Telegram-herald., 1891-01-27
JAxRs McMrILAx. Chairman.
WfIlIAN R. BArKs. Secretary.


AAc HueStAou VA VIC pSy AhCus Va SoaA-
mittec expenses, incurred N visiting
State institutions by authority Of one
or both houses of the Legislature, or in
visiting any other place in the discharge
of the duties of such committees. is not
q new one. II has been quarreled over,
ut every session for years and left un-
settled. IL is quite probable that the
present houses will quarrel over the
matter just as fiercely and just as vainly
As their predecessors. There 10 just
enough looseness In the construction
of the "act to provide for paying ex-
penses authorized to be incurred by the
Legislature" 70 give . skillful word
luggler room for play, although q fair
,nterpre tasion OF the terms of the act
leaves no uncertainty IN the minds Of
those whose understanding il not be-
clouded by their interests The Conn.,
mittee on Judiciary in the House were
requested to make report upon the
subject, and gave to the House merely
. copy of certain sections of the consti-
tuition and of statutes, but gave no
opinion As TO their proper interpreta-
ton. The committee, in fact, threw
about ~ much light into the dark sub
ject as lightning bug would into the
rIoossc tunnel.
In order TO consider the controver-
fully, it Is necessary to consider
the act IN question. The first section
refers to the payment of Witnesses, but
Il must be understood in order to ap-
preciate the construction put upon the
second section 1t provides "that
whenever any witness shall be sum-
moned TO appear before y committee
of the Legislature, by authority of
either branch thereof. the compensa-
ton of such witness shall be two dol
lars per day, for each day of actual
attendance, and the sum of SIX cents
per mile for each mile he shall travel
in coming TO and going from the place
of examination, over the usual trav-
eled route" The statute then makes
the committee the auditing officer by
the use of these terms, "And the
amount of compensation due to such
witness shall be certified to the pre-
siding officer of the body summonna
such witness, by the committee before
whom such committee appeared" The
only way in which the conmittee's :
action can be certified 10 by the sagna
turs Of the Chairman. As SOON as thi;
h done, the presiding officer, and the
clerical officer are justified in drawing
an order for the pay, for. the statute
says "And shereupon such presiding
officer shall direct the clerk or secre.
fary.s the case may be, to draw .
certificate in favor Of such witness fol
such compensation due. in the 1sua
form Of certificates for the payneat Of
members Of the Legislatures: and upor
the pressntatation 10 the State Treas
urer of any such eerhfcsie, properly
sgned, he shall par the same, ous OF
any moneys in the treasury 10 sh-
credit OF the general fund" Such are
the provisions Of the first section.
These are the provisions Of The second
section; ANY sum or sums OF money
due 10 sny COMMITTEES OF either branch
Of the Legislature. for sctuss expenses
incurred for travel, In visiting sny
state institution, or other place, when
such visis q authorised By either branch
Of the Legislature, shall b certified q