Clearfield Republican. [volume] (Clearfield, Pa.) 1851-1937, 1869-03-03

hVlc hsherl that we nave not sew
enteen additional ! do not know how
many have been discharged, but /
know that as many as five on the
several days when have examined
the departments, were employed in
doing the work Of the Senate so that
when that body says 10 this branch OF
the Legislature. 1--WE will not agree
to anything of the kind" it comes
with very bad grace. As ] said
before we professed to have and exer-
else as much dignity, if not refinement,
as the coordinate branch. / propose
that we 60 at this matter "right-end
foremost" Ito commence at the com
mencement, and 90 through with il as
men. Any question asked me as to my
having "man" here has nothing to do
with the case at all. / acknowledge
that ! named, as ] supposed, and as
knoC an honest, upright man, who
has always voted the Republican tick
et II that be sin, why, hero you
have it. | did not feel at liberty to
bring in a Democrat Ny district has
never had an employee in the House
of Representatives since the formation
OF this Commonwealth; therefore,
chose one, and he is here, performing
his duty from morning until night.
Now, let us get at this as we should.
Let us have a joint resolution. Let
us get at it in way in which we can
know what we are doing-whether
tho coordinate branch of the Legisla-
ture will allow these men now en-
ployed their pay, and whether the
Executive Of the Commonwealth, or
whether both the coordinate branch
and the Executive will turn out of
employment, without cent, these
poor men, who have been laboring
here TO maintain their families. II
so, | want to send my anhome-to
give him money to pay his expenses
home. If he tells me that he cannot
get along with his poor family, ex.
pect TO give him hundred or two
dollars, because brought him here.
Mr.. STRANo. Mr. Speaker, pro
pose now TO make in three minutes
my last "pastcr and folder speech
| was in hopes ] had made it some
time ago. | take, it sir, that / occu
py position In reference to this
question, which gives me as good a
right to make a speech as any gentle
man of the House ! apprehend
have been about as much talked about
in this counection-about rs well
abused by the high-toned press OF
this Commonwealth--as any other
gentleman on this floor. During the
four years | have had the honor of a
scat here, believe / have not spent
four minutes ID talking about myself;
and l do not intend to spend very
much time in talking about myself
now.
Now, sir, as to the proposition be.
fore us. We find ourselves in Just
this fix. The Legislature of last win.
ter, which, as has been said over and
over again upon this floor, found il
necessary to employ for their conve.
nience over one hundred officers dur
ing the entire session, became so
economical just at the close of the ses.
sion--so willing, as the comic writer
said about the draft, "to sacrifice all
his wife's blood relations to say
that all future legislatures should be
confined TO tbirty.four employees, al.
though over one hundred men were
necessary for their convenience. But
no man among all the rcformers who
were active in the passage of that
resolution found that they had too
many men then; but just at the close
Of the session they found themselves
able to say that we and all legislatures
who should come after them, should
find thirty.four men sufficient, and
they passed law binding us TO that
number. The Senate, and | give them
credit for it, Il am not saying word
against the Senate in relation TO that
question)-the Senate, composed OF
thirty-three members, were smart
enough TO manipulate that bill during
its passage, so as to provide themselves
with twenty.iour officers. All right
all right but as / am credibly in
formed, some of the loudcst. .mouthed
among the reformers-some of those
who were building themselves the
most LOFTY reputation as economists
the fiercest watchdogs of the treasury
Of this Commonwealth -and doing
their barking aud biting in that Sen.
ate ~ - .aA
Mr. BRowN, (Dem. )Clarion. Iwould
ask the gentleman if these men arc
not members of the same political
party he is
Mr.. STRANG. ] should not wonder
IL they were. ] should not wonder il
the party to which the gentleman
from Clarion happens to belong, should
ever get in the ascedancy, either here
or there, from the avidiiy which he
manifests upon this question, he will
be apt TO get his full share.
We'll, sir, we got together, at the
beginning of this session, and looked
this thing over and undertake 10
say that every honest man Of both
political parties camo to the conclu.
sion that thirty.four men were too
few for this House TO get along with
properly, comfortably and easily in
the transaction of business. Why not
sirl lftwenty,four men are not too
many for tho Senate, which is com
posed Of thirty-three members, arc
not thirty four men TO few for this
House Ganung, sir, and | am will
ling to stand before the people Of this
Commonwealth, as | said in the few
remarks ! made the other day on the
question, granting that perhaps sixty.
one men may be half a dozen too
many. I do not stand here denying
it. i never did and never intend to
deny that sixty-onc men may be half
dozen more than are absolutely
necessary for the rigidly economical
transaction Of tho business of this
Al i. A :