Clearfield Republican. [volume] (Clearfield, Pa.) 1851-1937, 1869-03-03
NEW SERIES--V0L. 8, NO. 80

empl0yed-ls " any reason That any
Democrat on this side Of the House
should refuse TO vote for a joint reso-
luton providing for the payment of
these men, simply because they choose
to mako a political question No sir
Let them make il a political question
if they choose let them censure me.
as they have censured me already for
voting for it. But, cir, their censures
pass BY me like "the idle wind, for
which | care not. / believe ] have
a duty TO perform, and in the con.
scientious performance of that du-
ty I stand here today; and ] viii
perform it, no matter who find fault
whether they DO Democrats or Re
publicans. will perform that duty
loarlessly and regardless of any indi
vidual
Now, sir, stand here an indepen-
dent man in this matter. | have no
instructions from my constituency,
and if they had attempted TO instruct
me upon matters Of legislation, i
would have said TO them, "No; / will
stay at home before | will be instruc-
ted" ] came here TO perform my
duties as member OF this Legislature
according to the best of my ability
and understanding, and ] will perform
those duties ferrlessly and regardless
Of what may be said TO the contrary,
either on one side Of the House or the
other | hope therefore, that this
resolution will be amended and made
a Joint resolution. n
Mr. PLAYFoRD. | feel reluctant 10
occupy a moment Of the time Of this
House in the discussion Of this resolu-
ton. ! know that the Chairman Of
the Ways and Means Committee Mr..
Wilson, is anxious to call up the ap-
preparation bill, and / do not desire 10
delay il a moment. | promise that
/ will not consume over three minutes
Of our valuable time. frftfitm
All through this session we have
heard a great deal about the fairness
and mfairness of the appointment
of these employees, and from the be-
ginning we have bad the discussions
connected with the passage Of the act
of 1865, and the small number of Off
GERS provided by that act TO discharge
tho business of this House. The
House resolution proyidingfor twenty
seven additional officers followed, in
tho passage of which there was shown
some disrespect TO the Senate. am
not here as the apologist Of that body
or its defender but | say the proper
way in relation TO that matter would
have been 10 introduce a joint resolu-
ton increasing the number Of officers
Of this House, and after its passage
here, 10 have sent it over TO the Senate,
when the action of that body could
have been taken upon it.
Mr.. WILSON lfmy memory serves
me right, that is just the course it is
now proposed to take. ln lglor
Mr.. PLAYFoRp. In case the Senate
refused 10 concur, then it would have
been proper TO have cut these men
adrift, and dispensed with all these
extra officers.
Mr.. SrRANe. Does the gentleman
think thirty-four officers enough for
the transaction Of the business Of the
House f.In aIH
Mr. PLAYFoRD. ] do not know the
amount of business 10 botransacted ;
but there was no necessity for going
on and employing these men, and then
compelling them to run this risk OF
receiving their pays
Mr. STRASG. Does the gentleman
know that in 1868, when the Demo.
Gratis were in n majority, that the
number Of officers in this House was
one hundred and three 7 Hfrs gsHli|
Mr. PLAYFoRD. | know this, that
the expenses Of tho House were much
less under Democratic rule, than they
have been since. hHf ffi wif .rl
As to this matter, think no risk
should have been run. There is no
implied contract on the part Of the
Senate to vote for the payment OF
these men. There is nothing binding
upon my morals, or upon my con.
science, to vote one single dollar as
compensation TO these men. Lot
them who brought them here pay
them of, IL it comes to that.
am in favor Of this resolution, but
] think the Senate will stultify itself
II il agrees to pay one dollar towards
compensating these men, in the capa-
city Of employees. iol aI Ia.
p Mr.. WTLsoS. / am exceedingly
anxious to bring the consideration OF
this resolution TO n close and | hope
it will be made a joint matter. ] nov
er had any doubt, sir, OF the right OF
this House TO employ these additional
officers, under the Constitution, and
for making that assertion, have ro.
ceivcd, perhaps, moro abuse, cxeep-
ting the gentleman from Tioga Mr.
Strangl than any other gentleman in
the House.
Mr.. DAVIS, tPhiladelphiaO l insist
that the gentleman includes the mem.
Der from the Tenth district Of Phila-
delphia [Mr Davis. Iaughter.l
Mr.. Wilson. | have received par.
ticular notice, aud especially in ono
paper, published | believe IN Cambria
county my attention was allied to
that notice through, | suppose, the
editor Of the paper, who took partic.
ular pains 10 send me a copy-othcr.
wise / would never have known Of tho
existence of the sheet / suppose he
presumed | would give him five dol.
lars to tell tho truth, but | did not do
any such a ching. In that paper
was mcst grossly abused, and 10 other
journals I have been most nniustly
censured on account Of this matter.
Mr.. NICHOLSON l hope tha. this
amendment will not pass. ! leave
this suggestion 70 the good sense OF
the House. Let uspass This resolution
dismissing these men, and then lei
somc gentleman get up a joint resolu.
ton TO pay them. Let me assure you
that this joint resolution, with tho
nmondmpnf ofl,arcd will inst comnlf