The record-union., 1897-01-19

TO concede that this may have been
done. and done with some shadow Of
authority. but when almost 100 per
sons in addition to those enumerated
are placed upon the payroll and mile
age and per diem allowed most of them
for seven days without any authority
OF law, but in conformity with a bad
custom of paying political debts. Wa
find the same, while apparently free
from criminal intent, 10 be
a gross abuse Of power.
and should receive the co1demna-
ton of this House; tnat not
Withstanding the resolution authoriz-
ing the payment of these amounts was
submitted TO the Assembly and passed
without a dissenting vcte. We tnd that
the full effect Of said resolution was not
generally understood by most of the
members in the noise and confusion in
c1dent to the first days of the session.
Fourth-In the limited time allotted
us in which to report. as we'll as a ques-
tion existing in the minds of your COM
mittee as to its power TO compel the at
tendance of witnesses without express
authority so to do, we have been unable
to ascertain what amounts of money, if
any. have been drawn by persons un-
authorized so to do, except as above
stated. From the Chief Clerk we ascer-
tained that the several amounts ap-
proved of by the Assembly for mileage
and per diem of officers in effecting a
temporary organization to be 81 80 80.
From this we deduct the amount allowed
by law as pay of statutory, $500;
amount warrants allowed. but on which
payment has been stopped, S3l4; total,
1884. We find the total amount ex-
pended without authority So 900 80
Fifth-In conclusion we recommend
that in order to prevent a recurrence of
such abuses immediate legislation be
enacted in the passage of a bill clearly
and positively defining the duties of
statutory officers of this Assembly and
limiting the number of employees and
the compensation they shall receive as
suggested by the Senate Committee on
Legislative Business appointed at the
31st session.
On motion of Dibbie. seconded by
Shanahan, the report was ordered
printed in the journal and its considera-
ton made a special order for this morn
ing.
THE MINORITY REPORT.
Keegan of the Committee on Attaches
presented a minority report on Dryden's
resolution, which was also ordered
printed and considered under the same
special order this morning. Following
is Keegan's report which he alone
signed:
Your Committee on Attaches was in
structed by order of the Assembly to re-
port on the resolutions introduced by
Dryden.
We submit the following report: We
find that Chief Clerk Duckworth did ap-
point ninety-nine attaches not included
in the list of statutory officers, which
caused an unnecessary expenditure Of
more than $4,000. which was a gross
violation Of his privilege as presiding Of
ficer of the Assembly.
We find that we. as a Committee on
Attaches and Employees, have not power
to investigate this matter to the extent
demanded by the people of this State.
we recommend that an in
vestigatng committee of three be ap-
pointed by the Speaker with power TO
oaths and take evidence in
all matters relative to attaches and the
acts of all attaches Of this Assembly.
And that the sum of $3.50 be allowed
said committee, or such part thereof as
is necessary to pay the actual expense
of such cmomittee.
And further that the Assembly provide
said committee with proper clerks as
said committee may need and demand
JOHN w. KEEGAN.
STATE PRINTING DEFICIENCY.
Guy asked that his Bill, No. 263, appro-
priating $15 900 for the deficiency in the
expenses of the State Printing Office be
made case of emergency and placed
on final passage. He explained that
owing to the financial deadlock in the
printing office it would be impossible 20
go on with the printing of bills, files, his
tories. etc, necessary to the daily work
Continued on Seventh Page)
--------------