The weekly clarion. [volume] (Jackson, Miss.) 1863-1882, 1872-03-21


One branch (the Senate) of the Legis-
lature has passed a joint resolution to adj
journ not before the 9th of April and il
| is doubtful whether theHouse viii concur.
But admit that it does, what will be
the facts for public consideration The
body viii have been in session about
eighty working days-at a cost judging
from the expenditures of the former
sessions Of the carpetbag regime, of
about $1,000 per day-or sum total that
may be estimated at about $50, 900.
The average duration of former sessions
! Of the Legislature when they were held
once in two years, instead of once year
as a present, was about fifty working
days; and the average cost did not ex-
coed fifty thousand dollars per session.
The reprehensibleness of the present
prolonged session with its enormous at
tendant expense, is the more apparent
when it is borne in mind that the two
sessions which preceded it, were of unex-
ampled length and unprecedented cost.
The session Of 1870 was prolonged six
months, at cost of s241 900, auditors
Rope TT, January; 1870. The session of
1873 twas prolonged (says the Auditors
Report Of January last) one hundred
''and thirty-one days." at cost of
S201 900. And yet upon the heels of
these long sessions in two consecutive
years, during which time two volumes of
pamphlet acts were passed, each cover
ing nearly 1000 pages, and Code en-
bracing about 800 pages-it is proposed
to prolong another session upwards of
three months, which will cost the tax
PAYERS not less than $3.50, 900 on account
of the Legislature alone, besides incl
dentals.
And yet, what is there to show for all
this consumption of time and public
money? What important measures have
been passed for the benefit of the people
The past extravaganza of the party n
power is fully admitted by its leaders,
They have confessed that the "great
necessity of the over-tasked taxpayers,
is the reduction of the expenses which |
they are required to bear? But what |
remedy has been applied? Except in
the matter of public printing there has
been no practical step taken towards
and Reform. To this end
The efforts of the Conservatives and Dem
1crats have been directed without ceas-
ng. They proposed to begin the work
If Reform by reducing the per diem of
members, but were defeated. They pro-
posed to curtail the expenditures on ac-
count of the Judiciary but have been
'affied. They are striving to reduce
md regulate the salaries and fees of
public officers but have encountered OBJ
tacles at every step. They have tried
o reduce taxes (Which would be mere
unaccompanied by a reduction
# expenditures but have encountered a
old wall of Radical opposition. They
lave tried to hasten an adjournment,s seeing
hat the session was being prolonged at
immense cost to the suffering taxpayers,
without benefit, and in this good endeav-
r they have also been baffied. And
low as if to pile on the agony of outrage
n long forbearing people, they have
notified them that this long
|
raj weeks. Its day of account for doing
he things it ought not to have done and
Or leaving undone the things which it
ught to have done, will come after
while and the reckoning will be fearful
ne.