The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1898-10-06
LEGISLATIVE employees.


Grown Since the Democrats Had u
Voice in the Matter--A Dead swindle
in the Thing--Extra Clerks and Em-
ployes Paid for Twice--The Chief
Clerks Defy the Laws Limitations
as to Contingent Expenses, Etc.
The number and cost of the officers
legislature are justly objects of much
criticism. If the public business were
expedited by the constant increase of
the number of this class of hangers
on, with the attendant large expense
involved, there would be no complaint.
But it is plain that so large force Is
aot needed. Many of them do nothing
At all, practically, to earn the money
they draw from the treasury. Some
of them spend but little more than as
much time in Harrisburg as will suf-
fee to sign the requisite vouchers and
draw their pay. Those that are at hand
are so numerous that they crowd each
other and are in each others way.
There are certain periods of the
session at which some of the
CttIhS, loldply tiioSe ia thS tidiioSiip-
ing rooms, are required to work hard,
and even excessively. but this is COM
pensated for by the far more numer-
Gus other times, when they have little
or nothing to do. Outside of two or
three in each house, none of them put
in as much time, or render as much
service, as would be exacted from
them in private or corporate employ
for much less remuneration.
UP to and including 1883 the force
was large enough in all conscience. 1t
is not easy to dig out of the records
they are generally in 50 unsatisfac-
tory state as to details, and change
their form so frequently from year to
year-with absolute accuracy, just the
Information of which one is in search.
But, in so far as can be gathered
from the reports of the auditor gen.
eral and the general appropriation acts,
the senate in that year had Al officers
and employees and the house. which was
Democratic, 81. The very next legis-
lative year 1Ss5), however, the number
in the house was increased to 58 regu-
lars and two extras, making so in all.
There was no need or reasonable ex-
cuse for the jump. The clerks of
1888 did as much work as the 10 of
1885, the pastors and folders Of 1883
put up and sent out the documents as
promptly as the IL of 1855, and the 10
pages of 1888 served the personal needs
Of the members as faithfully and fully
as the Is of 1885. But there was de-
mand for more sinecures to compen-
safe the workers" who had repaired
in 1885 the damage the machine had
suffered at the hands of the Demo-
Gratis and Independents in 1882 and
they had to be provided.
There were no apparent increases OF
the force in either body for the ensuing
10 years, the Al sufficing in the senate
and the 5S in the house. But in 1895
came an enormous jump, the number
In the senate being increased to AZ and
that in the house to 50. In fact, ex-
cepting the extra employees" which
gave rise to the indemnity bond scan
dal, there were no more in 1897 than
in 1895. 1t was the Legislature of the
last named year that was the primary
offender in this regard, notwithstanding
the fact that it was scarcely noticed
by the gentlemen who were so indig-
nant and outraged by the perform
ances of 1897. And in connection with
the 1895 employees in the senate, there
is something singular. An act of March
s of that year authorizes the chief
clerk to appoint an executive clerk
at $1,500, two additional transcrib-
ing clerks at 81 per day and two
additional janitors at the compensa-
tion usually allowed that class of en-
ployes. These appointments were made,
and the auditor generals report shows
that the salaries stipulated were paid
to the appointees direct from the state
treasury. But 1t shows also that $1,000
was paid to the chief clerk for the sal
aries of additional officers and en-
ployes under the act OF 1896" Who did
that $3700 go to? Not to the execu-
tive clerk and the others lawfully,
though needessly authorized, for they
got their money from the treasury on
the regular pay rolls. Who, then, got
It? Are we not right in saying that
it is difficult to determine from the rec
ords how many officers and employees
there are?
There is a very loose and entirely
Unconstitutional process resorted to
in both houses to provide for extra
employees and for their compensation.
Section 10 of Article III of the consti-
tuition, which article covers the SUBJ
ject of legislation, says:
'The general assembly shall provide
by law the number, duties and compen-
sation of the officers and employees of
each house, and no payment shall be
made from the state treasury or be in
any way authorized, to any person, ex-
cept to an acting officer or employe
elected or appointed in pursuance of
law"
Section 16 of the same article is to
the following effect: mo money shall
be paid out of the treasury except
upon appropriations made by law and
on warrant drawn by the proper off,
GERS in pursuance therof."
Yet, on the last day of the session
of the house of 1897. Mr.. Keyser Of
fered and the house passed the follow
ing resolution:
Resolved, That the payment for ex-
ira labor in the house of representa-
tives for session of 1897, including COM
mittee and transcribing clerks. not pro-
Sided for by special items in the appro-
priation act, be paid by the chief clerk,
on vouchers approved by the speaker