The record-union., 1896-01-03

It is a notorious fact that clerks of that
order employed by the Legislature as
minute takers, do not command any
such wage as was allowed the late
Minute Clerks. But if something IS
conceded for the temporary character
of the Office, and Sc day accorded for
these clerks, the Senate would have had
perfect service Instead of costing that
body some $4,000, then for Minute
Clerks the service should be rendered
for not to exceed 81 ,260 The fourteen
Journal, Engrossing and Enrolling
Clerks, in addition to the three allowed
by statute, could be safely reduced one
half in number, and a saving of over
81, 900 effected.
AS matter of fact, capable Of being
demonstrated with ease, the entire lot
Of assistants to the Minute, Journal,
Engrossing and Enrolling Clerks, forty
in all in the Legislature. and two-thirds
of the eighteen bill and file clerks could
be dispensed with. Engrossment is no
more done in handwriting, nor Is en-
rolling any longer by the slow manual
process. Printing has superseded these
old-time methods, and the Engrossing
and Enrolling Clerks provided by stat
ute are nothing but proof-readers, and
scarcely that. And here comes to light
an anomaly; while we have imposed the
manual labor upon the printer of en-
rolling and engrossing, and while he
uses original documents passed in by
the Minute Clerks, with minute entries
making connections, we employ larger
force of clerks than in the time when
everything had to be written out and
when a considerable force of penmen
was really necessary. The changes
here indicated would save a sum ap-
preaching $4,000.
The eight watchmen were four in ex-
cess of the required number. In fact,
old legislators are to be found who as
sert that two would be an ample num-
Der. Fully $1,000 was squandered in
this direction
Seven file and bill clerks were en-
ployed at S. day each, when with
saving of one thousand dollars the same
service could have been equally as well
performed. Thirteen pages for the Sen
ate performed service that eight could
have done with efficiency. But when we
come to committee employees a dis
charge pipe for the peoples money is
discovered that reveals a story of ex-
travagance which should shame the chief
legislative body of the State. Thirty
eight clerks and stenographers for COM
n1ittees organized out of a body con-
sisting of but forty members, stand in
evidence of waste that is wholly mex
cusable.
1t is notorious that while probably
one-third of these employees were dill
gently engaged, and some of them to
the full extent of physical power, the
remainder were actually put to it to
kill time, and fairly fell over each other
In a vain effort to appear diligent and
deserving of the liberal wage allowed.
Thirty three of them drew So a day
each, and five So a day each, or the
whole number over $12, 1000 But in ad-
dition to these there were employed by
the Senate committees no less than
thirty-three Sergeants- -at-Arms and
messengers at 81 and $5 day each. 1t
is not extravagant to say that the
seventeen messengers in this list could
have been dispensed with, and that
legislation would not have suffered had
their duties been imposed upon three
committee geants-at-Arms-the AS
senbly employed but two-and saving
Of about $4,000 have been effected.
In our Assembly consisting of eighty
members there were last year twelve
porters, one less than the Senate en-
ployed, but seven would have been an
excessive number, and service costing
over $1,000 should not have cost more
Khan 81, 900. The Assembly had no less
than forty-eight house clerks of one
order or another, at from 81 to So day
each, costing the State some $4,000,
whereas a saving of at least $4,000
might have been effected and legislation
and State interests have suffered moth
ing by the economy.
While the Senate, the smaller body,
INDUCED in thirteen pages, the Assem-
bly, managed to get along comfortably
with nine, and it probably needed that
number. But the nine watchmen for
the Assembly were really in each others
way, since five could have done the
service, and at a less wage full COM
pensation would have been accorded
and a saving oyer $1,000 have been
effected. There were eleven other en-
ployes outside those provided for by