The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1900-10-13

March o. 1859. In its dying hours the sem
ate. In which there was q strong fusion
majority, voted 20 its employees bonus
amounting In the aggregate TO nearly
Sz00o. The money was TO have been paid
the employees on the basis OF Is per cent
OF their regular pay for the full session.
state Auditor cheetham refused 10 honor
the vouchers containing this elft to the
employees. and Dudley Eahleman, secre-
tary OF the senate. to whom a number OF
the employees had assigned their claims
for extra pay brought suit In the courts
10 compel the auditor to draw warrants
for the same The case was decided
against the claimants and in favor OF the
auditor In the supreme court, on the
ground that the action OF the senate was
In violation OF the plain provisions OF the
constitution.
The senate officers and employees out
numbered by nine the members OF the
upper house itself. The pay rolls of the
senate showed that there were forty-three
officers and employees OF the body, Com
rnttee clerks were as thick as butterflies
IN June. Some were useful and valuable.
while others were merely ornamental. All
were 10 share alike In the bounty OF the
fusion senate. however. which cast TO the
winds ali considerations OF dscency and
regard for the interests OF the taxpayers
on the last night OF the session. More
over. vandalism and riot were rampant
IN the upper chamber and the scenes at
the close OF the session. in which the Re-
publican senators took no part, were OF
the most dlsorderly and disgraceful kind.
THE RESOLUTIONS.
Here are the resolutions which the Pop
uist senate passed In II. effort Ia give
away the states money 10 the favored
employees OF the upper chamber;
.wh~reas, The secretary ana
and docket clerks and the stem
oaraphcrs of this senate. In order
10 faithfully perform their re-
wp.ctive duties. have been conn
refied To work On an average of
fourteen hours per day, he IL
',Re.oived, Ky the senate. that
said clerks be allowed compen-
snttoa for one-fourth time extra
in confederation OF sach extra
work and that the secretary draw
warrants 20 cover such amounss."
Passed the senate March y. isoo.
tsee pare ai-, senate jouraatD
On March q this resolution was
introduced and passed ny the fu-
sion senate.
"Mhereas. The clerks of the
senate. tn. seraeant-at-srms.s the
tanttor, doorkecprrs and The
night wstcbman and the past-
master. have devoted their entire
Alteration 20 the dutic. imposed
ON them h, the senate. aud have
In all things faithfully performed
their duties as such empioye. aud
have worked Mt ali hours of the
day aud aight, and cheerfnIIyt
therefore he ~
"Hesote~d, ny the senate, that
each az said clerks and employee.
nhasr mentioned he allowed adj
dittonai salary 90 the extent OF
one-toarsh OF that heretofore al
lowed them. aud that the sscr~-
taFs ana president Of the senate
be and the, are hereby directed
nna authorized 60 draw warrant.
for the amount due each"
THIS resolution was not pat 90 a roll
can Il was sent Through With a hurrah
hy the Fopalist senate.
The claims, as stated, were assigned
O. Secretary Eshlemau % the senate
whe sought "a c1npets the rata on the
state treasury by nltnE an appiicatian for
writ ~ mandate In the supreme court
3iFsstsng thc state auditor Who haa 20.
fasei ta snan The accounts 20 rav the
hlie Tho case came zap Tor triaf he
ina aesidea % lusflos Dunbar
VIOLATED rnE coNsrIrurroN.
lusficc punhar feue1 that fhs action ~
tho senate VAS clearly fn violation ~
the constitution ana therefore hefa re-
the suaf0r The court quoted section
p &c afucis az ths constitution as foi-
bows
"Fhe iegisiatar~ shall never
arant aas sNtrs compensation 90
sss rsbitr oaleer, aEvat servant