Tlin REIHIBI.KWN.
THE LEGISLATURE.
! Tli!' body rrnis to be In great
ibalalinn over n Mirtion of ill era-iloj-org.
p.pularly myV-il "pasters nnd
older," but prnprrlf loafer. The
allowing debate, which took place in
he House on tlio 17th of Fobruary,
ivo a partial viuw of bow tilings aro,
hno innido of tlio "ring." To fully
omprehend the rnattor, it is necoesary
0 elate that tie Legislature of 1868
ras no extravagant, and being alarm
, at tlioir loafers' bill' when thoy
una to set Lit?, before adjourning
iispj an act prohibiting fujuro bodios
nm employing mora than thirty four
Beers. In the fuce of this act of
ssembly, the Radicnl caucus rccrotly
grcod to employ twenty-teven uddi
tinal milking sixty-one employees
Ad passed a joint resolution through
;c Houso to that effect; but when it
'rued up iu the Senato for concur
cce it . was defeated. Hence, all
080 members who failed to get their
;an" in before thn thirty four seals
ro all taken, now have him ou hand
,d may be compelled to' pay bis
ages out of their own pockets instead
out of the State Treasury, as was
wleropiated by the resolution ia
lestion.' Wo presume that if the
ouse discbarges these twenty-Bevon
Is at once, the Senate will bo tuag
inimouB enough to pay them for the
us they have been employed ; but if
0 former persist in their prodigal
penditure of the public fund their
imtltuents will thank the latter fur
r economical course. . .. , t - j
Hr. Wilson, (Hep.) Allegheny, cnlh
up the general appropriation bill,
t yielded to
Mr. Vankihk, (Rep.) Washington,
to offered a resolution, which was
ico read, as follows : .
-Vfkiaii, Tba appointment of twentr-aerm
rn of tfaii lfoqfte, in addition to the comber
1 bf tht xt of April 8th, 185, ai deemed
mry at tlrt eomtoeDeement of the prtient
aJoq, which neor-Mitj duel not now continue to
tt, for the reaaon ttiat two election cues which
ne before Uii" Houso, and aeaaitd to reqairt the
sointroent of additional oiucern, Lav otxa an.
r 1 of ; and . ;
fc'hrreai, Toe additional labor at the beginning
the act'ion In preparing and mailing dt-part-
-nt report!, Ac, bal now, in a great meu.ure,
fn periormed ; therefore,
Hcflolvrd, That tha n-omtnder of the twenty,
fen additional tn?era, not already diieharifed
tboC'bief Clerk, be nowrelieeed and di'ebarn.'d,
A that their salary ahatl run from tlit tiuto tber
ll here been in tbelr rrrpectivo office, which
laitehall be a prw rwto ebareof the lalarT of
jli offtecri for the aeafioo at fired r-T the act of
f.Mr. Duncan, (Rep.) Vcuango. As
'number of the ofticers have already
jen discharged, I hope the House
ll pass tho resolution at once.
,.Mr.. SritAKu, (Hep.) Tioga, Mr.
pcakcr, I think there will he one
jjing very apparent to every gentle
Mill in tho Houso, when he reflects a
joment upon this resolution, and that
however well intended it may bo,
cannot at all accomplish tho object
-iixncd by it. If there ia anything
kll settled lit all, it is that there is
llenst a conflict of opinion between
Vt wo nouses composing this Lcrjig.
jiuru, as to the kind of legislation
fecssury to insuro tho payment of
hie men. I tuko it that we are till
Itiafieft that before tho disbursing
Jicers of the Commonwealth will
l(o upon themselves the rcsponsi
jlily of paying; IheBO men, they will
squire authority either in the appro-
friation hill or somo other method, a
or joint resolution for that imr-
ht-ti and here is the dilliculty. The
ri'r eticft ot the pnsftrro or this reso-
Ition will bo to dischurgo theso men
iliioul any provision lor their pay
?nt. ilt. AVii.bon. I will sny to tho gen
niian that provision for their :iy
cnt Is a matter which can easily be
comnlishcd afterwards, if it is tho
knse of the House to diM-hitrgo them.
see no dimculty in that respect, i
Jtr. MitANu. , Jt Is a very easy niat
r to say that, but 1 beg leavo to dif-
r, in Mo, tifiin tho oninlon of the
t'ntleman from Allegheny, Mr. Wil
uii. upon that question. If there is
J ".V one thing rerliiin, it is that those
on arc not to bo pnid uutil some law
passed autiiori.ina- their payment.
i we lironose to discharge them now.
t us trout them honorably and fuirly.
e uavc taken them into our employ
' the utmost unanimous vote of one
'litical party. For ono, I tiin not
"poncd to shirk tho responsibility.
urn disposed to treat these men fuirly
a nonoraoiy. it we wish to Uis
argo them, let us pass a joint reso
tion providing for their payment,
il when thf-y ate put In a position
he tinid, let them be discharged, if
eb is tho sense of this House. VY hat
'od can come from a resolution of
no House alone, providing for their
Kvnient? If that could liavo done
iny giiod, it would Lavo been done
Wcn. . s
I Mr. M'tilNNIs. (Dom.l Philadetnhin.
1 tho Scrnito would not concur in the
lulion nppoiniing these officers, I
not seo any good reason for our
-'ing a joint resolution.
'Ir. Stbanii. Simply because, not
I'V a portion of tit is llouso, but a
y:e portion1 of the Senate, as F nnder
i J. lake the tiriHiltun In ulii. li nm.!.
n they tire kiifluiiied by the dis
-tngcirmvrs oi tnc (.'ommonwcnltn,
tlliep.iym''ntof tliose men i(Wtiircs
'er a luw or a .joint resolution.
w. i am say ing nothing upon the
ril" of this resolution, one way or
utlicr, but simply Unit the tosolu-
" ennnot acootnplish the purpose
' rvd. - 1 1 '
'Ir. JI'Ginnis. IofTerthe fallowing
f 'iKiment ! To strike out the word
"Hinder," nnd insert, "at many
f 'eor as the Speaker and Clerk can
('r. Wilsox. The original resoltt
1 ealling far the additional number
''flieers to tht number of twenty-
'"i provides that when, in the
monl of the rhief Clerk, anv offl-
f are not needed, bo shall ilist hargo
i seems to me that ought to
l the mil ai inn ' '
'k. M'Gisnis witbtlretv )ls ntoend-
"L ,s ,
Jvis.rlfen.U'hila. It is very
"it to me that we hitvo got iflto
.v-miiji cre, auu ins uost, tuing
do tin. morning is to try U pel
0,t- Kow, the House has appoint
""uiuborof addilionul officeia, and
"grniienian from lioga, Mr.
