The Ebensburg Alleghanian. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1865-1871, 1869-02-04

In the Senate on the 9th instant GIN
Harry White offered the following esolp-

In the Senate on the 9th instant GIN
Harry White offered the following resolp-
ton, which was twice read: lr~. -.
"eesol0ed, That the Comp::tttee on Re-
trenchment and Reform BE-, and are hereby
instructed to examine md inquire into the
manner OF conducting the business of the
several dePartmeI ats of the State Govern
ment, Win view to ascertain if the ex-
penses OF az r.ministration cannot be reduced
and rerart to the Senate by bill or other
wise"
NIr. White said :
"Mr. Speaker, indulge me brief ex-.
planation of the purpose of this. resolution
A few days since a resolution was intro
duced into the Senate requiring the Clerk
to report the names of the officers of the
last session of the Senate and the House.
On my motion, it was referred TO the Com
mittee on Retrenchment and Reform, with
authority to inquire into and report as to
alleged abuses of extravaganza in the dis
tribution of the patronage of this body.
At the time of its introduction, I thought
the resolution wise-subsequent reflection
has convinced me of its propriety. 1t is
with great pleasure, on behalf of the COM
mittee, announce determination to dis
charge this duty without fear, favor or af-
fection. 1t may be the Senate has power
only to inquire into its own proceedings in
this particular. 1t is gratifying to know
investigation demonstrates the Senate has
been consistent with itself, and as econom-
ical as possible TO conduct its necessary bus
mess. The Senate has nothing to shrink
from In the past, and certainly everything
to be proud of in the present session. The
number of our employees is strictly by the
law passed in the interest of retrenchment
at the last session. This has not been vio-
lated in the slightest particular. So far
as regards the pasting and folding of doc
uments, our constituents expect from US,
as an exhibition of our proceedings, we are
as economical as possible. The whole of
our pasting and folding will not exceed
about two thousand seven hundred dollars
possibly. While this is true of the Senate,
it may be well to enlarge the powers of the
committee and extend over wider field.
The resolution before you authorizes your
committee to examine the manner of con-
Quoting business in the departments of the
State Government, to see if it is possible
to curtail expenses of the administration
of the State Government. We all know
that condition Of war always increases
expenses on the administration, more than
they formerly were, and that, when the ex-
penses of an administration have been in
creased, it is exceedingly difficult to reduce
them to a former standard. 1t is only by
assuming authority on the part of the Leg
islature that any reduction can be made,
if it is possible to make any. But am
prompted more especially to offer this res
olution from a statement which l observed
in the report of the Adjutant General for
the present year I observed that in the
statement Of disbursements the Adjutant
General writes Last year the total amount
of disbursements was $33, $50 80. This
year it amounts to S34, 1894. Of this
amount, however, Sc 900 was special appro-
priation for unsettled claims that had ac-
cumulated in previous years. About $15,-
900 was paid to the military State agent
at Washington, and the State historians
office, which reduces it to S13, 600, as the
actual expenditures OF his office. This in
cludes salaries of clerks and employees at
the arsenal, postage, express charges, fuel,
and all Incidental expenses. feel con-
strained to say, it is too small. Then, by
reference TO the abstract statement at the
end of the Adjutant Generals report, | dis
cover the different items of this aggregate
expenditure given. [ discover also an al
lusion to the expenses of the State Histo-
rian's Department. Now, Mr.. Speaker,
although the war has passed, we discover
that we still have an Adjutant Generals
Department, which, it seems to me, is in
curing an extraordinary expense. 1t is
occurring to the minds of many that the
eA pc1scs Of that department, and possibly
of other departments of the State govern
ment, might be reduced. [ do not know
how this is but it certainly will save the
Finance Committee of the Senate great la
Dor If the Committee on Retrenchment and
Reform should examine into this matter
carefully and faithfully, and report by bill
or otherwise to the Senate, as to the state of
the case That is the object which prompts
this resolution, and trust it will pass"
The resolution was adopted.
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