The hydraulic press., 1861-05-11
DISCLOSURES.

Disclosures.
Any one who has the slightest knowledge
of legislative affairs, must be aware, that
for years past, the State has been literally
robbed by its clerical officers and other at
taches; but the members have been so much
interested in the manufacture of capital for
political favorites and party ends, that they
had neither time nor inclination to look very
deeply into the matter. 1t appears, however,
that St. Clair Denver, a Senator from Ell
Dorado, has recently turned his attention TO
an investigation of one or two points, sug-
gested by bill that came before the body
of which he is a member. for the payment
of claim held by Barney Clark, assignee Of
James NJ. Anderson, now, and for several
years alternately and consecutively Chief
Clerk of the Assembly. Mr. Denver said:
s.He had taken some little trouble to exam
inc the whole subject, and had found that
fnll estimate for all the copying done by the
Clerk of the Assembly last winter, including
all the constructive copying, would amount
TO SO 925 IS. and the claims for this copying
that has already been paid, and including
the $sl2 1895 Is. which Mr. Anderson claimed
for the copying for the Assembly the last
session. 1t would be found upon the Journals
that Mr.. Anderson presented claims for
| copying every two or three days for $500
| and $3.50 and SD forth-near the end Of the
session, which were orderd paid, the whole
amounting to $s7.204 95, leaving S795 05 of
the fund of $4,000 appropriated for the
copying found.
"He had made IN estimate Of what the
expense of the copying would be if the
charges were made properly and according
to law, and bad found that this immense
amount paid for copying was all wrong, for
it wonld not amount TO great sum if proper
charges were made. After the adjournment
of the Legislature. the Secretary of State
has given fonr different certificates dated
May lst, 10th, 26th, and 30th, making
altogether 1856 05, the balance remaining
in the Copying Fund, which of course were
All paid. These certificates were made and
his money paid by virtue of the Copying
Law, and the amount appropriated in the Act
IT last winter. We had passed the same
kind of Act this winter, and there was no
telling what expense it would end in. And
then again the Secretary Of State has given
Mr.. Anderson one certificate dated June
28th. for $3.50, and one dated July 30th for
S625, making a total of ST. AIS which had
been assigned to Mr.. Wormser, and has also
been paid: and then the Secretary Of State
had gone on and given the following certif-
Gates that had been assigned to Mr.. Clark
Tamounting to S2.9SO 75.7 making, in the
aggregate, $500 80, certified to by the
Secretary of State since the adjournment Of
the Legislature, when $3,825 85 was the
actual amount that at the utmost should
have been allowed him for the copying of
the whole session, and that too allowing the
full amount for constructive copying: for
instance the Governors message, which was
always printed before it was sent to the Leg
islature. and never was actually copied. He
was satisfied that the only amount he lander
SOM was entitled to was for copying actually
done, and not for joint printing orders by the
joint action of the Legislature; and taking
that as correct basis. and for which only
he should be entitled to pay, the amount
due for copying for the whole session was
just $2,448.
The conduct of the Secretary of State (Dr
Johnson Price, in certifying to these claims,
was alluded to by several Senators in terms
of implied cersure. Mr.. Denver further
added
ale had nothing to say against this bill,
hut if the Secretary Of State had certified to
what was untrue-if State officer had gone
beyond his duty, and certified to what was
false-was it proper that the Legislature
shonld indorse what he had thus done ?"
The bill passed. notwithstanding it was an
acknowledged swindle. We are surprised
to see that Mr.. Chase not only voted for, but
spoke in its favor. He took the untenahle
and illogical position, that beoanse State
officer has certified to the correctness of an
account, the State is therefore bound to pay
it. or become obnoxious to the charge of re-
pndiation! Reputation. forsooth, to refuse
the payment of debt which she never con-
tracted According to this theory, dis
honest State officer might deplete the public
Treasury by signing fraudulent certificates
for especial friends. The whole matter ought
TO be sifted to the bottom.
For THE UNION ONLy.-The citizens of
Sweetland wish it to be distinctly understood
that their Union Club is formed without the
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