'" I never Bhirk any ter.fA.nsl-
r )"it lifter the action of the Pen-
to sanction the action of
lUle. refllHihir In unr.ltni, fliA
, rf the House amending the bill
i ocneve it is terr aootit--i
GEO. B. GOODLAKDEE, Proprietor.
VOL41--WII0LENO.21G7; '
fill whether those tnon will bo jinid.
t'criainly tlie llouso ohouM pass somc
such resjluiiun as tliut offered by the
tront'.eman from, Wtishingtofl, Mr.
Vankii k . These men should bo paid,
at least tor the lime they liuvo been
here. Kow, my judgment is that if
we lot this matter run ot to the end
of tho session, those men will reinuin
here, doing the work assigned to thorn,
and in tho spring leave without pay;
or at least there is danger of that. If
this resolution is made a joint resolu
tion, I do not think the fceuste would
refuse to concur; though they have
positively refused to pay them for the
entire session. I would be in fitvorof
standing by what tho House has dono,
if I belicvo we could do so with justice
to the men brought here from tlioir
homes I do not beliove that the
Homo has too many officers. If we
bave, it is a question for us, and the
responsibility lies with tho members
and tlioir constituents; but it is en
tirely wrong for us to keep theso men
hore with the risk of lotting thorn go
after tho adjournment without pay
for their services, This resolution
should be mnde n joint resolution.
At the timo the resolution of the gen
tleman from Tioga Mr. Strang was
passed, I beliovod, alter mature con
sideration and careful examination of
it and the law upon, tho subject, that
these men could not bo paid, unless
the Senate concurred in and tho Gov
ernor signed the bill providing for the
payment. Tho disbursing officers of
this Commonweulth bave decided in
thesumeway. I wasontitled to hand
in tho name of ono man, whom I wish
cfl to appoint from my district. Ho
wus a poor man, and 1 preferred that
he should' board at home -with his
family to boarding hore without re
ceiving pay in tho spring ; and I never
gave iu his numo. 1 will stand by tho
caucus of the party, and I will stand
by tho House. 1 will go as far ns any :
but we must pny these men or dismiss
them. The resolution ia eminently
proper; it should bo passed this morn
ing, if passed ut all. I move to amend
by making it a joint resolution, no that
it may receive tho concurrence of the
Soriate, and these men be paid lor tho
time they have been here. I do not
think the resolution as it stand will
do any good.
Mr. Nicholson, (Rep.) Beaver. Mr.
Speaker, I think things nr getting a
little mixed up. Let us try to unravel
this husino. When the resolution
providing for additional officers was
passed, 1, contrary to my own judg
ment, acquiesced. It was said that
we needed nioro officers, and 1 believe
we did need some. They were ap
pointed with tho distinct understand
ing I wish to call the attention of
the ex Speaker (Mr. Davis, Fhila.) to
this that they took the risk of receiv
ing no pny at all. I think you, Mr.
Speaker, and two or throe others of
us, at least, know that it requires both
branches of tho Legislature to pass an
act of Assembly, und I think there is
another power somewhere about tho
hilt that has something to do with it.
Now let us not mix up the matter.
Tho contract with tlieso men was that
they were to bo dismissed when the
Clerk thought their serf iocs were not
necessary. Now, this resolution is
only a reminder or instruction to the
Clerk. Most assuredly we can in
struct tho Clerk.
Mr. Davis. (Philadelphia.) I wish
to mako it a joint resolution to pro
vide for the payment of these men.
Mr. Nicholson. I will cotno to that
if the-gentleman will -wait. Let ns
pass this resolution which ie in accord
ance with tho contract and the expec
tation of these men; and then let us
pass a joint resolution to pay them on
Kb own merits. Let us end this mat
ter. The difficulty will he much great
er it we continue these men to the end
of the session i for in that oaso I nm
satisfied tho Semite will r over agree
to pay them. Whether right or not,
tho Senate bus taken its position, and
it requires great deal of nerve, even
on tho part of a wise man, to say "I
wash wing." There re a few, who
can do It you and I, and a few others
can say no; but .everybody will not.
Tho Senute has said ocr and over
again, and I think I have heard somo
whisperings from that other quarter
to which 1 alluded, that this should
not bo dono. Now, is it wise on tho
part of tho friends of theso twenty-
seven ouiccts to insist on theirstayin
:,3
her five, six or eight weeks moru, an
increase the chunce of no pay f Let
us psss this resolution, and then pass
a joint resolution providing for tlioir
payment, ami tight it out on that lino
until tho end of the session.
Mr. JtouKat, (bom.) Philadelphia.
I think that the Senate having refused
to concur in the resolution 6rst intro
tltifed by t!io gcntlemun from Tioga,
Mr. Sirang. will not stultify them
selves hy adopting this resolution if it
should he made a joint resolution. At
tho time the first resolution was beforo
the House seveml gentlemen on this
side of tho chamber myself nmong
the number made the point that it
was contrary to law. The gonth'mnn
from the Tenth district of Philadelphia
Mr. Ihivis being then in the chair,
overruled the point. Ho said that the
llouso could chooso its own olhYcrs
undor the ConstitUtipir. 'Tho SeDnto
thonght difTe re fitly', nd t think gen
tlemen on boih sides of this chamber
now think that decision was wrong.
