The Cambria freeman. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1867-1938, 1880-03-19
How the Peoples Honey il Spent.

If it were possible to do so, copy OF
the report OF Auditor General Schell for
the year ending November 80, 1879.
ought to be placed in the hands OF every
taxpayer in the State. They would
learn from the details of the report how
theirmoney is squandered st Harrisburg,
and how the public treasury is systemat-
ically plundered. The last session of
the Senate cost the State $146, ,70S 81,
and that Of the House S420, ,663. 80. OF
the cost Of the Senate more than one
half, or $61, ,585 DO, was on account OF the
members salaries, while the salaries of
the House amounted to 1895, ,S83. 20
The officers and employees Of the Senate
were paid $43, ,614. 40, and the same class
Of persons in the House were paid $6l,
489 20. This was for a session of $50
days, at SO per day, together with 800
for postage stamps-enough to last most
Of the members ten years-$25 for sta
tiouery. and twenty cents fOI each mile
going TO and returning from Harrisburg,
although each member received free
pass before leaving home. One hundred
days is the outside limit to which a ses-
sion ought to extend, but just as long as
members are paid SO per day there will
be TO session short of 100 days. A sick
ly effort was made last winter to change
the salary, but as nearly all Of the then
members want toget out Of the treasury
81 700 for another session of $50 days
next winter. of course no change was
made.
In the Senate there were sir pastors
and folders, and superintendent TO boss
them, each OF whom was paid over 5000,
and in the House boss and ten assist
ants received each the same amount Of
pay. They all cost the State about S17, :
600, when one-third the number could
easily have done the work.
The amount paid the Supreme Court
judges, Common Pleas judges, Orphans
Court judges, and associate judges was
$439, SIC. SO, or nearly half million of
dollars. The public printing and bind
ing for the year, including paper, cost
the enormous sum of $3.50, 359 80, and
for publishing that swindling document
called the Legislature Record, S24, sec. "a
was filched out Of tho State Treasury.
For taking care Of the Public Buildings
and few acres OF ground the Superin-
tendent and his horde OF assistants wers
paid nearly $50, coo. The repairs to the
Governors house footed up S9,1I975.
The advertising for stationery for the
Senate and House reached the modest
sum of S14, ,785. .26. Our State army,
called the National 6 uard, received from
the Treasury S171 222. Is, while the COM
mon schools went begging for their con-
stitutional appropriation. The men who
are conducting the Geological Survey
raided the treasury to the extent of $47,-
600, and we discover that Harry Whites
good friend, the ubiquitous and handy
Col. James Worrall, is booked for the
neat sum OF g, 400 as Commissioner Of
the boundary line between this Stats
and New York, and between this State,
Ohio and Western Virginia. w NJ
Gray got 81 ,279. 81 for broOms, buckets,
soap, etc, for the session OF the Senate
for 1879, and also S635. 80 for the year
ending June l, 1880, during which time
there was no session. The same man
was paid for brooms, buckets and soap
for the House s., ,426,2 The refurnish-
ing of the Lieutenant Governors room,
which is done every year, was big
thing ard cos. $572 10. The notorious
Sam Adams bossed this job, as he man
ages TO bosS most Of the other steals
about the capitol. $22 was paid for one
Office chair; $50 for two rocking chairs,
and $50 for two easy chairs.
We could go on for an hour with the
detail OF similar swindles, but we Will
stop here. What is the peoples remedy
for this criminal waste OF their money q?
1t is the Legislature, but to expect that
it viii go resOlutely and fearlessly to
work and run the riverof reform through
this Auges2 stable, is to hope against
hope-pothing but q delusion and
snare. Judging from their apathy and
indifference, the people appear 10 like TO
be plundeTed, and will never haYe much
difficulty in elacting Legislature that
will crafty them to the top Of their bent.
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