The weekly pioneer and Democrat. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn. Territory) 1855-1865, 1856-02-14
Secretary Rosssr.

On Wednesday last Mr.. RoLrrrE offered ,
resolution, to ascertain why Secretary RossxI
was not prepared to pay the mileage Of mem
bers, the per diem Of pro TEN officers and o
members, for the past month.
After the members had waited patiently iol
the arrival Of funds, which they knew Congress
had appropriated at the last session. until ope
half tho session Of the Legislature had expired
a resolution was introduced, providing for thu
appointment Of Committee to wait upon The
SECRETARY, and inquire why the funds have moi
been obtained which resolution the Secretary
affects to take in great dudgeon, and withou,
waiting to be addressed, either personally or by
letter, by the committee, be on Tuesday address
ed letter to The Council, which, to say The
least, was wanting 10 respect to that body
and, instead Of answering the inquiry Of the
Council, goes on in large rigmarole about not
being able to see into fdturity, and consequent
ly not being able to provide for the increase Of
representation before that representation was
increased
Now the whole matter Is this,-Congress in
March last appropriated $4,000 to defray the
expenses Of the present Session Of the Legisla-
ture Of this Territory,--the mileages Of mem
bers was due when the Session opened, and II
rds me duty Of the Secretary to have the mon
ey at that time to pay the members the amount
due to each. BY the statutes, certain officers
Of the last Legislature were required to be pres
ent at the opening Of the present Session, and
when they had performed their duty, and were
prepared to return home they were entitled to
receive their pay, and 1t ,ras the duty Of the
Secretary to have the money here to pay them.
The reason why money has not been obtained
to liquidate those demands. which should have
been paid at the Commencement Of the Session,
and for the payment Of (which Congress badpro
vided on the I'd day Of March last. is required
by the Council.
Agsin.-,he organic &c. which provides for the
election Of members Of the Legislature, and the
people who elect those members, presume tina,
their services shall be paid for II is not in
tended to send such men here to I~gislate for
The Territory, and require them to pay their
own expenses, nor to advance their own funds
for that purpose. Provision Is made BY Con-
grcss IN advance and as the Session progresses
the members and officers Of the Legislature
should receive their portion, but more than one
halt Of the Session has elapsed and not one
cent has been paid TO either. Yet, because a
member Of the Council asks officially why funds
are not forthcoming. the Secretary not only in.
suits the Council BY a letter foreign to the
subject matter Of the resolution, but takes o.
pecial pains to walk out Of bis way to smite
We member odering the resolution.
There Is no doubt bat there is rottenness in
this matter some wherc; the duty Of the secre.
,ary requires him to have funds here +, nav
the Legislative expenses, as far a, appropr,a.
''ons aa~ bsrH made, to msd mox erprne.-
II was his duty to have those funds here h.
fore the session opened. Tha, was no, done
and II the failure was from an unforeseen c.use ,
as the letter Of the Secretary intima,es, there
has been sufficient time since the comm.uce-
ment Of the session Of the Legislature to have
obtained the funds from the Department Why
has that 10, been done' And not having been
dooe previous to, nor since the opening Of the
session. What Is the prospec, for having the
funds here before its close! This is natter
Of Consequence to the members and officers Of
The Legislature il is Of much Importance to
he Territorial Printer and as rs1i, VIC intsod
o pqsh The matter Of inquiry hrther than IL