The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1880-02-21
for party extravaganza in its printing
contract and Otherwise This is what he

for party extravaganza in itS printing
contract and Otherwise This is what he
says:
II am satisfied thai, upon = raratul
and iudiciauS revision Of the quantity uf
matter t. t. printed under the existing
contract, we can dispense, in respect to
some documents, with nine-tenths, as to
others at least two-thirds. and as to all
at least one-half of that now printed.
In what say look to the future and
not Is a comment OF criticism upon that
which is past. | therefore most earnestly
recommend the passage of Law which
shall define what documents and the
quantity to be printed at the next ses-
sion. and that no publication be made of
anything not necessary for the public ser
vice, and that it be limited to the ncces-
sites of legislation: that the Comptroller
or Treasurer, OF both. should be directed
to contract upon the best terms for such
printing before the meeting of the Legis-
lature. and that this contract be executed
under the supervision CT Il superintendent
to be appointed by the Governor: that no
matter not embraced in this contract
shall be printed unless it is referred to a
separate committee of the House the
cost of it first aScertained by the super
ntendent and favorable report by the
committee and order Of, the House therein.
In addition to this sum Of s3S, 600 paid
for the Legislative printing. there was
also paid the sum of s:55 064. 20 for the
publication of the laws of last session to
newspapers. This is done under the acts
of 1865. chapter g., and 1868, chapter
40. Before the act Of 1865, no such
publication was ever authorized, aud
never before was this large expense i'll
Cured. The State and the people got
along in all times before without it, and
there is no occasion for it now. This
system was inaugurated under Republi
can rule. has continued to this day, and
it is time to stop it. | accordingly rec
ommend the repeal of these acts. \ just
and wise economy GA these printing sub
iects can save at least $50. 900 to the
treasury. The true interests of the press
are in its enterprise. energy. intelligence.
purity and entire freedom from all pa
tronizinG influences. But, however this
may be. il the necessity of the service
does not require this expenditure Of
money. that should be the end of it.
now more particularly call your at
tention to our Legislative expenses. and
to the necessity of their careful revision
and Of 4 rigorous retrenchment. The
expenses of the session of 1878 We're
$112. 00i0 OF this sum $54. 800 in round
numbers was for the per dlem and mile
age on the members of both houses, leav-
ing the very large sum of 800 for the
attendant and incidental expenses, and
of the later amount the sum OF $4,000 in
round numbers went in the shape of COM
penSation to the officers and employees of
both houses. That there can be a large
saving here no one can doubt, and that
these officers and employees should be
nearly as great a charge upon the treas
urv as the members themselves would
seem incredible. | very well appreciate
how the kindly sentiments Of our nature
are approached by those who desire such
places: many of them most worthy gen
tiemen, and on account Of their personal
friendship or service Tor us, and impressed
with a knowledge probably OF their wants,
it would be entirely creditable to all
them in any way consistent with a strict
discharge of duty to the people, and espe-
cially creditable to do SD out Of our own
private resources. But it must be borne
in mind that in disbursing the public
money we are taking that which is drawn
by the force of law from rich and poor
alike. and not one i'll a thousand can be
the recipient Of any such favors. Taxes
should always be as fairly and Justly i'm
posed as can be: STILL however imposed
primarily, they at last come by and out
of labor: and whenever we take from
labor that which is required for the sup
e Il
estly and rigidly applied to this purpose
and to none other. The virtue OF right
requires us to be just to all rather than
to be generous to the few. | therefore
most earnestly urge upon you the pas
sage of a law defining and limiting the
number OF officers and employees in the
Senate and House, and to the lowest pos
i,ible number, and fixing their compcnSa-
ton at some certain moderate sun. and
beyond this. prohibiting either in money
or other things all perquisites or extra
allowances iur any kind Of services
Furthermore. that the Comptroller be
required, i'll his annual report to the Gen
eral Assembly, to return the names of
the officers and employees of the last SEES
sion. the amount paid them for compen-
sation. and its character and the kind of
SCEN ice ftliticltt. he NbHSllltllioll ldTtl-
Gle 3. section 32) says mo money shall
be drawn from the treasury of the State
by any order OF resolution, nor except in
accordance with an appropriation by law;
and every such law shall distinctly specify
the sum appropriated and the object to
| which ii shall be applied" This imposes
the duty upon the General Assembly to
provide by law for the expenditure of
every dollar OF money needed for its nee
essary purposes beyond the simple per
diem and mileage authorized and fixed
by the Constitution. and beyond these
two items nothing is provided by that
instrument and must be provided Tor by
law.
The balance of the message is devoted
to understandable charities. taxes in AZ
rearS the defense loan, and veto power.