Rock Island daily Argus., 1888-04-02
HE LIVES HIGH.
Does Our Governor Ogiesby-What it
CoSIs 90 support the Executive.


A little democratic simplicity would be
good thing to inculcate into state
affairs at Springfield. Because we have
a rich and prosperous state, it does not
follow that tax payers should be bur.
deued more than necessary. A dispatch
to the Chicago Herald recently sent from
the capital, gives some startling figures
in connection with the expense of con.
ducting the executive mansion. 1t says:
People who kept watch of the amount
of money expended upon the executive
mansion come to the capital city expects
ing to see a gorgeous place. Imagine
their surprise and disappointment on be-
holding Ii dwelling, not of great extent,
and inferior in all respects 10 dozen or
more private residences in this city.
Under the old constitution there grew up
u system of almost criminal misapprO
priatiOn Of money for the use of the legis
lature and governor, with "A view of in
Creasing the salaries of the executive and
members All sorts of lodges were re-
sorted to. The auditors report for 1866
shows that the governor expended for
fuel, lights, gardner, and for repairing
the executive mansion for the fiscal years
1866 6, $21, 900. At the session of the
legislature of 1869, the last that met
under the constitution of 1S4S, there was
appropriated for postage for the use of
members, IS AGO; for newspapers. S3j.>
400 80, and for pocket knives, $7S2 30
These appropriations were in direct vlo-
lation of the constitution The S21 900
were expended by the governor for the
greatest part for his private use, and so
it was with the members of the legsla>
ture in regard to the newspapers, postage
stamps and pocket knives. Those who
were schOOled in the art converted most
of the articles assigned them into money.
Under the new constitution an effort was
made to correct these abuses. Salaries
were fixed. To the governor was given
SO 600 a year, together with the use and
occupation of the executive mansion.
Now it was not expected that the COVER
nor should take the executive mansion
without its being furnished, but it was
certainly not the intention of the law or
the constitution that there should be kept
up the lavish appropriations which pre-
vailed while the salary of the governor
was limited to 81 800 annually. But let
us see if the governor has obeyed either
the spirit of the letter of the law or the
constitution.
The auditors reports from 1872 to
1886, inclusive, show that the governor
expended for furnishing, repairs and care
of the executive mansion and grounds in
sixteen years $S4 1927 45, and S1S, 705.47
Of this amount was expended for the year
1885 and 1886. and to cap the climax the
lafI nf tot taH ot 10
request, Sc 900 for the use of the execu-
tive at the executive mansion. This is
all in excess of the governors Sc, 600 an
nual salary.
The demands of the governor for mon
ey to maintain the repairs, furnishing aud
care of the executive mansion and
grounds have been very eXtravagant inN
deed for the four years beginning with
1888. In 1888 there was appropriated
$4,000 for repairs and care of the execu>
tive mansion and grounds and for heat
ing and lighting the executive mansion
81 600 for new roof for the executive
mansion. and for repairing chimneys and
fence. In 1885 there were appropriated
81, 900 for building kitchen; ST 600 for
repairing drives and walks; SO, 600 for
repainting and repairing mansion and
grounds. and $1,000 for repairs and care
of the executive mansion and grounds,
and for heating and lighting the execu
tive mansion. Total $95, 900
The list of expenditures at the govern
or's mansion would appall the richest of
private householders. Scores of servants
are paid various sums; renovating pill
lows, dry goods, $50 II; furniture and
n nj al q. urlt ria
and rubber hose, $50 30; laundering cur
tableware, sos 50; toilet soap, S5. %
tableware, $226.92; dry goods, $40; ia
be linen, $39.35; stationery, "a So; dry
goods ,S247 .05; tableware, $50 15; plants,
vines, etc, S32 so; ditto, $64 03; dry
goods, $s5 Oh; tableware, $2O3 10; chintz,
$36; stationery, $33 50; flannel an a chintz,
81 As; glassware, S25; hire of saddle
horse, SO; tableware, $3j %; linen thread
etc, S22 G3; velvet, tidies etc, SOL G5
addition to kitchen, SO, 74j; cement for
driveways, 1923; brick fence and gates at
rear of mansion, $402. So drawings and
specifications for addition to kitchen,
1854 so; labor and material in repairs
and alterations, 81, 373; part payment for
carpentry repairs to mansion, 1869 35;
EOpl'JOf itphlIuS obloItS,
$225, 63; plumbing, gas,titting, etc, 81,
527 3d. repairs to sidewalks and conser
vatorv, 1904 05, decorations, flowers, |
etc, S74 %, and SO on throughout sever
al hundred items. If Governor Oglesby
had dared to put his grocery aud liquor
bills in this schedule he doubtless would
have been supremely happy.
In 1875 and 1876 the total expenditures |
of the governor for repairs and care Of
the excessive mansion and grounds were |
80, 11S.O2. Ten years later, for the same
period, they amounted to SlS, 7O5 45. A |
look at the several items will explain |
why the amount was swelled to such |
c normous figures. In this bill of parlic |
ulars, as submitted by the governor, it |
will be seen that thousands of dollars
have been spent for articles not euumer-
ated in the laws making the appropria
ions. II the governor bad right to
'uY toilet soap, stationery, dry goods,
;ombs, brushes, cards. decorations,
,hamois sking and hire saddle horses and
| host of private servants to do his bid
ling at the mansion, and pay them out Of
hese appropriations, he had Il right to
lse the money for buying all the neces4
3aries of life, including the clothing for
himself and family, and the wonder IS
hat be stopped where he did
--w1us-
Grain and stock.
Crop Reporter Campbell has completed