The Caucasian. (Clinton, N.C.) 188?-1913, 1905-01-26

aSpahaicnn Me1hers HwfsaeA R<Drssss-
t~ESoa On 0oanasss - Isvsssaxsss
tAs NsnA~r II Pss-eassrs-
the Democratic Legislature, true
to Its former policy, IL determines
that the public shaii know noahang
Of their extE1vagance and oorrup-
ton. 1t was known that they had
several clerks On the pay rolls draw
ing from the tax payers Of the state
four dollars q day each when the
heads Of said departments were
openly saying thy couid find notn-
ing for them 10 do. Yet they had
been political hseles and must ne
provided for. Trey also had num-
bers Of laDorers " no were absolutely
doing nothing, drawing Two dollars
and half per oAy eash. Members
had brought down their little boys
and rs the price If their support for
speaker and sea.gent at arms had
demanded that their boys should he
put on a. pages and draw each one
dollar per day, till it was said that
it was dangerous to go inside the
capitol for fear you would step on
one Of these pages.
MIR. Fowler, sRepublican MEN,
Der from samkson, introduced a
resolution requiring the speaker TO
appoint a committee consisting OF
three democratic members of the
House aud two Republican MEM
bers whose duty l. should be to inves-
tigate this question and report to
the House what clerks, laborers and
pages were On he pay rolls, who
were rendering no service. The
Raleigh Post took up the subject
and said it ough, to pass and should
not be voted down because it Y IS
introduced by Republican. The
Democrats seeingthe hole they were
in, something must be done,
had one of their number
a Mr.. Mitchell from BERTHE
county to introduce substitute for
Mr.. Fowler's resolution requiring
the Speaker to ppoint committee
without regard 20 their politics to
ascertain how many clerks, laborers
and pages were needed.
In compliane with the resolu
ton the Speake appointed COM
mittee of three Democrats and no
Republicans, AMI this committee re-
ported back thG the House needed
twenty four la,orers at two dollars
and half per ay; but did not say
how many ofthese had been draw
ing pay befge this. Tax payers
think for q minute One hundred
and twenty memb ers of the House
require the services of twsnty-four
rabOrers at two dollars and fifty
cents each pr day or total of sixty
dollars per day to make fires for
them and to sweep up the hall.
Verify they must be a mighty cold
natured ant filthy set.
Again, think of the twelve pages
drawing each a1ollar per day whose
only duty It is 20 carry notes and
buy cigars for tie members. Any
non.... viii tell :ou that more than
five pages are in he way, and even
five pages would MT be busy more
than about one-thid of about four
hours per day.
But they are tn, sons of mem
bers or political pes and must be
provided for.
The committee said absolutely
nothing about the mny clerks who
are known to nave had nothing to
do and who are each drawing four
dollars per day. WAy did they re-
fuse to let Mr., Fowler's resolution
pass? The answer Is plain; they
knew if Republicans were put upon
that committee and let on the in
side of their workings, that the
facts would be ,iven to the people
and would male mighty interest
ing reading in the next campaign
when they will be around telling
how pure and economical they have
managed your tfAirs.
The next day Mr.. Fowler intro
duced bill pr,viding for minority
representation 70 be appointed on
all, investigating committees and
the Democrats are refusing to let it
come up. Thisshould be done and
then in all cass of public scandal.
as in, the Management of the A
and N. @. r. r investigation, the
people would aot think that COM
mittees were being paid out of their
taxes for the purpose of white
washing, sleekilg over or covering
up fraud, corruption and extrava-
gance for political effect; but would
expect and would get at the real
facts a. they exist. The Republi-
cans have always given Democrats
represention on committees appoin-
ted to investigate any alleged crook
edness or rottenness. If the Demo.
Gratis want to be honest and fair why
are they afraid to let q Republican
see what they are or have been
doing. See!