Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1891-01-01
nEGIsLArIYB ALIoW4YCEs.
A Plea for Retrenchment All Along TIL,
Line.


Editor Gdzotte' | desire to call the
attention of the members of our next
General Assembly to some of the abuses
that have crept into the item of allowances.
The pay of the clerks ,of the House and
Senate has increased in a few years from
800 to $500 each, which is d wanton
waste of the States money, as all know
that these offices can be as acceptably and
completely filled for one third the amount.
These men now receive whatever the com
mittee on accounts recommends and each
committee always recommend an advance
over that of its predecessor, thus il has
risen to the sum above mentioned.
Think of it,, tho clerk Of the House re-
ceiyes as much as the whole nine mem
hers of the Senate. The salaries of the
three clerks amount to over one-half the
combined, less their mileage. Now this is
both absurd and ridiculous as think it is
safe assertion that not one of the appli-
cants for this position has made during the
past three years what is usually paid for
a three months session, and always a ma
jority of the defeated candidates are appli-
cants for the position Of assistant or read
ing clerk, thereby admitting that if they
cannot get S2,50o they are willing to do
about the same amount of work for s400
and usually the assistant clerk has been
the more competent of the two.
The abuse can be corrected by fixing
their pay by law, the two chief clerks to
receive not over 81 ,0G0 for clerliing, enroll
ing and publishing their journals, and
know il will be sought after at these figures
by thoroughly competent and acceptable
meE.
The reading or assistant clerk of the
House should be selected in the same man
ner US the chief clerk and his salary should
also be fixed by law.
1t seems proper that the members who
desire the above reform should so declare,
before the selection of the clerks, other
wise the latter would think themselves
badly treated by not receiving the adj
vanced salaries Of last session.
see by the journals of the legislative
committee of this year that there was
Sl,5tD disbnrscd to State officers who al
ready had their salaries, which was more
than ample. The first two items are $500
each to the clerks for indexing and super
intending the printing Of their journals,
while the combined work of both should
not require more than one week if the
paid 81 900 for it. Next, the State treasurer
received s9l5 for signing and printing $50
bonds then the secretary of State
received 500 for experimenting the
printing of laws and bonds
the insurance commissioner received 81, 500
LOT preparing and experimenting the
printing of his report which is only
compilation of the annual statements pub
llshed by the companies doing business in
this State. Then the State auditor Is al
lowed 5000 for experimenting the printing
of his report, and to give suitable wind
up, the clerk of their committee, after
securing $50 for three days work, is au-
thorized to draw on the State treasurer for
500 for, s1lperintending the printing of his
journal OF 10 pages the cost of printing be-
ing not over $40.
But the precedent has been set by former
committees, and these gentlemen only fol-
lowed in their footsteps.
The expenditure of over S75, 900 during
the last four years for our militia, would,
| should think, be a matter of investiga-
tion as to whether the results justified the
expense.
Another favorite raid on the State treas
ury is the expenses of serving reqllisitions
on other states for persons accused of
crimes i'll this State, and the passing of
laws for indeXing the county records,
we usually pay $500 for each 800
worth of work performed. All the above
will be before you, so keep an eye on
them, as il is expected that you gentlemen
will make good the befOre-eection prom
ises of reform, and not smilingly inform us
that the platform and promises at the
hustings were only intended for the guilt
BILE voter and never to be kept. More than
usual is expected of you at the coming ses-
sion in the way of needed retrenehments
and REFORM and it is to be hoped that you
will not disappoint the people.
OBSERVER.
DOVER, December 23d, 1890.