Butler citizen. [volume] (Butler, Pa.) 1877-1922, 1881-04-20
NOPE ROWING COMMISSIONS.

Mr. Cooper called up on third read
ing Senate joint resolution creating q
commission to revise the revenue laws
and submitted an amendment that the
number of Senators to comprise por-
ton of the commission be increased
from three to ive
Mr. McNeill opposed the proposed
increase of the number of Senators and
referred to the ineflicieney of the tax
commission of 1879. A small commits
sion would be of more service than a
large one, and Mr.. Lawrence agreed
with the Senator.
Messrs. Jones, Greer and Cooper
supported the amendment. Mr..
C oper said there would probably be
special session of the Legislature next
winter to consider an apportionmenr
bill, and because the Governor thinks
that proper revenue law cannot be
passed by regular session in view of
the large amount Of other Legislation
demanding the attention of the men,
bers.
NJ. ssrs. Newmyer, Schnatterly and
Reyburn favored the amendment, and
Mr. Hall opposed the joint resolution,
because he did not think the commits
sion would be of any benefit to the
State.
Mr.. Cooper proposed an amendment
that the number OF members be in
creased from five to seven
Both amendments were agreed to.
Mr.. Everhart moved that the
amount appropriated be reduced from
So 900 to $4,000, and that the provis-
ion made for travelling expenses be
stricken out
The amendment was defeated, az
was one by Mr.. Kaufman requiring
the commission to revise the expend-
itures of the State, including appropri-
ations.
The bill was passed third reading
and laid over for final passage.
The above are what are termed
Rowing Commissions" At lmost
every Legislature for years past such
Commissions are gotten up. The
main thought in the originators is to
give themselves employment during
the summer recess at the expense Of
the State. They generally have
good time of il, visiting watering
places, summer retreats, principal
hotels, and living well, their travelling
expenses all being paid by the State.
But what benefit they have ever been
nobody has yet found out. Last year
there was just such Commission"
appointed to revise the revenue sys-
TEN of the State Senator Greer of
this county was on it. And as be
supported the motion for an Increase
OF the committee now proposed as will
be seen above, we presume he is desir
ing to be on the present one.
The one Of last year had frequent
meetings in different parts of the State
during the summer. But if any report
was ever made to the Legislature of
its work it has not been made public.
The truth ia, these commissions to re-
wise the revenue laws" are farce if !
not an outrage upon the tax payers of
the State. No such large body, taken !
from the Legislature aud thus consti- |
tuted, can be expected to carefully col
lect the necessary material and inf"r-
nation, and prepare andreport better
system of taxation. Any reform in
our system of taxation will have to
come in different way. erecollect
a similar commission" fifteen years
ago that made some sort Of a report,
which was never after beard of or
thought of-so it has been since, and
the attention Of the people is being di-
rected to this useless expenditure of
their money. If members of the Leg
stature want recreation during the
eyexS and during tbs warm sumner