The Donaldsonville chief. [volume] (Donaldsonville, La.) 1871-current, 1882-01-14
A LEGISLATIVE GRAB.

A LEGISLATIVE GRAB.
Notwithstanding there was but on
day intervening between the recent extr.
sessions Of the General Assembly, AM
that Sunday, I'll but bakers dozen O
. the mentors Of tho House and Senat,
drew from tho State treasury the allow
ance for travelling expenses to which
they only would have been entitled hat
they gone to their homes at the close o
the first session and returned to psrtici
pate IN tho soc0ud.
"Constractiv. mileage" wss ono Of the
eosysnient frauds perpetfated upon The
State prior to the adoption Of the present
constitution, .bpts II il hard 70 see how
Constructive trexaling expenses can
Be exacted Or justified in tho faoeof the
plain provisions Of article "a Of thst in
strument, which are q follows:
Tho members Of the General Assembly
shall receive compensation nut to excoed
i AOuA NOsAWAo R0A u0y uVSNuA VtlClk oStOnU6uOC
and their actual travelling expenses going
to and returning from the seat Of govern
ment; but in no instance shall more than
thirty dollars esch way he allowed for tray
cling expenses.
1t is apparent, therefore, that with tho
few honorable exceptions noted, to whom
should perhaps he added several members
living 20 nesr the seat Of government
that they could aud did visit their homes
on the dsy intervening between tho ses-
sions, our Senators and Representatives
have been guilty Of a piece Of petty pee
ulation-an imitation on small scale of
the famous Congressional salary grab
none the less repreheusiblo and criminal
because of its paltry Dimensions. A sense
Ut personal honor and Of the responsible
tiles Of tho position he occupies a. .
maker Of laws for the people should lend
every legislator who has received this
illegal allowance to restore it to the treas
ury. He owes it to tho State and to his
immediate constituents to set On example
Of strict and faithful obedience to law,
and when be fails in this duty, he brings
himself and his exalted station into con-
tempt and disreputo, aud encourages
lawlessness in others.
Tho amount involved in this transac.
ton is comparatively Insignificant, but
tho principle and precedent arc i,npor.
tant. Our honorable Legislators should
view the matter from that standpoint
and speedily correct tho mistake they
have made. No doubt many received
the surplus dollars without thinking Of
tho wrong committed: ignorance Of law
can not be urged a. IN excuse for ito VIC. |
lation, but We do not believe the press
Or the people, as . general thing, will DO
nnduly captious in the premises, and oil |
Tho mombers Of the General Assembly !
Who return their overplus to the Treas
arsr may reasonably expect absolution |
from suspicion of intentional wrong
Icing.
From the New Orleans CITY Item and
States We obtain tho following list Of
legislators who declined to receive tho
Illegal allowance for travelling expenses:
dcssrs.- pyFFon and Ksvsnsgh Of st.
landry cosgrove Of Nstchitoches, Col
al Of Went Fclicisua, Hathaway and
Viss Of Rspides, Henry Of CsmeEres
offrion- q Avoyelles, Jones 81, Sn,
'gdsn Of Bossier, Phipps N pof Winn,
ssy Of Coddo, Wesm, rof Claiborne,
[arris aud H. !" -. Of st. Tsmn,any,
ADDISON 14;,Sssn Of Desoto, Gibson Of
&V3knd Munday Of East Fslioiana.
,Amony those sntitlsd 70 mileage by
eason Of having Travelled to and from
heir homes between the sessions wore
kessrs. Billiu Of Lsiourcho, Varnado of
Washington, Settoou Of Livingston aud
landry Of Ascension.