The Baltimore County union. [volume] (Towsontown, Md.) 1865-1909, 1881-08-06

An "Ex. Member Of the Legislature from Bal
timOTO county continues his letters In the Balti.
more Tribune. Tho last one Is on the subject uf
Legislative Expenses" and Is rs follows:
FIN my last I referred 10 the cxtravagAnre Of
the last Legislature In having one hundred aud
Eve employees In and around the State HOUSE %
perform duties that could have been discharged
by one-third the number, and that this was done
In order 10 secure the votes aud influence Of the
members In securing the election of 0orman 10
the Senate and Cotton Police commisslonsr.
! showed that many thousands were thus taken
from the treasury o. secure the elevation of tho
Ring leaders 10 fat offices and 10 pass certain
measures in which the lobby and the Ring we're
interested, and for which they received large pay
"The extent Of these practices exceeds ali cal
culation. and the recital Of all that they did would
oil book. When new Legislature meets Il Is
necessary that few Of the old officers should at
tend 10 assist In its organization, and they are en-
titled to pay for their services. The Law, howev.
or, limits the number and expressly provides that
seven only shall attend for that purpose and re-
ceve pay. This law Is as positive rs Il Il possi-
BILE for language TO make u. The usual allow.
ance used TO be about six days per diem or $50
each. For seven this would be S2l0-and be lib.
eral pay. Yet when the Legislature Of 1850 met,
the Hing leaders determined 10 make themselves
strong In all dircctions and in the face Of the law
they brought twenty-five Of the former officers
there and paid them 5000 down 10 $40 q piece
amounting 20 S2,?ji, at the lowest calculation
two thousand more than the law permitted, and
Mr.. Heating. the Ring candidate for Comptrol.
Ter, paid tho bills. lie wants 10 be elected, and II
reelected will doubt do the like again. Just as
often rs the Ring requires II Of him.
Claws no longer afford the people protection
against the embellishments Of the Ring. They
take just what they please, regardless Of law.
"Another Item calls for our attention. II ap-
pears by the books that two thousand dollars were
paid 10 ten Newspaper correspondents In the
House-two hundred dollars each. .sr-sS
"liere again was infamous steal. No law
for IL whatever, aud no need for It. In olaen
times the leading papers sent their reporters 10
Annapolis TO supply their papers with an nc.
count Of the proceedings 20 lay before their read
ers Ne general news, and paid them out Of their
own pockets. But here, the Ring, In order TO
have the support Of the papers 10 sound their
praises, give away two thousand dollars Of our
money 10 the reporters. This. too, was shameful
aud deliberate pinnde,ing Of the treasury These
reporters had no right To n single cent, and the
money ought TO be recovered back from the Comp.
irollcr. having been paid without authority of
law. The House simply passed an order and the
money was paid. The Constitution Of the State
says that money shall be- paid out Of the treas.
ury unless authorized by law passed By both
Houses Of the Legislature and approved by the
Governor.
"In these two items alone. the pay given 10
twenty two officers Of the preceding House and To
the reporters took more than four thousand dol.
lars In hagrant violation Of law. and MI TO
strengthen the hands Of the Ring managers
"Men aspiring 10 Office should pay their own
expenses, and I draw their electione ering funds
from the public treasury"