Rock Island daily Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1886-1893, 1889-01-21
AFTER UNCLE DICK.
A Resolution OFFER d In the state SEN
ate 20 Investigat Kis Expense Ac.

ate TO Investigate HIS Expense Ac-
counr---senator shumway's speech.
Senator Shumway, democrat. from
Christian county. has introduced reso.
luton in the state senate demanding an
investigation of ex-Gov. Oglesby's ex-
pense account. Some republican menu
bers endeavored to s,rangle the resolution
in its incipiency. Mr.. Subway made
the following remarks:
Mr.. PREsIDENT:-I do hope the gems
tleman from Jersey will not insist upon
ringing the death knell of this resolution
upon the very day of its birth. by refer
ring it to the committee on appropria.
tions. This resolution was born in de-
sire for Information, and that apologies
will follow if injusuce has been done to
any one. 1t was charged all through the
last political campaign that a reckless
expenditure of money had been permitted
by the late officers Of the state, and es-
pecially by the late governor. Hon. Rich
ard J. Oglesby, at the executive mansion
Ii these charges sre untrue. it ia but JUS
tice to the retiring officers that this in
vestigation should proceed that they
may be vindicsted before the people. and
the gentlemen upon the other side should
hasten the verdict and not endeavor to
retsrd such action as would remove this
odium from their party leaders. This
resolution asks that inquiry may be made
to ascertain whether the expenditures at
the mansion were all warranted by law.
Article 5. section 90, of the constitution
says, THE officers named in this article
shall receive for their services a salary to
be established BY law, which shall not be
increased or diminished during their
official terms, and they shall not receive
to their own use any fees, costs, perquis
tiles. or office or other compensation"
and then follows list of officers. begins
ming with governor. The constitution
further declares in article 4. section IL,
mo money shall be drawn from the
treasury except in pursuance of an ap-
preparation made by law and on the pres
entstion OF warrant issued by the audi
tor thereon, and no money shall be di.
verted from any appropriation made for
any purpose, or taken from any fund
whatever either by joint or other resolu-
ton" Article 5, section %. further pro-
vides that The supreme executive power
shall be vested in the governor, who shall
take care that the laws are faithfully ex-
ecuted." In conformity with another
provision of the constitution the statute
in section of chapter 50. recites: That
there shall be allowed aud paid an annual
salary in lieu of all other salaries, fees,
perauisites, benefit or compensation. in
any form whatever to each Of the officers
herein named, TO the governor Sc. 900.
together with the use and occupation of
the executive mansion" Notwithstand>
ing these safeguards thrown around the
peoples earnings. we find from the audi
tors report for 1886 that over and above
the governors salary for two years of
S12 900, and his office expenses of So
047 SO, and u contingent fund of $6,041.
TO- there is an expenditure of money at
the executive mansion of SiS. 705. AZ for
the same two years. This resolution asks
il this last named enormous sum has
been expended by warrant of law. am
told by gentlemen of the majority
party that this expenditure was in accord
ance with an appropriation made for that
purpose. The only law that l can find
behind which they can take shelter is on
page 46 of the laws of 1885, which says
ITO the governor, for repairs and care of
the executive mansion and grounds, and
for heating and lighting the executive
mansion, 50 800 per annum. to be paid
on bills of particulars certified to by the
governor" Now bill of particulars,
which is not very particular in many OF
its bills, is furnished, from which find
thousands OF dollars have been extravs-
gsntly spent for luxuries aud for articles |
of family use. the purchase OF which is |
particularly forbidden by both the con-
stitution and statutory laws. This bill |
of particulars shows that there was spent
on the mansion the sum OF $10.07S, and
on the grounds S2,036; for incidentals
$1,257. for coal and ice S5l5. for wages
to employees 81. 104, making an excess OF
nearly $1,000 more than the sppropria.
ton made.
But this is not the worst of it; the re-
port itemizes various articles that every-
body knows were for the family's private
use. amounting to 80 $50, thus making
the grand total Of SIS, 705 Al.
/ have been told by senators upon this
floor that these expenditures were justi-
fled by custom-tEat the president of the
United States had his hot house plants.
his toilet soaps and his water bottles
furnished him, that other governors had
spent the peoples money in q similar
way, and therefore we should sey moth
ing about it. My answer to that apology
Is that if custom is TO take the place of
written law. then adjourn this legislature
a. once and let the people establish Gus
toms upon cheaper basis than by pay
ing law makers IS per day for declaring
that custom excuses the violation Of law.
But let us see what the custom has been
The auditors report for 1888 and 1884
shows that there was expended at the gov
ernor's mansion only S3,55l.40, being
Sl5,OOOless than WAS expended in 1885 and
1885. The report for 1875 and 1876
shows that only 90 1lS OF was spent at
the mansion. If custom is the law, how
do you excuse an excess of over &c.
OOOY The advance sheets OF the audi
tors report for the year just ended are
upon nv desk. bound copies of which
Will be distributed soon, in which find
that the sum Of s. 1885, was expended
at the mansion for 1887 and 1888. Was
the law OF custom superseded and 81 900
saved TO the Taxpayers by the exercise of
that higher lsw-the disapprobation of
the people? lam met again with the as
surance that this expenditure was ueces-
sary for the repairs of the mansion. and
for its proper furnishing and that it is
but right and meet that the governor
should be provided with such surround
iDgs as becomes mis- exalted position.
Mr.. President, believe and advocate
that every official should be paid salary
commensurate with his responsibilities
and duties. and that proper
dignity for that officer should be
maintained. Parsimoniousnes is not
one of my characteristics. want
TO have the satisfaction of saying
that the governor OF my native state lives