The record-union., 1897-02-06
THE FINDINGS
Of the Committee of Investigation
Into Assembly Attaches.

vi the (Omm1ttee or InVeStlXdtlOH
Into Assembly Attaches.
1t was late yesterday afternoon when
Judge Waymire, Chairman of the Spe-
cial Investigating Committee of seven
appointed to examine into the charges
of fraud and extravaganza in the tenn
porary organization of the Assembly,
handed in the report of the commit
tee.
AS the typewriter document was
lengthy, on motion of Judge Waymire,
it was not read, but was ordered print
taken With Judge Waymire's resolu-
tions relating to the same subject. All
of these papers are given herewith:
THE REPORT.
Mr.. Speaker: The special committee
appointed to investigate the temporary
organization of the Assembly have per-
formed that duty and herewith submit
their report
The amended resolution authorizing
the investigation is as follows:
Whereas, charges of "a serious nature
have been made relative to frauds said
to have been practiced during the tenn
porary organization of this Assembly,
and whereas, the Chief Clerk of the AS
sembly, S. j. Ducllworth, is charged
with completely therein and he denies
said charges; therefore be it
Resolved, That q special committee
Of seven be named by the Speaker of
this Assembly to investigate all Of said
charges relative to the organization of
this house and to report it's findings to
his hnIJSn Said shall have
full power to subpoena witnesses, admin
lister oathS, take testimony and such
other powers as shall be necessary for
the full performance of their duties.
POWERS OF COMMITTEE.
Under this resolution the power of the
committee is restricted to reporting its
findings. This we understand includes
the power to express an opinion but
does not include the power to make rec
concentrations.
The resolution was adopted January
20, 1897, and the committee began its
work the same day. Mr. Chynoweth of
the Assembly has kindly attended all
our sessions and given valuable assist
ance in the examination of witnesses.
Mr. DuckWorth was represented by
counsel and the committee has heard
the testimony of all witnesses whose
presence was deemed important. The
reporters transcript of the testimony
and the exhibits are submitted here
with and is referred to for information
as to details.
STATUTE IN THE CASE.
The only statute concerning the at
taches who must be present at the or
ganization of the Assembly is Section
237 of the Political Code which is as
follows:
The Secretary of the Senate the Min
ute Clerk and Sergeant-at-Arms of each
| house for any session, must, at the
next succeeding session of the body, per
form the duties Of their offices until
their successors are elected and quail
fed
It is evidently the intention Of this law
that only the Chief Clerk of the AS
sembly, the Minute Clerk and the Ser
geant- -at-Arms of the Assembly should
hold over from one session to another.
They are required to attend and are.
therefore, entitled to mileage. No other
attaches have any claim to mileage. 1t
is also clear that the law cOntemplates
that these officers should ordinarily be
sufficient to organize the Assembly. 1t
does not, however, expressly prohibit the
employment of other attaches, and it
has been the custom of the Assembly
for many years to employ additional
help. The number so employed has in
creased each session until the rolls for
1893 show a total of % and those of 1895
show 40.
1,.I-
to be done at the organization of the
4 Assembly convinces us that the fol-
lowing would be an ample force:
Chief Clerk, Chaplain, Minute Clerk.
Sergeant -at-Arms, one Assistant Ser
geant at-Arns Postmistress, Mail Car
rier, three Gatekeepers and five Pages
10 in all. Their total per diem should
not exceed Sl4.
CHIEF CLERKS LIST.
We find that at the organization of the
present Assembly, the Chief Clerk ap-
| pointed attaches as follows:
/ Assistant Clerks 10. Assistant Minute
| Clerks &. Assistant Sergeant-at-A Arms
| 6. Clerk to Sergeant-at-Arm l. Jour
nal Clerk /, Assistant Journal Clerks
! t. Engrossing Clerk l. Assistant En-
| crossing Clerks 6. Enrolling Clerk /
| Assistant Enrolling Clerks ,, Postmis-
| tress |, Assistant Postmistress l. His
| tory Clerk /, Assistant History Clerks
| 8, portars II, bookkeeper TO Sergeant
alarms l, bill clerks 6, file clerks 6,
Chaplain l, mail carrier l, janitress l,
| doorkeepers 6, watchmen 6, pages -,
elevator attendants >, messenger to
State Printer l. electrician |. gate
keepers .. position not designa ted
| (2la Bateman) /. Total, 112
EXCESS OF PAY.
| The total amount allowed for per
diem was $39G1 80, and for mileage
other than TO statutory officers S303 so
| Total. 81 263 10 As already stated.
We find that fifteen attaches-twelve in
/ addition to the three statutory Off
| ceT's-would have been ample and the
aggregate of the per diem that could
| have been allowed at this session is
| S14 This includes the S24 of per diem
to the Chief Clerk, Sergeant Arms
| and Minute Clerk. For the necessary
additional attaches $50 was sufficient,
and all that should have been paid We
| find therefore, that 81 215 10 has been
paid out in excess Of the sum actually
necessary.
None OF the attaches should be paid
! for more time than they serve 1t has
! been a custom to allow per diem for an
| entire week on the plea that the at
taches come 10 the Capitol at sacri-
fee Of time which makes it proper
! There is no justice in this claim. The
statute only requires three officers to
attend and there is sufficient compen-
sation To them for the time occupied
/ in coming and going in the mileage al
lowed by law which always exceeds the
/ actual travelling expenses The other