The evening Argus. [volume] (Rock Island, Ill.) 1861-1871, 1869-01-21


$4,000 Ohio river improvement, $50, 900.
Among the appropriations entirely stricken
out, are Illinois river, 100000, and Louis.
vile Canal, s4jO,OOO.
DoINGs OF THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY.
Under the above heading the Springfield
(Tl) correspondent Of the st. Louis ReDaJ.
hcaH says
The question is asked by several curious
people What has the legislature been do
ing? For the general good, nothing; for
their own present emoument, but future re-
morse, a heap. Their early action was d'
tinguished by the passage Of joint re'oIu'
tion giving each member and officer news
papers equivalent in number ard value to
sixty daiIies. The public were not alarmed
at this expense, though tho number OF daI'
lies exceeded the liberahty ct any previous
Legislative body il the state. But 1t was
thought that this was literary convoca'
ton that they desired 10 enlarge the
sphere Of newspaper usefulness and give the
people extended opportunities Of knowledge
of their proceedings. Mark the results
Instead Of ordering newspapers 70 spread
records of their doings before q benghIed
constituency, a covert market was opened
for the sale OF orders. One or more rapa.
cious correspondents Of Chicago newspapers
and one officer of the senate and two officers
of the house formed ring to buy all or Il
portion Of the orders for newspapers. Live.
" competition eusued. Corners here and
there were made, rings formed and "orders'
bought at prices ranging from $40 TO S1j.
The real value of dailie5 during the session
is, say, $50 each. Deduct few daiIies
here and there and fix the market value Of
the residue, a, not less than $3.50. One in.
stance is reported of the sale Of an order
deserving fen newspapers for five dollars.
This looks incredible, but rs the member IS
green IN the business and likes greenbacks,
we have confidence in the truth of the re-
port
The officers, and their name is legion, are
repacious set Of fellows. They get 50
per day with ell the usual allowances. Those
who have converted their newspapers into
"Spinuer's specifies have u good thing Of
IT, though it be short lived. We shall give
totals presently.
Having voted themselves newspapers
which never see the light and never gIaddeI
the eyes Of constituents, lhey next vote,
STAMPS" in the shape Of post Office Currcn
cy 10 each member and officer, value ga
These "couuterieit presentments' of yrner
able fathers Of the country, Washington
and Franklin, have become the actual Gil
cuIating medium, in small way, all owe
this region. Postage stamps were never ~
plentiful heresbouts; and why not? Hay
ing no newspapers and few letters TO send
of what earthly use Was such an amount 0
postage pictures? Hence, the pretty Htl
portraits went round in incnculable nun
bers. Whisky and brandy drinks rose from
- cents, nickel TO eight three cent postal
In some large drinking saloons, though III
trade there was not extensive, ten Of thes
sutiiced for single draught only. Doub
less board and lodging and other necessa
ries, real or supposed, rose in proportion
and were paid in the same currency.
Then came the usual allowances TO mem
bers and officers Of pocket knives and sta
tionery. We have seen the knives they
cost the tax payers s. each. The members
get them, the officers get them, the clerks
Of committees get them. To make an ac
cura;e estimate of the amount Of this ap.
preparation, one must fad out the number
and value Of each. At present this is i'm
possible; but as stationery and its value Oh
nature is by no means fixed by any known
standard, aud, as it includes in federal par
lance kid gloves, lace handkerchiefs, silk
stockings, gold pens steel pens by the gross
reams Of foolscaP, letter paper, tooth brush
es, &c, it is fair TO conclude that so emf
nent an example will not be lost sight Of
At all events, our state Legislators have Civ
en- such evidence Of a capacity to learn,
that no uncommon instruction will be re.
quired to improve them in the arts Of mod.
ern, !. e., radical legislation.
But lest the reader should get as tired as
the legislature seem to be Of the details Of
their arduous labors, we sum up, as the law
yers say.
Thus far, financially, they have done this
much for or against the people
$50 mon5crs and officers each, $3.50 worth
Of newspapers 500
1870 members and officers each, S75 worth
of postage stamps ...,...,...,.... 9I5C
I3Opocket knives at Sj....................... $50
l30 donations of varied stationery, equal
say to $50 each 65oC
Uuenumeratcd "things" by means
stated rs stationery, another .............. 6,50t
Total, 20 far as is knOwn.,....,........Si2,SO 500
If the tax payers get off with this small
grab they may congratulate themselves.
But the question recurs, what Legislation
has been accomplished Nothing; and
what Is probably as well, very little will be
done.