The Middleburgh post. [volume] (Middleburgh, Snyder Co., Pa.) 1883-1916, 1897-10-07
receive at 900. ana the transcribing clerks


conferences that II was necessary TO ap-
point these extra clerks SO as to facili-
tate the orderly transaction of business
during the session. The 10 extra clerks
to committees above named at $500 each
amounted In the aggregate TO ST. 400.
Each of the transcribing clerks would be
entitled to receive. at 81 per day. about
N,25O. making $500 for both. 1t will thus
be seen that the extra employees who met
with the approval OF the executive and
legislative branches of our state govern
ment would cost $l3,900, or thereabouts.
IL must not be forgotten that all the
clerks appointed to serve on the above
named committees were on the extra list.
| There were few of the important COM
mittees entitled to clerks under acts of
assembly. None of these are included
In the above list
Several weeks after the organization.
OF the legislature a number of these ex-
| ira employees came to me and complained
that they were not being fairly treated.
A clerk to one of the committees herein
before named informed me that he was
the head of large family, was "A poor
man, without funds to pay his boarding
in the city, and without means TO buy
| necessaries for his family at home. He
further informed me that the state treas
urer would not advance money to en-
ployes on the extra list. ! became inter
| ested in the case. as you or any other
humane man would have been. | waited
upon the state treasurer and asked him
II some arrangements could not be made
by which advances could be made on the
| salary of this person.
| The treasurer very frankly told me that
there was so much contention and fac
| tional diseord in the legislature that he
! had no assurance the compensation for
| the extra employees would be provided
| for by proper legislation. He thought
| II was unfair that he should assume the
responsibility and bear the burden of pay
| ing these extra employees under the cir
cumstances. He did not hesitate on aC-
count of the fear of executive disapproval.
| for the reason that the governor had ap-
| proved the appointment of these persons
! Mt the beginning of the session, and had
| filed with him n list Of the committees
so designated. but was uncertain as to
the result in the legislature. Afterwards
the subject was again called to my mind
| by several employees, members of tH,
house, and others. and II was the ruta!-
nous opinion of these persons that GONE
arrangements should be made tur.nrh
which the employees could secure Hi-
vanCcs on their salaries. II was sug-
rcstcd that an agreement might be enter
ed into by which the persons signing the
same should indemnify the state treas
urcr for any loss that might occur to
him it the Legislature failed to make the
necessary appropriation for the extra en-
plOycs.
| note the comment in the public press
about what this writing should be called
II was. In fact, an agreement I'm the ma
ture of an indemnity to the state treas
urer, but for the purpose OF this case,
| care not whether II is called an "in-
demnity," obligation" or bond" The
purpose was to share the responsibility
of these advances with the state treas
urer, and that was the only purpose. 1t
was agreed in this obligation that the
state treasurer would be protected to the
amount of $4,000. This sum was fixed and
agreed upon for the reason that 1t would
take about $4,000 to pay the extra en-
ployes approved by the governor, and 1t
was suggested that on account of the
confused condition of things after the
burning down of the old capitol several
additional employees be appointed. The
balance of the $4,000. after paying the
extras appointed by the governor, could
be used for that purpose. did not then
know, and have never since learned how
many extra employees were on the list |
in addition to those approved by the gov |
ernor. / only know the fact that 1t was |
represented to me that there were few
extra watchmen, janitors and pages en-
ployed when the legislature undertook |
to do its work in several different build |
ings in the city of Harrisburg after the |
fire.
Under these circumstances I signed the |
obligation. 1t was not a matter in which |
had any personal or selfish interest. ! |
do not personally know many employees |
to whom advances were made. | signed !
the obligation because | felt that these |
extra employees had been properly and .
regularly selected, with the approval OF .
the executive and legislative branches of .
the government, and that ii was only fair |
that they should be paid for their SER
vices. To my mind 1t would have been
cruel and hcartlcss to have arbitrarily
withheld from them salaries which they
so much needed to support themselves and |
families. Advances have always been
made To the members of the Legislature
and employees during the session. At the
time these advances are made there is
no authority of law. The authority of
law comes aftcrward when the lcgisla-
turo makes an appropriation in the gen
cral appropriation bill, but it Is certainly
sticking in the bark to say that members
and employees are not entitled to receive |,
advances on their salaries until the gem
eral appropriation bill is passed. Such a
rule would mean that poor men could not
to suggest that there were not five MEM
berS of the house or senate or employees
who did not receive advances on their 4
salaries during the session. | know of II
no reason why such advances should not
be made.
| am familiar with the constitutional
requirements To which you refer, namely:
mo payment shall be made from the
state treasury or be in any way au-
thorizcd to any person except to an act
ing officer or employe appointed In pur-
suanCe of law"
| respectfully submit, however, that the
extra employees were acting officers in
that they were appointed in pursuance
of custom and law and many of them
by the governor. In this con-
nectiOn | desire to say that no one. so
far as | have any knowledge, was paid
for services he did not render the state.
If any such practice obtained 1t was not
with my knowledge, consent or approval
did not then know, and have not since
learned that there was any such case.
If you question the authority of the
and legislative branches OF the
government to make the appointment
IF extra employees and provide compensa-
lion for the same by items in the general