Daily Ohio statesman. [volume] (Columbus, Ohio) 1855-1870, 1865-03-18
[From The Ohio State Journal.l
Absenfees.

A prominent evil which besets our Legis-
| lature of late years, is the custom OF MEN,
| bers absenting themselves from their post
| of duty. The fact is known and deprecated
by every member, as well as by the commu-
| nity at large and the evil has been grow
ing one, until it has become almost unbear-
able interfering with the business of legis-
lation to such degree that 1t is not safe to
put any important measure upon its pass
age earlier in the week than Wednesday,
or later than Thursday, lest through the
meagre attendance it fail of the number of
votes required by the Constitution. 1t is
no pleasant duty of the conductors of the
public Press to call attention to these de-
iinuuencies of the public servants and yet
it is duty more frequently forced upon
them than almost any other of the whole
catalogue. SO formidable had the mischief
become that the Legislature itself, year
ago, undertook its regulation; and for that
purpose came to tacit understanding that
at short periods of two or three weeks there
should be recess of legislative labors from
Friday p. M. to Tuesday p. M; but this re-
suited practically in suspension of legis-
lative duties from Thursday evening to
Wednesday following. 1t is not needful to
inquire what these same members would
think oflaborers in their employ, whom they
should find initiating this example. We
need not suggest that in such case the absen-
tees would be held to a rigid accountability
for sost time" and rightly so /; especially
if such laborers stipulated for full time, and
fixed their own rate of compensation.
We are glad that portion of the mem
bers are themselves taking earnest measures
to correct the delinquency, and hope they
may perseyere until thorough reform is
accomplished. The suggestion of Mr.. Pur-
sell, to publish daily list of the names of
absentees, was move in the right direc-
tion, and WILL for the time produce salu
tary effect. Some of the members seem to
have been thereby first aroused to a con-
sciousness of the fact that they had been
absent akall But that resolution will be
but transient in its operation; it will pass
away with the present session, and then'the
same experience must needs be repeated.
The member from Erie county, writing to
The Sdndtsku RegiSter, takes a sensible view
of the. matter. As his letter contains plain
facts and wholesome suggestions, we give
them the benefit of our circulation. He
says:
"There was call of the House this after
noon, but only soEe forty odd members an
swered to their Dames. The door was or
dered to be closed and the Sergeant-at-
Arms dispatched for absent members. Af-
ter lapse of thirty minutes or so the Ser
geant reported he could find no members;
again and again he was dispatched, with a
like result. The House then adjourned.
am satisfied the only true way to keep men, |
bers always at their post is to pass law
preventing members from receiving free |
passes, and to stop thein pay unless absent |
BY leave of the House. 1t is notorious |
tact that there is only about two or three |
days in the week that there is full House, |
and it is dangerous putting bill on its pass |
age over half of the time If there Is any |
opposition to it. Members living within |
three or four hours ride OF their homes will |
be absent nearly one-half of their time, and
it would be glorious thing for the State II |
the whole system OF free passes to the leg |
islators was exploded" r.
The railroad interests are comparatively |
new, having grown up in our State within |
few years, and received at the hands of |
the Legislature a nursing care. Every |
community is emulous of their advantages;
and parties embarking in their construc- |
tion and management find frequent occa-
sion for Legislative aid. Hence the system |
of free passes to legislators" 1t is not, we |
are sure, generally understood to be an i'm |
piled impeachment of Representatives. |
tegrity to tender him complimentary free |
pass for the period for which he is elected |
mCmDer. Anu ytIJ NlOWCu III bnO liSHG vi
candor and of conscience, we hardly know |
how to avoid that conclusion. The State |
makes ample provision for the travelling
expenses of the members of the Legislature |
in going to and returning from their duties.
So that the most indigent has no occasion
for accepting gratuity from corporation
that perchance may have 'an axe to grind"
The sole relief from the imputation of a
purpose to influence official action, Is in the
paltry consideration offered; and that is but
a sorry relief to the recipient. And not
withstanding the prevalence of the custom,
we cannot divest ourselves of the sentiment
that IL is unbecoming the Representative of
a proud constituency, to accept or use such
gratuity. We would, therefore, go step
further than suggested by the member from
Erie, in declaring the custom unlawful. 1t
should work forfeiture of franchise by the
company offering the 'complinaent," and be
deemed breech of privilege, making liable
to expulsion the member accepting 1t. For
ifscomplinsentsr Il of the sort are to be toler-
ated at all, then let the doors be thrown
omen for Stree trade,n and let such parties
as can afford it, procure their terms. Pub
lie sentiment is at fault in this natter in
winking at what is regarded at most but
little peecadillo. The evil cannot be eradi-
Gated while the public Judgment tolerates
commerce in that kind Of oompltnsentdfes.
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