be
let by contract to the lowest bidder" has
long since been abrogated. No attention
is paid to it; and although the farce of a
letting is gone through, the lowest bidder
II not Oft purticular stripe, has no chance
of a contract. 'lSN
on reference to the General Laws of last
session, we lind the following appropriations
emitting the smaller items: :
To Atwood q Brown, total. s15 400 OK
n ~ n - Drown 1,875,OO
- o'hers' $4,000
IL ro'al last session, $19,274,95
lhe work ordered last session, to be maid
Tor next winter, is as follows:
Laws, Journals, Blanks, &c. AZ 600
German printing, 12ooo
documentary History of State, $4,000 |
~ oe paid next winter, $1,000
0u 70 foregoing, 1925
This = = = ' sa Of s5o,275 8,
lewsnaners - GU uo. ., not include
several tbo., l,'nor items, amounting to