If netiwliere ts the necessity ofj tins
re.njfu litin l ho point luou. iiude
was that it required a joint resolution
to thange tho net of 1H The dis
bursing ofticuts of tho Commonwealth
IniveMtxUiinoti tHspeiaiftnitlhon ttiltcn,
arid it is not probable llinl the Senate,
holding the snmo view, will adopt this
if made a joint resolution. I think;
the t uctrecitioR of the gentleman fro it
Heaver Mr. Nichulsonj il u very wise
one indeed. We might as well begin
to correct our evil o'oihgs nnd dis
charge all theso men at once; then
we tan try the Senuto with a joint
resolution to pay them. The Senate
certainly cannot, in consistency with
their past action, adopt this having
flatly said to tbo House, "You hud no
fiower to pass that resolution." I
tope the amendment of the genlloman
from Philadelphia Mr. IiaVisJ trill
not pmail. w .'.' 1
J
Mr. M'CuLxotj(in, (Deui.) Clearfield.
Mr. Speaker, I desire to be JiihI, as
well as generous. Shortly after the !
appointment of theso twentyevon
officers I took occasion fbr several
nays to vihil the departments In which
their labor was being performed. 1
had heard a groat deal said, nnd though
I had taken no part in the matter
whatever, 1 constituted myself a com
mittee of one) to look after the work
of theso men and thoso who" had been'
previously appointed, Tho SeuaVo re
fused to concur in the resolution of the
Uousoi-lkut body, so dignified pro.
bahlv not dignified, but so refinod
fur I hold that we are entitled to
assumo that we have some dignity,
and should have something to say in
this matter as well as tho ot her branch.
Now, grunted for the sake of argu
ment, that they did not concur, and
do not intend to ooncur in a resolution
nuyir'g thoso men, I boliovo as was
hold by tho Speaker pro tern, tho othet
day, that fetus House, lias authority
under the (Jonslitutiou to appoii.t its
own officers, and ly implication Us
employees. .Now, (his Jlouso is cur
tainly as dignified a body as the other
branch of the Legislature, although it
may not be ns refined. The House
appointed certain employees and offi
cers, te the number of twenty-seven,
and thooe having authority to dis
charge them, have scon proper, in
their wisdopi, to discharge s certain
number who did Uiuir work well ; aod
now let me ear that after having ex
amined the duparlmeuts, I found a
I urge majority of thoso men laboring
diligently, late and Ceirly, in the per
formance el tfrgirdnties. And let me
sajj, Jdx. Speaker, that I havo found
as many us five of thoso employed by
the House at work for the Senate, ho
rofuso to pay tho pittance allowed by
act l Assembly to theso poor men
who catuo here believing that they
would bo paid for their labors. I
presume, Mr. Speaker, I shall be cen
sured for what I am saying, but I
stand hero to do equity and justice
between wen. I shall not stultify
myself, if I do belong to tho minority
sido of the House. 1 intend, while I
am here, to Btund tip for the right,
Uod being my helper ! If this House
has tho authority to appoint and select
its officers and employees, and if those
who have charge of the several de
partments see proper to indicate that
a certain number of men are absolutely
necessary to transact the business of
tho llouso, then, I say, wo do right
to vindicate this House. A majority
of this House has decided to employ
addilionul officers; these men havo
been selected and havo come hore in
good faith, believing that they would
be paid, and havo been performing
their labor as it should be performed.
I, for one, having Voted against the
appointment of the twenty-seven, say
that those men who linve beeu em
ployed and have faithfully performed
the labor as they have boeu command
ed, should be paid ; and I shall stand
hero from this timo nntil next March
a year beforo I will turn theso poor
men away without lho pittance they
aro justly entitled t). I care not
whether I am censured by this sido of
the llouso or tlid other sido.
Mr. Webb, (Hop.) Hradford. I
would liko to enquire if the gentleman
has a "man" hero among the twenty
seven 7
Mr. M'Cui.Louoit. I have. I was
told that I might select a "man," and
I did so, and ho is here performing
his labor from morning until night.
I shall not deny anything that iA the
fact. I would havo said just what I
have said if I had not a man here. If
his pay is refused J can pay him my
self. Mr Wr.nu. Anothcrqnestion. Who
told you you could havo a "mnn ?"
Mr.' M'l'uiAounH. i Well, air, the
persona having authority to do so.
Mr. Hirb. The question of the
gentleman from Uradlnrd Mr. Webb
can be answered. ' The gentleman
from Clearfield was informed by the
republican party that be could have
a man" bcro. .
Mr. W Kim. I would like to know,
Mr. Speaker, who spoke for tho Ifo
puhlicnn party ?. I did not know the
party bud given such aulhitrity.
Mr.Hr.iin. Hy authority of lho
party, without respect to individuals.
Mr. Nicholson.- Without regard
to raco or color. Laughter. . .
Mr. M'Cv!.Mrw. Willi regard to
race, I havo nothing to say; with
regard .to Color, 1 shall not say any
thing. Now, Mr. Speaker, I am in favor of
disposing of this matter as tho dignity
of this body requires. I uiu in InvCr
of passing a joint resolution, berause
Hint is the only way by which these
men can bo paid, if they aro paid at
nil. 1 am in furor of this joint reso
lution to bring tho matter heloro the
House in its prnpcrshupo, that it may
go to tho co ordinate branch of the
Legislature in I he only shupo in which
we are authorized to present it. If
theso men uro to bo paid, let us know
it ; il not to bo paid, let us know il.
Let thoso who brought tho men here
know il ; becauso 1 suppose they have
b.vcn brought hereon account of their
merits, or because they were the favor
ites of thoso who brought them. Let
us proceed in lho only nay in whiih
wa ai-o aiilhorincd by the luwa of this
Commonwealth ; let us havo a joint
resolution bringing the matter square
ly beforo this boil-, nnd go into the
co-ordinnnt branch In u shape which
will require their munition. And if
tho Executive of tho Commonwealth
sbs proper to turn away, without
their pay, the poor men who have
come hero and dono the labor, tho co
ordinate branch agreeing with this,
then I say let him do so. 1 nm wil
Jliig lo pny the .p..'nHCS of the gentle
man whom I brought bcro, although
ho is a Itrpublican. Let us get nt this
in tli right way. ' If the gentleman
who introduced l ho resolution (ingnod
faith, I have ho doubt,) will amend it
so as to make it a joint resolution, 1
will agree with him. Let us, Mr
Speaker, ascertain how many of these
twenty soven men hare entered spon
tho duties assigned them, and how
many have boon discharged by thole
having authority to do so, Mid know
ing lit po.rn.ber requisite to carry on
UTS
; PRINCIPLESi
-.r.-Ji ....jrtr-r-u jl a. - rr:
CLEARFIELD, PA., WEDNESDAY, MAKCII 3, 1869.
