The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1875-01-12
FROM COLUMBUS.

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not having been in session for the past
week, I,cannot give you much legislative
news. | may, however, interest some of
your readers by giving some examples
of the conduct Of some OF the members,
and while l am not disposed to be one
who is complaining of the conduct Of
others, or in. general way to criticise
their motives, in case of few members
| feel like saying of them, that funeral
at the expense of the State would be q
savingto pubic expenditure.
In the House, several days ago, while
the question Of adjournment over the
holidays was under considerations the
proposition that members should not
draw pay while absent was offered to it.
DR.. Norton, member from Seneca Coun-
ty, made himself very industrious run
ming around among the members, insist
ing on them to vote down the PROPOSE
ton His industry in this matter was
quite noticeable, so much so that, when
his name was called, he forgot to vote
After the call had gone through, and it
was evident that the proposition was de-
feated the DR.. called out: "Mr. Speaker,
call my name" which was done. To
the utter surprise OF those with whom he
had been soliciting to vote against the
propnsition,he voted for it. Hcsgoes on
the record in favor of economy, and yet
his influence, if he has any, was used in
theo opposite direction 49, 5s
There is another class-a few mem
bers who are always anxious 20 talk -
They seem to think that no measure can
be fully understood unless explained by
them; everything must 60 through their
mouths before the House to which they
belong can intelligently vote omit. 1t is
perhaps hardly necessary for me to say,
that these men are not the men of ma
ture thought, learning and judgment, in
the body TO which they belong. On the
contrary, they are the light weights, and
often ruin and destroy good measure
by their incessant palaver, which they cali
speech making. : q
The correspondent of the Cincinnati
Gazette some time since took occasion
to abuse and misrepresent Hon James
Watson: our member, for the reason that
he opposed what he (Watron) believed
to be a useless expenditure of money in
the appointment OF an Official Reporter
and in doing so he was not content with
con6ning his abuse to the member, but
also referred to his constituency. In his
criticism he did not attempt to contro
vert the unanswerable argument of Wat
son, or deny the points made in his
speech, but merely made scribbler's
fling at him. He, having without cause
attacked our Representative, should see
to his own record as a correspondent
During the month of November, while the
report of.tbe Auditor of State was being
prepared, this same correspondent made
an Arrangement with one of the clerks
in that office by which he, to the exclu
sion Of the other correspondents, was to
have the points in the report, while il
was being prepared. To say the least Of
this conduct, it was very improper, both
on the part of the clerk and. correspon
ent Not that il was furnishing matter
improper to be given, but it was obtain
ing it in way that was excluding it from
part OF the public and monopoIiziEg
it to the use Of the Gazette. These re
ports were published in the Gazette as
work of the correspondents own hunt.
ing up, and no credit was given to the
Office from which they were obtained =
A few days ago the advance sheets of the
Auditors report were laid on the tables
Of members. The next day the letters
of this self-same correspondent to the
Gazette, in commenting on it, says it is
very fine report, and that it is in sub
stance almost what he had reported to
the Gazette during the month of Novem
ber When this letter was read in the
Auditors Office the indignation was moi
only loud but deep. That correspond
ent would almost clandestinely obtain in
formation from the Office, publish it a:
his own working up, and then say tha
the official report, from the Office, was il
substance what he had worked up anG
published was rather more than the gooC
Iatured officials of the southwest corner
Of the State House could endure.
1t is proper that should say here, ,tha
as soon as this arrangement between the
clerk and correspondent was discovered
it was prohibited by the Auditor, he de-
claring that 'the information obtained
from his Office is open to all reporters. ;
I If sera1ades are to be taken as guide
to an officers popularity, next to Gov.
Allen, Louis Stoehr, Superintendent o1
the State Arsenal, must be set down as
the most popular. On the afternoon be.
fore Christmas his friends in the city
called at the Arsenal with band of mu
sic, and gave him seranade. Lou
was taken by surprise, and at first hardly
knew how to meet such sudden and
singular attack on his headquarters. He
soon, however recovered his usual gray.
ity and took in the situation with his &C,
customed good nature. sflt A. o
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