New-York tribune., 1879-01-31
APPOINTING A CLERK.

DTRATy on ECONOMY GROWING OUT OF A DEMAND
FORA CLERK By THE APPoRTloNMENT COMMIT
TEE OF THE ASSEMBLY,.
fFROM THE REGULAR CORRESPONDENT oP THE TRIBUSEi
ALBANY, Jan. 30.-The Assembly was again
agitatcd to-day the question cf reducing :s eHpenes
For the past week special committee under resolution
offered by Mr. Skinner have been investigating the
subject OF employ es OF the Assembly To-day they
reported in favor Of cutting of all extra employees eX-
cept 40 superintendens OF departments Mr.. skinner
at the same time presented minority re-
port against the employment OF these
superiutendcnts. Neither report was debated
however, but tho documents ordered
to lie printed for the information OF the Assembly
Right the heels Of these reports Mr. Hepburn called
up resolution for the appointment Of clerk and mes
scngcr of the AppOrtonment Committee OF which ne l.
chairman He sad that he did not come to Albany to
act empoye Of the Assembly and tnat he did not
purpose to assume the work of clerk of the Appoton-
ment Committee. Mr. Grady, OF NcW-York, followed
with speech advocating the appointment of Demo
cratic clerk as well Ecpublican clerk
Of the App0ronment Committee. Mr.. shcard' oi
Herkimpr then moved that the pay OF the clerk Of the
Apporonmrnt Committee be limited TO forty days. The
time within which they were directed to report bill Mr.
Hepburn, in criticm OF This amendment, said tina; he
thought the State Of Ncw-YoIk rich enough to
pay for the services of clerk Of the com
mttee throughout the session. Mr.. si,afd
replied that the state paid clerks Of apportIonmoni COM
mttces over 900 last year for ,acr services ana cot
no return for4ho expenditure Mr.. Hepburn said that
be thought be being treated unfairly; that every
other chairman Of a committee had clerk, While h.
had none Mr. shcards motion TO appoint the cierk Tor
only forty days was then PM and yOTed down.
Frastns Brooks, who had been yisbly agltatcd b.
Mr. Grady's motion that the Democrats he given
clerk then took the floor. He took good care IN the
opening of lIs speech to discaim any responsibility for
Nj. Grady's motion. lie then said that be or
posed any appointment OF extra CLERKS, not "s
PARTISAN but as citizen desiring to correct great
abuses The Apportionment Committee, IN his opinion
dio NOT need clerk Year bv year such appointments
had been made and it time that tie prac-
tce was stoppcd McWbers imposed legislative duties
upon clerks which they themselves ought 10 perform
I'm the very height Of the period 81 ntion after the
war thc expenses OF the Legislature veIc not rs great
rs at present. In 1867, tor instance, they were
500 AZ; whereas n 1875 they amouAt. ID
10 Sli2Ij3. Despite an Tie oiiorts made last
year 10 reduce expenses, the Legislature o.
1873 expended S2l 600 than the Legislature Of
1877 These expenses, IL plain. increased yedI by
wear There might have been some excuse for thcw
when the members were paid only $500 yearly;
but now when their pay was Sl,50O there wa5
no such plea 10 Offer. The members Ought 70 "4r
for extra expenses out OF their own pockets. 1t vas
time that the member, OF the Legislature put stop 10
such expenditure 1t time Of great public TAXA
,,on uoycrtv and distress The Speaker had the r-it
nrarh 100 employe, were enough The appohtincrt u,
a clerk Tor The App0ruonment Committee was "a BAD
precedent ard ought not to De made.
blr. O.den OF Brooklyn said thh he In favor Of
the appointment OF clerk. but Of 10 messenger 10 the
committee.
Mr. skinner SAID that tie sole result Of the labor Of
four clerks for tho II c.isatuGe last year upon aput
tiOnmeut bl about eight pages VI printed m1itor
lii cOnclusiO1 he moved as substitute for Mr. Hep
buin's resolution tuat TWO messengers hc detailed to 80
Tho work Ccrk AID messenger OF the AppOruon'acAt
Committee
Mr. Hepburn replied and was sustained by spc har
AlyOId that thls would be unlawful, the iS
of tue state pot permitting sucn traL,i,i
of duties General George II. Sharpe slI tHu
he hoped Mr.. iGrbUTn's resolution would Dc passed! ia
the interest Of the Republican y riy Apprtotiurtt
wa. necessary ANA should hr hurried forward. 4 ,-.
was then taAen upon Mr.. Gridy's motion tlG'
a Democratic clerk shonld also be appointed F.c
motion only received tNcnty-,iN y.tCs (ii given n>
Democrats and was declared defeated Mr Br"Ohs was
the only Democrat who voted against tins notion La
year as We tins year tie Democrats have been M
able resist the hJlt of curing appoint at 'olot
of their political faith and have not followed !t.
BIuOA5 apprals reduction OF tne expenditure
oi the LEGISLATURE. After vote Nr. GraGy motion,
4 vote tTkcu ON sir. ltpburu's resolution II was
passed by vote Of ~ to -.