the business of tho Hcuso. Lot us
ascortnin the facts. 1 say we have
not twonty-soven additional officers
. - i
here; 1 assert that wo havo nut sev
enteen additional ; I do not know how I
ninny havo been discharged, but I
know that as many us fivo on the
several days when I have examined
the departments, wore employed in
doing tho work of tbo Senate ; so that
when that body says to this branch ol
tho Legislature, "Wo will not agree
to anything of tho kind," il comes
with a very bad grace. As I said
before wo professed to havo and exer
cise us much dignity, if not refinement,
as the co-ordinate branch. I propose
that we go at this mattor "right-end
foremost," to commonco at the com
mencement, and go through with it as
men. Any question usked mens to mv
havinga"man" here has nothing todo
with tho fuse at all. I acknowledge
that I named, s I supposed, and as 1
know, nn honest, upright man, who
has always voted the Republican tick
et If Uiut be a sin, why, hero you
have it. I did not loci ut liberty to
bring in a Democrat. My district bus
never had nn employee in the House
of Representatives einoo the formation
of this Commonwealth; therefore, 1
chose one, nnd he is horo, performing
his duty from morning until night.
Now, let us get at t:iis as wc should.
Let as havo a joint resolution. Let
us get at it in a way in which wo can
know what we are doing whether
tho co-ordinate branch ot the Legisla
ture will allow tliose men now em
ployed their pay, and Vhether the
Extscntivo of the t'ommouwcullb, or
whether bolh tbo co-ortlinato branch
and the Kxetutivo will turn out or
employment, without a cent, these
poor men, who havo been laboring
here to maintain their families. If
so, I want to send my manjiomo to
give him money to pay his expenses
home. If he tells me that bo cannot
get along with his poor family, I ex
pect to give him a hundred or two
dollars, because 1 brought him here.
Mr. STBAMq. Mr. Speaker, I pro
pose now to make in three minutes
my lust "pastor nnd folder" speech.
1 was in holies I had made it some
timo ago. 1 take, it sir, that 1 occa
py a position in reference to this
question, which gives nie as good a
right to mako a speech ns any gentle
man of the House. I apprehend I
havo been about as much talked ubout
in this connection about ns well
abused by the high-toned press of
this uommonweallh as any other
gentleman on this floor, lmring tho
lour years I have hud the honor of a
soatnero, 1 boliovo I havo not spent
four minutes In talking about myself;
and I do not intend to spend very
much timo in talking about myself
now.
Now, sir, as to tho proposition bo
fore us. Wo find ourselves in just
lliis fix. The Ixgislatuie of lust win
ter, which, as has been said over and
ovor again upon this floor, found it
necessary fo employ for their conve
nience over ono hundred officers dur
ing the 'iitiro sesMion, bucamo so
economical just at tho closoof the ses
sion so willing, as tho comic writer
aid about the draft, "to sacrifice all
his wifo's blood ridntions" ns to sny
that all future legislatures should be
confined to thirty four employees, al
though over ono hundred men were
necessary for their convenience IJul
no man among all the reformers who
were nctivo in the pussugo of that
resolution found that they bad too
many men then ; but just nt lho close
of the session hry found themselves
ahlo lo Bay I hut wo andull legislatures
who should come nflor them, should
And thirty-four men sufficient, and
they passed a law binding us to thai
number. The, Senate, und I give them
credit for it, (I nm not saying a word
agiiinst the Seiuilo in relation to thai
question) tho Senate, composed ol
thirty-three members, were Binart
enough to manipulate that bill during
its passage, so as to provido themselves
with twenty. lour officer". All light,
all right ; but as I am credibly in
formed, some of tho loudest-mouthed
among the Ivformcrs somo of those
who were building themselves the
most lofty reputation ns economists
tho fiercest watch dogs of the treasury
of this Commonwealth and doing
their barking nud biting in that Sen
ate - ' 1 '
Mr. Bitowu,(Dem.)Clarion. I would
ask tho gentleman if theso men are
not members of the snmo political
party ho Is ? I
Air. Mr A so. 1 should not Wonder '
If they were. I should lint wonder il S.
the party to which tho gentleman
from Clarion lui peiislohclong.should '
cvor get in the ascedancy, either hero
or ibero, from lho avidity which ho'
manifests upon this question, ho will'3''
ho apt, to get his full share ,V,
Well, sir, we got together, nt tho
l .i:- ... ,' , . .
tH-guiiMiig oi una session, una looKcu
una mini; over, anu i utiucrtauo w
sny mat every honest man of both
political parties csino to the condii-l
sion that thirty-four tnon were toot"'
lew lor this llouso to get along with
properly, comfortably und cHily in
the transaction of business. by not
sir? If twenty-four men aro not too
ninny for tho Senate, which is com
posed of thirt)--tlireo members, arc
not thirty four men to few lor this
Uouho 1 Granting, nit, and I nm wil
ling to stand before the people of this
Commonwealth, as I said in tho few
remarks I made the other day on the
qui-stioh, granting that perhaps sixty
one men may be half a dozen too
many. I do not stand here denying
it. 1 never did nnd never intend to
deny thut sixly-ono men may be hulf ,
a dor.cn more than are absolutely
necesnry for tho rigidly economical
transaction cf tho business of this
House, upon the snmo principle which
a hiiinufnt lat ing company' or nny pri
vate corporation do their business.
When you get togolhcr sixty -one men
in a body orgnnined like this, you have
n1) resort but to distribute your pat
ronage or to throw yourselves into the
tender mercies of tho contractors who
swarm about this capital, proposing
to do the labor of this Housn by con
tract 1 J-'rom nil contracts, Mr. Speak
er; "good Lord deliver me." I do
not care bow honest the oontraotors
NOT MEN.
- ri r rr
are, nr may bo, or bow conscientious;
lot them once fasten their fanes tit.on
or
a contract in connection with the bust
noss ot this Capitol, nnd wo know
where it leads to. Talk about econ
omizlng by making contracts for the
nasting and folding of this House!
