The evening Argus. [volume] (Rock Island, Ill.) 1861-1871, 1865-03-07
The Appropriations made
by the Legislature
An AGGREGATE Or 81. $50, zoo.
.RENT OF COMMITTEE ROOMS"
THE PRINTING EXPENSES.
A YOUNG MAN BY THE NAME OF
HAWLEY. ann, sa
&C., &C.,

suecial correspondence of the Chicago Times.
SPRINGFIELD, ILL.,. March AIN q former
letter gave partial list of the appropria-
tions made by the Legislature at its last ses-
sion, and estimated the full amount of the
states money squandered by that body of
patriots at a million aud three quarters OF
dollars. A fuller and more careful list of
the appropriations shows that my estimate
was under, instead of over, the actual am
cunt; and that the people may fully under
sstand what one abolition legislature has cost
them. before they decide to elect another. I
rscapitulate, below, the various items of ex.
pense incurred by the lately departed. They
were equally extravagent in all matters !;
and the chief end and aim of the legislature
seemed to be to provide for as many of the
able-b bodied young men who were vigorous in
staying at home last summer, and drilling in
league rooms instead of In camp, az possible.
Nearly every committee had clerk. who
drew eight dollars per day for every day of
the session, and in several cases their board
and whisky bills were also paid in the shape
of rent for committee rooms" Members or
clerks who allowed committee meeting once
or twice in the rooms occupied by them for
sleeping apartments, charged room rent at
the rate oil $40 per week, sometimes by each
of the two or four men occupying the room.
which seems to be q very shrewd, if not alto
gsther an honest, way OF making expenses"
In Springfield. And thus the state treasury
was plundered in every conceivable way
The newspaper bills of the session amount to
upwards over SIS 900. and the postage &C.
count to over $1,000 more. The loyal" pa.
per of this city, in addition to the IS per
column it received for publishing proceedings
reported by officials paid by the state instead
of by its own enterprise. charged and receiv-
ed the modest price Ct forty two cents week
for papers furnished members, when its
standing, regular price to single subscribers
is twenty cents week. Elsewhere it is
common with newspapers at the seat OF gov
eminent to employ their own reporters and TO
pay their own composition bills, and rely up
ON their sales for repayment of the expenses
but the Illinois legislature, In addition to
furnishing reporters for newspapers, and
paying printers bills beside. is generous
enough to pay double price for newspapers
ordered BY the thousand Under such cir
cunstancss, is it wonderful that the treasury
is bankrupt already, and auditors warrants
from fifteen to twenty-five per cent. dis.
count?
In the list below 1 have estimated the
printing bill incurred by the legislature a,
$50 900, though think it will reach nearly
or quite $3.50 goo. No former Legislature
that / know of, ever spent more than from
SAC, 900 to $4,000 in printing expenses -
There are number of small items included
in miscellaneous" the amount on whoa
cannot easily be guessed. The estimate ID
under the actual sum, but, in the presence
of the mammoth amounts embodied In other
items, sit is of no consequence" Let the
people see how shamefuiiy THEN money has
been wasted, and the state disgraced by see
ing its paper hawked about in the streets
unable to find purchaser at any reasonable
price: -...---1. t.t