Omaha daily bee., 1895-01-14
RUNS RIOT
Legislature Letting Horde of Employees"
in on the State Treasury.
SENATE IS CARRY NG SevENTy-NlNE NOW
Disgraceful Expenditures OF Two Years Ago
to lie Repeated at tho Present Scs-
sion - Some Details OF
the situation.

inc close CT the SeCond week or the twenty
fourth session of the Nebraska legislature
the casual observer is able to take u BIRDS
eye view of the rigid economy which tho
people of the state demand and which the re-
publican majority in the two branches Of the
legislature has tacitly pledged itself to en-
force. Two years ago the legislature appro-
priated t,tal Of $4,000 for the usual legs-
| lative expenses. OF this amount $S5, 900 was
| distributed among members, officers and em-
ployes, and the balance $4,000. was ex-
| pended for what the appropriation sheets
| designated as "incldentals." OF the first
amount but SIC. 322 90 was expended. and for
incdentals but S42,536. The following sched-
ule of the incidental expenses of the last
session will open the eyes of the taxpayer
to the true character of legislative extrava-
gance: For stationery, printing. p stage and
| supplies, $4,000; for committee expenses,
| S245; for special and investigating committee
| expenses, S,346 for contest expenses of
| members, S193; for furniture, fixtures and
| repairs, $lli3; for labor and miscellaneous,
| 81, ,9i2.
OF the above amounts, the only item of ex.
| pense for which the state had practically
value received was that for invc 5tieations.
| The S346 thus expended was saved to tho
| taxpayers four times over in the better adj
ministration of the state inst'tu ions en-
forced by the exposure of the glarng frauds
that had been Systematically practiced for
years. But unless the republican majority
calls halt at once The present session gives
abundant promise of being much more ex-
travagant in the reckless expenditure of the
peoples money than the last one
Two years ago the senate paid its officers
and employees $l6,913,1S. Nearly every em-
ploye drew double pay. The manner in
which the state treasury Is raded every two
years. by the grand army of place hunters
Is rapidly becoming disgrace to the
honesty and integrity of the people of Ne
braska. A glance over the pay roll of two
and pilferings that call for emphatic ex-
preston of indignation from every honest
\ citizen. That the senate is rapidly drifting
to the same disgraceful condition is apparent
to all.
DETAILS OF THE EXTRAVAGANZA.
Two years ago the senate employed post
master, an assistant postmaster and mail
carrier. The postmaster and his assistant
served ninety-one days each and drew $27S
each. The mail carrier served eighty eight
days and drew $264, a grand total Of $50 for
merely handling the mail of thirty-three
men, most of whom averaged one letter or
less per week.
At the last session the senate employed q
secretary, two assistants, a bookkaeper and
S a stenographer to keep the records. These
4 five officials drew from the state $2,G21, and
e every of them practically drew double
4 pay. In addition to this they paid
: several hundred dollars for compiling the
{ records for publication. The od-time excuse
that these five men are required TO work
double time in order to keep the records
o is the thnnest kind of subterfuge.
: In addition to the secretaries the senate
: employed a clerk of the committee of the
I whole, who presided at forty-rour sessions OF
II that committee. For this service, which
n properly belonged to one of the numerous
8 employees in the secretary's office, this super
a numerary received the sum of S324. If every
y minute of the time he put in should be
:, counted he would have hard work to prove
:, that he put in one weeks actual time during
n the entire session.
l. No man has ever yet explained why it Ia
g. necessary to have a sergeant-at-arms, two
, assistants, two doorkeepers, one custodian, one
Al janitor and one night watchman to take care
0. of the senate These employees two years ago
4, drew 2,226 With two three exceptions
n these employees performed no service for the
salaries they drew.
These evidences of extravaganza could be
V continued indefinitely to the end Of the list.
They are referred to simply to Illustrate the
y raid on the state treasury that has already
commenced at the present session.
e. The republicans have been out of power, as
" far as having control of the legislature is
v concerned, since the session of 1889. They re-
RS turn to power at the present session and there
v, seems to be disposition upon the part OF
,d the place hunters to make up for all that they
40 lost in the six years of their enforced retire.
-, ment. The systematic plunderng of the state
II treasury has grown as result OF bad politi-
or cal management and dishonesty covering q
a period Of practically a quarter Of n century
10 The present members OF the senate are mol
ar responsible for the growth of the system. but
III they will be responsible for its continuance
of unless radical reform is instituted at once
ne Forty-nine employees have afrsady beer
he placed on the pay roll Of the senate and OF
ld Friday the senate authorized the appoint
r. ment of twenty-eight committee clerks
nf making the total number far authorized
1g seventy-nine. In addition to this numbe
r. there yet remains to be appointed fourteen
W enrolling and engrossing clerks, although
"A
LIST OF PRESENT EMPLOYEES.
The following is the schedule showing tn
pay roll as II stands at present, taken from
,Ir the official list prepared in the secretary
Office:
le- One secretary of the senate
n One assistant secretary.
cir One second assistant secretary.
ID One sergeant at arms.
nd One assistant sergeant-at-arms
nd One postmaster.
or One assistant postmaster.
We One chaplain.
II One chief enrolling clerk.
ad One chief engrossing clerk.
eh One clerk OF the committee Of whole.
One bill clerk.
One janitor.
-, One mail carrier.
VI One custodian.
'as One custodian Of cloak room.
ith One first assistant custodian of cloak room
be, One second assistant custodian Of cloa
~ ~ room
"a One bookkeeper.
rd One file messenger.
his Two night watchmen.
ce One custodian lieutenant governors room
lnse One bill holder.
nd One janltor and custodian Of c9mmitt'
the rooms in north gallery
the One janitor and custodian Of commits
the rooms in south gallery.
o"' One doorkeeper for gallery.
One fireman.
One custodian Of water closets.
NJ, One proof reader
uIs One private secretary to lieutenant go'
h- ernOr.
ms Ten pages.
inl One stenOgrapher for secretary
'"e Two typewriters for secretary's room.
.ed One messenger for secretary
ak One assistant janitor and custodian.
he Twenty committee clerks.
us The appointment of twenty-eight clerk
- giving one to each chairman of standiI
~, ta, committee. is piece Of extrayGglnce utter
indefensible Some Of the senator's ha'
already appointed their clerks snd II
safe 10 DresDne that all Will be on the Di