Why, every man who ever visited
this Capitol, let alone, such as have
boon members hero, knows that it is
the sheerest nonsenso in tho world.
The contract for the printing of this
llouso is for sixty per oentnm less
than any living man can afford to do
it. We know thnt the contractors
always manage, by some hook or
crook, to mnko money. I would
rather, trust the finances of this
House in the hand of the unsophisti
cated pasters und folders, than in the
hands of a shnrp set of contractors ; I
do not core whether they coine from
Lnncnster or anywhere else.
Now, sir, 1 have said all I have to
sny on tho merits of this question.
We find ourselves in this fix. The
Senate has twenty-four men to thirty
three, while we havo thirty-four to
one hundred. Tho gentleman from
Beaver tells us they will not ratify,
our action. Now what is the next
thing T why, for my part, I am ready
to stand by my man here now ; bnt I
do not believe wo ought to be quite as
sharp with these men as the genllo
man from Beaver indicates. I believe
these men come horo with tho under
standing thnt they wero to get their
pay somo way or other; no man of
theso twenty-seven came with the
clear, defiuito understanding that he
was to ran the rink of getting his pay.
I think we all assured (hem, upon our
honor as men, that we thought there
would bo no trouble about tlioir pay.
I have no doubt about that. I am
willing to compromise upon this basis.
If it is the Sense of tho Uouso to dis
charge these men by a join resolution
to-day, to morrow or next week, let
us pass a joint resolution to lliut effect,
and sny, if you please, that the neces
sity fur this appointment has teased
to exist, and pay thorn pro rata fjr j
tho timo they havo been here nntl
send them liuinc. I am willing lo
discharge every officer of the House
if tho gentlemen think the economi
zing spirit of their constituents ro
quires it. But let us by a joint reso-
lution say to tho Senate, "if you aro
willing to dischargo theso men in caso I
they nro paid pro rata, puss the bill to f
discharge them at onco. And il'i
they will not, with tho gontleman
from Clearfield, f Mr. McCullouL'hl I
will stay hero until next your, tut
thai the appropriation shall be passed
providing for the pay of these men.
I would never go hack never, sir,
while I had the spirit of n man, or
the first characteristic of manhood.
I will never go buck upon our implied
contract, and discharge these men,
until somo provision by law has been
niado lor their payment up to this
timo.
Mr. Mti.LR,(Rep.) Allegheny. Mr.
Speaker, so fir as this side of the
House is concerned, perhnps I stand
in rather a peculiar position in rcgrti j
to this question. When the resolution
was offered to increoso the number of
men, I not only voted in favor Of tie
increase, but I advocated the incrcuso
oi mill nuinoer, occming u necessary . but there was no nooossity tor going
for properly conducting the business j on and employing these tnon, and then
of this House, thnt these aduitional . compelling them to run this risk of
men should to appointed. I voted in , receiving their pay
favor of tho resolution. In onnso- Mr Strano. Hoes tho genlloman
qiicnco of that, I have incurred tho ; know that in 16G3, when the icmo
censuro to somo extent of tho mem- crnts were in a mnjorily, that the
hers oLtho politicul purty to which I number of officers in this llouso wan
have the honor to bulling; hut what ; one hundrod and three?
1 did was dono conscientiously. I Mr. Pi.AVroRD. 1 know this, that
believed then thnt it was noccssnry, the expenses of lho House wore much
and wlen the resolution was oflYrud 1 less under Democratic rule, than thoy
with the provision that whore the
Sieukor or lho Chief Clerk deemed it
necessary to retain thoso additional
men, they should be rctnincd ; but as
soon as that wus passed, they might
ho discharged, or such number should
bo diHchurged as thoy should deem ne
cessary to discharge, 1 voted for Jt.
I did il, believing that it was necessa
ry for properly carrying n the busi
ness of this brunch of the Legislature.
And, sir, when I believe a thing is
necessary, vote in favor of it, no
matter whether my political party sees
proper to censure mo for it or not. 1
stand here upon this floor ns one of
the representatives of my county, us a
free man. 1 act ns a free mnn, and
when'l belicvo a thing is right, no
matter whether it emanates from the
Jjer,' ' "' 1 I ip niocrutic
I eonrhlrr Uo'-flanii'r (lannn Ihik.. -
al.la mrHinin. in c ot lndnr.n..o ur vyp
..,- i.....,.!.... '
nr.iprute iph.r. I j in all ...
ia i hs'i
I'll l W I l II -
clrar proof in uri
ifc. i lanrnm, as B.rnr-inari. m m, -
i- i . -.-.. i.
-- 11lBn,l Dr. il .. .it nriV tir n Him
i i,u,tihr mm ir mp'"" '"". '
tod,
pr. my til 't;"';,r;r'"171trJr'-
of tha rvairiti, and ('fiinM.T lr l.nrr tl
.1.1.1 in. . ..fa ami a oiiianio nrenrati..n.
nrt it mT fii. but mimt. I '-'"M J
aia. i ran ocmi j ii ..on-nn, u..u.. ,....,,..
"Yours, nith rr-oci, Jaaaa laosraon.' rr making thnt assertion, 1 havo re
Prnm Rr. Jo.-ph P. K.nsM. I. 0.. I'm ceived, perhaps, more abuse, exeep
of tn Tomh Hr"' csurrh. Phiiodeinsia: ungthu t;cntlemnn from Tiogn Mr
Hf.Jr-lsrHir! I h.Ta br, f. .T' S, rin,;- lllin ,. ol)er wmloinan in
l rcqiirrt"! 1 r.innri-l my nam ilh rrrr 11 , .
rn.l.tl..n.-'f H.rrrnlkina..flnaJl.in, the liotise. '. .,
r. .riiin tht pt ti "r M r. I'A v Is, ( Philadelphia.) I insist
L :1::.1L: Y,r. rr r...i.r.,fuilv,M!''t "ot.ee tnrouc.li, I suppose, the
j. D Kt.nat
lei taineil by diilerent men, w - bet tier (nine pains f' send mo a copy other
it is a very high honor to be a nicm Jwise I would never have known of lho
bor of this body or not. But, upon
that mailer, I have nothing to say.
