Belmont chronicle. [volume] (St. Clairsville, Ohio) 1855-1973, 1878-02-21
SO SOON.
A Democratic Member Of the
Legislature Eath0ms Assignee
eAIeXander.
Correspondents incinnati Enquirer.
Cor rr-xrDr-c Esoh 10 1910

Correspondents incinnati Enquirer.
COLUMBUS, Feb. 13, 1878.
/ blush to think that am Demo-
crat and a member of the House, after
the action of that body to-day-after
the folly of certain Democrats and the
disgaceful conduct of the Republicans!
On Saturday last Ross j. Alexander,
or Alexander j. Ross, or Ross Alex
ander j., the great Legislative prodi-
gy, reported the partial Appropriation
Bill from the Finance Committee, af-
ter it had been fixed up to suit Peter
Hitchcock and the Republicans And
right here let me express my honest
sentiments about Mr.. Alexander. In
the first place, l don't think he is a
Democrat. In the next place, he is
pulled up with conceit, but he will get
that knocked out of him before spring.
he came up here as great reformer,
and he illustrates his principles by
dCdging every vote that has got any re-
form in it,or voting on the wrong side,
and generally with the Republicans.
Mr.. Alexander is puffed too much with
his own importance. He has set him
self up as a leader of the Democrats in
the House, and as a leader he is a
worse fizzle that Jim DalZell. For
some reason, Speaker Neal put him at
the head of the Finance Committee,
beyond all question the most impor-
tant Committee in the House. He has
never been nearer a legislative body
than Justice of the Peace's Court, and
doesn't know anything about legisla-
ton or the finhEceI Of the State; and
lOi he turns ap great lin meier when
Speaker Neal touches him with his
wand. Not only this, but your Colum-
bus correspondent persists in praising
him as wonderful leader, and all that
sort of stuff. Now, am not jealous of
Ross, but l am jealous of the welfare Of
the Democratic party in Ohio, and l
want to see this Legislature make
good record. But l say to Democrats
of the House, if they follow the lead of
Alexander they will make record
that will damn them with the people,
and they will never get back to the
Legislature again. j. Ross Alexander
consults too much with Republicans
and too little with Democrats. He
had better fall in the rear, and catch
the Democratic ster, and let man of
experience and unquestioned Democ-
racy like Meuser lead.
Well, this great statesman reported
the bill TO make partial appropria-
tiOns back to the House on Saturday,
and tried to pass it before members
ever had chance to read. 1t was not
even on their desksI We We're ask ed
to take Ross Alexander Us word, and
vote away over S200,000 without ever
b. NOT hot
He insisted in putting the bill on its
passage against the protest of three
fourths of the Democrats, when it has
been the custom for years to go into
Committee of the Whole on all the
appropriation bills, and consider them
item by item. The bill got only fifty
four vetes-one less than enough to
pass it. Meuser then made raid on
it, backed by Eylcr, BOIL, Swain and
others, and knocked SCI. 900 in claims
out of it, and cut the bill down to a
reasonable figure. Remember, it ap.
propriates over 100000, and S141 900
of this am cunt is put under the head Of
deficiency" o! Lord, what noun
tain of extravaganza and little, petty
grabbing that word deficiency" COW
ers in an appropriation bill! Among
the items stricken out was one of s., 900
for tobacco warehouse in Belmont
county, which was contracted for $lO,-
600 and built for S2S, 900! Alexander
himself voted to knock out large
portion of these claims on Saturday.
On Tuesday the bill was recommitted
to the Conn mittee on Finance, and to-
day it was reported back, but not un'
til the great Ross J. Alexander and
few sore-head Democrats had come to
an understanding with the Republi'
cans, and formed partnership TO pass
the bill under the leadership of Ogle'
wee. All the items that had been
stricken out were reinserted, and more,
too. Alexander and other Democrats,
who voted against these claims on Sat
urddy, voted to put them back to day,
and this great reformer appears on the
journal Of the House as having voted
three different ways in as many days
on the same question! Some other
Democrats, who know as much about
legislation and what they are here for
as ground hog, have records like Al
exander. l think some Democrats vo'
ted as they did because they thought
they were voting right, but they are
few and far between. Most of them
voted with the Republicans out of pure
cussedness. The bill was put upon its
passage, and received Sc votes. two
more than enough to PASS it. When
Neal announced the result the scene
that ensued was shameful.
Mr.. Editor, ,our majority is too large.
The House, instead of being legisla'
tive body, is an imbecile asylum. Can
you send fool-killer up here to thin
out the majority?
For the last ten days there has hard
ly been quorum in the Senate half of
the time. You ought to have your
correspondent publish list every day
of the absentees, so that the people C n
see who is drawing his dear little IS a
day, without attending to his business.
This would bring them to time. If the
Legislature keeps dragging on sit has,
we won't get through before the 4th of
July. God have mercy on US if we
don't get out of here before corn plant
ing, for the people won't. [ am yours
respectfully.