New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1860-12-31
A WORD TO THE LEGIsLATURE.

resolution pledging its nominees not themselves to
ask for or accept any extra compensation beyond
the amount allowed by the law then existing, aud
not TO appoint more subordnates than the Law
then permitted. unless specially authorized so to
do by vote of the Assembly This resolution
vas a vel-intended blow of two 0ns-standing
abuses-the appointment Of many extra officers at
the opening of the session, who, after serving
three months, have valid claim for pay aud
the donating to all officers a large amount OF
extro compensation. The resolution passed with
little or no opposition, aud its nominees, by ac-
ceptinp the nominations, certainly bound Them
Selves. "a honorable men, to carry out lts policy
II excited, however, great indignation among the
arnt Of office. seekers outside. The next day,
the first of the session, on Mr. Mllliken's motion,
u committee was appointed to report " whether
" am. and. if So how many, additional officers
:. and subordinates Of the Assembly may be neces-
saTr for the transaction of the business thereof
and what compensation should be allowed
"tl en-" In day or two this committee made
q report, which seemed TO show that they had
been locking in the wrong direction, for they
stated that, after dgent inquiry, they " find that
spo officers or subOrdinates in addition
'.to those employed in the Assembly at the
:. last session of the Legislature are Necessary
for the transaction Of the business thereof"
and they therefore reported a resolution recon-
mendug the appointment Of Che usual number OF
officers, with provision that o no extra COM
spcnsation shall be allowed to any officer or
subordinate" This resolution was, for technl
cal reasons referred back to the COMMITTEE,
with directions TO report by bill, and on motion
of Mr.. McQuade the Speaker vas authorized
90 to appoint the same number OF officers and
messengers Of the House that were appointed
50 at the last session" {" to serve until the passage
80 Of the bill to be reported BY the Select Com
Z" mhtec." The Clerk vas authorized to do the
same thing in hs department. The next step
vac for Mr.. Mllliken's Committee to disregard
the directions of the Assembly o duty to which
they 40 scduiOusly devoted themselves that they
never reported any bill at all. The ob'ious aud
intended result Of this little continuance was to
cumbcr the floor Of the Assembly chamber for
the ebtirc session with She usual number OF
% tBicera and subordinate, q humber far in cX-
cess Of that allowed by law, and 10 avoid entirely,
80 far as the appointment of subordinates vas
concerned the directions of the resolution of the
Republican caucus.
The law of 1853, which IS the one then and now
in force provides for II chief clerk of the Senate
one Of the Assembly, and three deputy clerks of
the Senate and four of the Assembly, sergeant
alarms and assistant and doorkeeper and assist
ant in each House, a Librarian and assistant in
the Assembly, aud three messengers in the Senate
and ten in the Assembly. 1t seems 70 us that
eleven officers for q Senate Of thrty-twO mem
| bers, AID twenty -One for an Assembly of one
hundred and twenty-eight members, is tolerably
| liberal supply. The Legislature chose to funk
| differently, and each House proceeded, by sim
pie resolution passed by aud in terms applicable
only 10 ITSELF to override and nuiy o law then
and now remaining unrepeaed on the statute
book, which, after authorizing the officers we
have named, expressly seys land beside the
90 officers above-named, none other or others
4" shol be employed and paid except by
"b for that purpose" IN this way,
before tie Legislature had fairly settled
down to it's work we find the Senate pos
sessed Of five clerks, two librarians, sergeant
alarms and assistant, postmaster and assistant,
four doorkeepers, janltor, q superintendent AID
ten nesscngers--n all tweuty-seven officers, or
nearly one 10 each SenatOr-while the Assembly
had seven clerks, q sergcant-at arms aud assist.
ant, postmaster and assistant, keeper, q
janltCr, twelve doorkeepers, and twenty five mes
sengers-n all fifty officers. What q large por-
tion OF this army of officials found to do, beside
lobbying. We have been unable to ascertain. On
IDqulriug in source likely to be well informed,
we learned that the postmasters devoted them
selves to keeping off of each others toes, and
that The janitor of each chamber lighted the lamps,
while the keepers brought in the water. The
superintendent Of the Capitoi, who has charge of
tue entire building, and is independent of the
Legislature, cares for the heating and cleanliness
OF the rooms.
The two Houses having possessed themselves
OF crowd Of officers in violation of law, of
course resolved to disregard the law in the mat.
ter OF paying them. Near the close of the SEES
sion the Committee Of Ways and Means brought
IN the Appropriation bill, and the Supply bill
so-caled. The former contained an appropriation
OF $4,000 IN gross, from which, or from sim
'iar sum appropriated by the previous Legsln.
ture, the members and the usual officers receive
their pay. In the Supply bill they inserted moth
ing Tor extra compensation, presuming that the
resolution of the Republican caucus and its quasi
Endorsement by Millikens Committee in the
Assembly meant something. But the members Of
the Legislature knew that that was all for Bun.
cOmbe, and they proceeded 10 vote extra com.