Sir, I hnvo no man here, although I
advocated the resolution offered by
tlie gentleman from Tioga M r. Strum;
1 huve no man in the pustinj and
folding room; henco I net indepen
dently. It was not becauso I hnvo a
man hero that I advocated that reso
lution, or that I expected to. have a
man hero. I acted honestly and con-
scicntiously in regard to that matter.
During Inst winter, when the act was
passed, limiting to a cerium number
the officers of this House, I thought
then that tt was gotten up for bun
combe on the pint of lho opposition
sido ol tho House, and some of them
have been honest enough to admit
since thut it was a great mistakt
lint it was gotten up for buncombe,
and they havo had to recede from that
view of tho case, which they took to
their homes, and ask for an additional
number of men.
Now, because this resolution emana
ted from the Republican side of the
House, is it any reason why any Pem-i
1- -f i l..lr i . t, , -,, , x y
NEW
0"rat, after that resolution has been
passed after theso man havo beon
employed ia it any reason that any
Democrat on this sido of tho House
should refuse to role fur a joint reso
lution providing for the payment of
these men, simply because they choose
to mako a political question f No sir.
Let them mako it a political question
if they chooso ; let them'ensure mo,
as they have censured me already for
voting for it. Buu sir, their censures
pass by me like "the iillo wind," for
which' I cure not. I belicvo I bavo
a duty to perform, and in the con
scienlious performance of that du
ty I stand horo today; and I will
rerform it, no inatlor who find fault
whether they be lhimocrals or lie
publicans. I will perform that duty
fearlessly and regardless of any indi
vidual.
Now, sir, I stand hero an indepen
dent man m this mutter. I havo no
instructions from my constituency,
and if they had attempted to instruct
mo upon mutters of legislation, I
would have said lo them, "No ; I will
stay at homo before 1 will be instruc
ted." I camo hore to iicrlorm my
duties as a member ol this Legislature
according to tho best of my uhility
and understanding, nnd I will perform
those duties ferrlessly and regardless
of what may bo said to the contrary.
either on one side of the House or the
other. I hope therelorc, thut this
resolution will be amended and made
a joint resolution. 1 '
Mr. Plattoiid. 1 foel roluelnnt to
occupy a moment of the time of this
House in the discussion of this rcsolu-j
tion. 1 know that the Chairman of
tho Ways and Means Committee Mr.
Wilson is anxious to cnll up the ap
propriation bill, and 1 do noidcsiro lo
delay it a moment. I promise thut
I w ill not consume over throe minutes
of our viiliiiible timo.
All through this session we havo
heard a great deal about the fitirooss
and unfairness of the apportionment
of these oinplovces, nnd from the be
ginning we havo had the discussions;
connected with the passngo of the act
of lftiH, and the small number of olli-j
cors provided by that act to dischargo
tho business of this llouso. - 'ilia
llouso resolution proyidingfor twenty-
soven additional officers lollowed, in I
tho passnyo of which there win shown
goino disrespect to tho Senate. Ism
not here ue tho apologist of thut body !
or its defender ; but 1 say the proper I
way in relation to that matter would
have been to introduce a joint resolu
tion increasing the number of officers
of this House, and after it passage
bet e, to have sent il over to the Sonate,
when the action of that body could
have been taken upon it.
Mr. Wilson. If my memory serves
me right, that is just the course it is
now proposed to lake.. - i
Mr. Platfobh. In case the Senate
refused to concur, tbon it would have
been proper to have cut these men
adrift, and dispensed with uii those
extra officers. '
Mr. Strang. , Docs the gentleman
think thirty-four offieors enough for vote against this resolution ; butlfeol
tho transaction of the business of the ; sir, that every ono of those twenty
House 1 1 1 i . ... ! seven who have faithfully performed
Mr. 1'i.ayford. 1 do not know tho
amount of business to bo transacted ; j
huve been sinco.
As to this mntter, I think noriskjof thco twenty seven persons bavo
should bnvo been run. i Ihere is no
implied contract on the part of the
Senn'.o to vote for tho pay mon t of
these men. There is nothing binding
npon my morals, or npon toy con
science, to vote one single dollar as
compensation to theso men. Lot
thorn who brought thorn bore pay
them off, if il comes to that.
1 am in favor of this resolution, bnt
I think tho Senate will stultify iUelf
il il agrees to pay one dollar towards
compensating theso men, in tho capa
city of employees. .
Mr. Wilho. I am exceedingly
anxious to bring the consideration of
this resolution to a close ; and I hopo
it will be innde a ioint matter.
1 nev-
pr ha,! nnr Houht.. sir. fit tha riirliL rtf
, . ,, , ,, .
. " v ... -
.ffinM ,.li, 4I,a I nflalilnlmn anft
i,ai ,10 otlt IciTIStn Includes the Mem
. r ... m u KIM-
tit r iiiini iiiu irn n uinrm-i, 'i j iiiiu-
. 2 . . ,
Uclplns t Mr. Jiavls J i.tiughler.j
1 jir. Wilson. 1 h
Arc rocniveJ nsr.
tit ulnr notice, and especially irt one
' I . J
paper, published 1 relieve iii Cambria
county , my attention was called to
editor ol the paper, who took psrtie-
existence of the sheet. 1 suppose ho
presumed I wnttld jrjve him fivo dollar-)
to tell tho truth, but I did not do
any such a thing. In thnt psper I
wus nic.st grossly abused, and in other
journals I hnvo been most nnjnstly
censured on account of this matter.
Mr. Nirmii.snM. I hope ihu. this
amendment will not pass. I leave
this suggoelion to the good sense of
the House. Let ns pnss this resolution
dismissing tbrso men, nnd then let
somo gentleman get up a joint resolu
tion to pny them. Let mo nssnreyon
thut this joint resolution, with the
amendment offered, w ill jut compli
cate lho question, and thnt it will not
be pusscd in tho other body. I have
been Bxsurcd within five minutes, in
tho Senate, that if you puss this reso
lution dismissing these men, and also
providing for their payment, it will
not pass t'leve. 1
Mr. i'AVls,(riiila';.Toobviatothnt
ditticiilly, I withdraw the amendment
" Mr. Strang. I renew 11
Mr. Nictiot.so. I believe I hve
tbe floor, and ao,t to finish what 1
1:10
TEEMS $2 per annum, in Advance.
