The Stark County Democrat. [volume] (Canton, Ohio) 1833-1912, 1877-04-26
From the Plain Dealer.l
COLUMBUS, April II.
How the Money Goes.

How the Money Goes.
In my last gave you slight sketch
of the way this Republican General AS
sembly conducts legislation at the ex-
pense of the tax payers of the State. 1t
is my intention, in each ofmy succeeding
epistles, to bring to public attention a
few facts, which may open the eyes of the
people who know but little of the moduS
operdndi of conducting the affairs ofthe
state under the present administration.
propose to embody few items of the
expense which the people are called up
on to bear-expenses which they have
no more right to be taxed for than the
people of China or the heathen of Tim
buctoo. These little items are familiarly
denominated
Perqulsltes.
These'perquisites consist, among other
things of pocketbooks, scissors, knives,
soap, and hundred other equally as ex-
pensive articles. Yesterday l borrowd a
members pocketbook and carried it to a
book store for the purpose fpiercingth the
same. Any ordinary individual would
be obliged to pay for similar portmonie
the sum of $l.75. Now, these same pock-
etbooks are graciously bestowed, without
money and without price on every men,
ber of the Legislature, all ofthe officers,
pages and porters-every state house Of
fetal, from clerks down to the scavengers
who remove tie daily debris. These
numbers trihe over two hundred and
fifty giving one to each of them at $l,75
head amounts in the aggregate to $437.-
so. Then comes in few intimate friends
which will swell it in round numbers
to $500.
Another Item
worth mentioning are the pocket knives.
There are two kinds of very nice bone or
ivory handled knives, which cost $l.25
each. Taking it on the very same basis
and allowing to to each person, we have
another expense of $625. Adding this
sum to the amount paid for pocketbooks,
and we have the neat figures of eleven
hundred and twenty five dollars. Add
$3.50 for scissors at sixty cents pair; $50
for fine toilet soap; $50 for mucilage; ST.
25 for ivory paper folders; $50 for erasers
and we at once arrive at the interesting
sum of over fifteen hundred dollars.
But this Is not All,
v The various articles of stationery, quilts
pencils ETC., that are carried off by the
members when they visit their homes,
will amount to more than all of the for
mer enumerated articles. venture the
assertion that not cent less than five
thousand dollars of the peoples money
is squandered recklessly. Ofcourse am
willing to acknowledge that there are ex-
penses in the way of stationery, pencils,
ETC., which are perfectly legitimate. But
where is an honest man that will give
any plausible excuse for donating a mem
ber of the legislature any more than a
private citizen, pocketbooks, knives, scis-
sors, soap, etc? The law makers receive
pay for their services, each at the rate of
$5 per day, and majority of them get
more than they earn, without having all
the articles given them gratis.
The Great Curse
of our country is the extravaganza which
is swallowing up the earning OF the people
There should be ahalt called somewhere,
This sum of $4,000 is only one of the
many similar amounts which are being
drawn into the vortex Of extravaganza,
of which the great mass of our people
know comparatively nothing. There is
other and larger games which I propose
to get hold of before the thing is ended.
The Day. of Adjournment
has been agreed upon the caucus by the
Republicans. The 30th day of April is
the time set, and it will be safe to count
few days longer.
The Governors Mansion
was knocked to-day. The Statesman has
been making fight on the proposition,
and so frightened the Republicans that
scarcely corporals guard had the pluck
to vote in favor otit.
Redeeming Trait.
AS redeeming trait in this Legislature
Yesterday Clerk Leonard appointed a
Democratic clerk as an assistant. The
young man is a son of a Democratic re
preventative.
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