Raftsman's journal. [volume] (Clearfield, Pa.) 1854-1948, 1869-01-27
Notes from Harrisburg.

/ The action of majority Of the members
of the Pennsylvania Legislature in neglect
ing, or refusing, to consider the offer 10 do
the folding and pasfng for that body for ST.
| GOO. aud thus saving some $50, 900 to the
people, scondemned by the newspaper press
generally, throughout the State If respon-
sible parties viii give sufficient security for
the performance of their contract, the Leg
/ islature should not hesitate one moment in
regard to the matter But, it~seeus that,
! instead Of the responsible majority availing
themselves of the offer referred TO, they pass
it quietly by and make haste, at least in the
! House, TO pass resolution empowering the
! Speaker and Clerk to appoint an additional
corps of twenty seven en- ployees and officers
| What these twenty-seVen new servants of
the State are wanted for the reports DO not
designate. What the new business is which
needs these new officers to transact, we are
not informed. But one thing is sure, the
people will not approve of this action of
their representatives. The members who
compose this House were elected upon
distinctly understood platform of economy
and retrenchment. IF they do not intend,
or cannot carry out the implied pledge of
their acceptance of Office, they had better
resign. There are men in every county who
can manage the affairs of the Commonwealth
with the same economy that is usually shown
in i well arranged business house, and who
would fulfil their pledges to their constitu-
ents Let the present members ponder these
facts and be governed accordingly.
The Hon. George Wilson, member of the
House, in a letter to the Pittsburg Com
nIerciaL, however, gives some facts which
puts the action Of the House in reference to
the increase of officers, and the ''pasting and
folding job, in better light than is indi-
Gated in the foregoing paragraph. Mr..
Wilson says: The paster and folder storm
which is attracting so much attention in this
State at present, arose from the bid of
Rauch & Co., who offered to do the job for
$1,000. The members of the House did not
believe that the offer was made in good faith,
the bidders having told members that they
did not care whether it was accepted or not
The mistake of the papers in their re-
marks on the resolution of Mr. Stfang con-
sists in this They think that the twenty
seven additional officers, provided for in it.
are to be sent to the pasting and folding
department. this is not SO. The House as
organized in accordance with the bill of last
winter had but ten pastors and folders at
salary of 5000 each, two superintendents at
$500, making in all 81 600 as the expense of |
the pasting and folding under that law We |
now propose to add ten more-not twenty |
seven-at cost of 5000 each, or Sl3, 600 as
the whole exp .nse of the pasting and fold /
ing department, for the session of 1869. |
Last year it cost S37 ,0OO-this S13, GOO
saving of S23, 400-and yet your correspon-
dent abuses US for extravaganza There
have also been appointed some additional
at t-Arms-they are all needed
there being three contested election eases be-
fore as many committees of this House, in.
volving a great deal of labor in hunting up
and subrenaing witnesses from the dark
holes of Philadelphia Mr. editor, my word
for it, the expense of the House for this ses-
sion will not be as large by several thousands
of dollars as it has been during several years
last past.
In the contested election case from Phila-
ielphia, Hirst vs.. Hare, for the President
judgeship, Mr.. Hirst has with drawn from
he contest, it appearing, he says, that "a
correct adding of thefgures in the 18th ward
'eturn shows that sixty votes are to be ad-
led to the majority of Judge Hare, and
therefore the certificate of election was
Justly due him This action does great
credit to an honest and upright man
The recommendation from the committee,
n the House, to destroy $4l ,O32 in notes
# broken tanks and counterfeits, in the
State Treasury, was adopted. These notes,
although worthless, have been carried for
ward for years 10y the several State Treasu-
-ers, and their destruction will relieve that
1lhcer from the responsibility OF taking care
1t lot Of valuless trash