SE1UES - V0L. 9, NO; 32
havo to sat-. I will not speak moro
lhaii an hour. ' Now, in the fuce of
known I acta, stubbornly recorded, and
prooluimed by tbo buuatc, will you
ridu heedlessly along, and pass tho
resolution 1 ('an you have the assu
rance to do it f ' ' ' - - "
Mr. Stiiano. I am not ready to
yield to tho bonalo quite yet. . ,
Mr. Nicholson. Upon that partic
ular remark I desire to say u word.
Somo limougo the gentleman notified
this House on a particular occasion
thnt he would do no moro "dirty work
this session," and tho editor of tho
Pittsburg Gazette has so sialoj, that
the gentleman from Tiaga Mr.
Strang, would do no more such work,
and he quoted the langiingo used, too.
Now. I submit to the gentleman iron)
Tioga that 1 wish he would not make
that expression any more.
Mr. Stkanu. I think the gentleman'
from Heaver Mr. Nicholson J has no
renson to complain. I am certain be
has none. -
Mr. Coknmak. (bom.) Cumberland.
If the resolution offered a few days ngo
by the gentleman on the other side
had been adoolud. ' I think there is
no doubt but thai the mutter would
have been settled ore tins. A proo
sition hud been made fo sol apart a
day for the discussion of thnt bill. I
have oo desire to discuss the merits or
demerits of this bill ; but this much 1
will say hero, and now and thut is
that a man who voted for the appoint
ment of the twonty-soven additional
officers would Btultify himself if ho
failed to vote to pay them for services
rendered. I voted ntrninst these
twonty-soven additional officers be
ci.use I thought their services were
not necessary, and 1 think so now.
Mr. S-rniNO. If the gentleman will
allow mo te interrupt him, I would ask
him if ho also is aware that in 18G3,
the Pemocrntic party had one hundred
and three officers in this House J'
Mr. Corhman. 1 do not knew about
that. But there is one thing I do
know; and I refer tho gontleman
from Tioga Mr. SiRANo bock to the
year 147, and from thut year to the
present time, and ho will find that
when tho Democratic pnrty ruled in
this House the expenses wero at least
twenty-five per centum less than they
uro to'dnv. . I dety him, after a careful
examination of the record from that
timo until now, to show a different
result ; nnd if he can, I ask him to do
So. The ' result of such a financial
research could soon be reported, and
placed before us for investigation,,
Sir, I wna not in favor of that reso
lution, as 1 said It has been stated
by tentleinen nnon this side that they
expected to bo consurcd and are cen-
j sured by gontlemon representing this
portion ot tho House, l do not know
as they nro censured. I hold thnt
every man upon ll.it floor has tho right
to do just as he thinks to do what he
thinks is right, notwithstanding the
vote of this House. I propose to do
what is right, whether I am in the
minority or not. I rored against the
additional twenty seven, and I will
, the duties dovolving upon them (and 1
know one of thoso twenty-seven who
hn performed bis duties faithfully),
should now receive tho support of
thoe who fuvorcd their appointment.
I belicvo thry should now be dis
charged, and that every man -who
faithfully filled bis position should be
paid. . ,. ; .
Mr. Wins. It strikes me thnt the
debuto on this resolution has taken a
very wide rnngo, a'though very ranch
has boen said in relation to the morita
and demerits of tho ouse.. it :
Now, 1 would like tokuow if any
been placed In tho employ of this
llouso by proper nnthctityr If 1
rocotdect rightly, the genllcmnn from
Tiogn Mr, Stbano offered tho reso
lution, which was paxscd, authorizing
tho Speaker nnd Clerk of this House
to appoint twenty seven persons for
certain purposes, if in their judgment
such isppoinlmcnts were necessary.
Now 1 nmkothe inquiry, how many of
theso persons have been appointed hy
this House I nm Informed that
none have boon, and too, from a source
thai is entitled to credit. ) ngnin ask
if any person provided for In the gen
tleman's resolution hns beert pnt to
work by or under thnt resolution I If
so, then tt eowms me thnt the talk
shint. rntiitv Yinvrrtmir. hniw Aiw ni
. J '
......... .v ...... ...
1 1 seoms to me tnai u me resolution
now before tho House is to be passed
at all, it shnuld be passed fbrreliovinrj
those porsons.'nnd then let their friends
take care of them in he appropriation
bill, ns wussiiirtrosted by thegentemsn
from HenvrrMr Niciini.soN.
Mr. NtCHoi.soM. ' If the gentleman
will allow mo to interrupt him,' I de
sire to inquire of the Speaker in rls
lion to Ihis question. ' If tho joint
resolution, ns read hero and amended.
passes this house, will these additional
j officers bo dismisfod, regardless of the
action ot the hennle-nr, supposing
the Semite will not pass this joint toe
olnlinn ? I trant'nn answer to this
question. : i
Tho Speaker. The Chair does not
know that they will by the 'joint
resolution. " '
Mr. Wrnn. In relation to these
t'venly-seven TrsrTis
' The" SrrAKiR. I am Tirt aware
tlmt all these men are neewsnry.
Mr. Wrnn.' New, I would like to
Inqiiiro of the Chair whether it fs ex
pected that these twenty seven per
sobs will be pnid, if this reflation is
not passed. Is it not the intention to
pnt the mntter of thiirpny Info the
s propriation bill,1 nnd stand by it;
and also to insist, npon Its passage
throngh the Semite, nnd havo his
Fxccllencv lho (iovernnr approve it,
whether lie nr'so inflimed or not I
Now, let us pass this resolution. ' 1
'Mr. Stbano. Does the gentleman
desifenh answer fo his question f
Mr. Wrnn. 'Tea.'
Mr. Strano. The idea Is thin: We
are willing to make this mmpromise
wnn tho berate, we will dischsrge
these men now; iff(! pur them a nro-
rmn amount o ineic allowance. r
4 -aire to fm this rrsoluUca fioftod
V 'ii mm njiiiiiy
see what their annwrr is. A fair and"
aqusM wa; it sO' ihs l' mt, to ratt
the Senile' Ar lis to dux harge tk
men and pay thoiu for the time they
have boon here.
Mr. Wriui. It S'-mi to me, Mr.
Spnaker, that the easiest and hett wsy
In rnach lliis 4)uestinn, would be to
pass a rt'sohilion discharging thetn
tot rhwitli, nnd then to put the matter
of their pay Into the appropintion hill,
or amsnd this joint moluiion provi
ning for their pay, and scud it to the
Somite. In case this resolution ia
passed in that w ay, if the Senate "goee '
back" upon it, wo can then put it in
the appropriation bill, and compel the
Sonate to accept it or toso the wholo
bill. It is a poculiur question, look
ing at it in any wuy you may. 'Hint ,
men art not neceatary, and they should
be discharged and paid a pro rata
allowance, as provided in this bill. '
Something has been said here, about '
gentlemen on the other side of the
House, having men employed hero
upon the floor. The gentleman from
Huuphin Mr. Hcrr suys that il wa
dono upon tho authority of thj Repub- :
licun party, thnt some mon npon tho .
other sido of the House nro to havo
positions. Now.l wuuld like to know
how that authority was delegated or
by whom it was made. Il has beon
slated' by tho gentleman from Tinga
Mr, Strang nnd by other gentlemen
on the floor of this House, that each
member was to have a mnn. Now, .
sir, if that bo truo, each Republican
member should havo bad tho right to
name a man. There are Republicans
npon this floor whoso mon are not
here. The geutlomcn from Lancaster,
four in number, have only two men. s
Tho gentleman from Bedford Mr. ,
Longunecker, sir, I urn informed, baa
no man; and the gentleman from-'
Philadelphia Mr. Da-tie bus no one. .'
Mr. Stbano.-I rise to a point of
order. It il not proper to s title the
business of this House tliose persons
who have men here, and those who1
have not. ' ' '-"-
The Si'KI Ker decided the point of
order we'l taken. . . . ,-t ..-si
Mr. Webb. - Then it is probably ia ;
ordor for me to state that I have no.
man here, and I suppose it Is also In'
order to say that the sixty member
of the Bepfiblican caucus bave no
right to name a man for any other'
Republican member. . v (
Mr. Jones. . Tho point is well ta
ken. Laughter. " , ," '
Mr. Van kirk. There seems to be
some doubt as to the discharge of
these mon at this time on account ot
this having been nmonded so as to bo
a joint resolution. My object and
purpose was to effect tho discharge of
tho men not needed, at once, and to.
dispense with alt further trouble about
the matter, I therefore offer the fol
lowing amendment to the umeudmrot:,
"And that tbu Chief Cl-rk U JtmI t- dii-'
charge imtnmpdiatrlr Ibe twrntT-atTen additional
officer authorised bf s rasoluuoa ( ti.it IloUM.,
Mr. Strand. That is offcrod as an
amendment to thejuint resolution.
The amendment was agreed to.
The Speaker. The question is, will
the House agree to the bill T ' ' ' '
The joint resolution was then
agreed to. ,
The tillo was read and agreed to at
follows: "A joint resolution dispen
sing with tho servicos of the persons
appointed nnder a resolution of the
House of Representatives, and provi
ding for their payment for the time
they were in service." .-
The bill was then read' the third
time, passed, and ordered to be sent
to the Senate for concurrence.
Wr. Csttlifnr's Treat g.
The treaty made by General Gushing
with tbo Government of Columbia
concedes to the United States the ex
clusive right to construct an inter
oceanic canal across the Isthmus of
Darien nt any point which may bo
selected by the United Slates. The
Columbian Government cedes six miles
of the hind on each side of lho canal
one half for its own benefit, and the
other for that of tbo party undertaking
the construction ol the work. The
Columbian Government ia to receive
ten per tent, of the nel income for the
fir l ten years, and after the canal is
paid for twenty five per cent, of the)
not profits. The treaty Is to bo rati
fied by tho United Slates within ten
months, the surveys to be mado wilhin
two years after lho latificalion, the
canal bennn within five years and fin
ished within filtecn yeura after the
ratification, otherwise the charterfalls.
The charter rnus for one ' hundred
years. -
The canal is to be undor the control
of the United States, and Congress
can fix the rate of tolls. The naviga.
tion is lo be 0)en to all nations in
timeof peace, bat closed to belligerents
who may seek to avail themsclvoa of
its advantages. It is estimated that
lho canal will cost $l'O0,OUO,000. ' A
company was not long ago organtied
in Now Tork nnder a charter of that
Stato, with retonCooper as President,
It is said on. distinguished authority
that this company huve the cipilul and
are ready lo commence the work.
Congress, however, is at liberty to
give the prefer nee lo this or any other
private company ( or the United
States can iuulf undertake the con
struction of the canal. Tho treaty
was sent to the Scnulo on Monday.
ISarrisbvrg Patriot.
Surratt to Write a Book. The
Washington correepnndantof tho Bos
ton Herald says : "John IL Surruttis
now in South America, but will return
here io a iiiolh. ' I learn from' one
of his friends thnt he has prepared a
full end explicit statement of the corn
spiracy which resulted in the death of
President Lincoln. In this l denies
ail knowlcdgoof the assassination plot,
but confesses freely that booth nnd
himself nnd others were In a plot to
abduct Mr. Lincoln. Ifc declares thnt
assassinntion was never spoken of to
him, and was not agreed on by Booth
and Tayne unlit the night it took
place.- He further insists on tho en
tire innocence of his mother, maintains
that every effort was made to keep
the abdnciton plot, and says she wsa
simply the victim of unfortunate cir
cumstances and the machinations of
the witness Weirhmsn, whoso evi
dence, it w ill be remembered, caused
Mrs. Surriiti's convictlm.' Surratt
proposes to fell lho good, bsd indif
Torrent, and make nathtoit. He fools,
it is said, that il will bo so impartial
and straightforward that it will be
believed.
A revivalist encountered a largo
ixed African, and asked him: H
good man, have you found the Lordi
To wlii eu Sambo replied in a surprised
manner: 'Golly, tnassa, am de Lord
lost?" ,.
If yon nro truly benevolent and
ehsritsble, perhaps you will, wben
yon act a neighbor in distress, asli
exnse other neighbor lo bJp him.