run RKVunucAN.
1 tv"V7-"
S THE LEGISLATURE.
E Tl't boeJy twin to b in great
ibn Uon over n Hrtion of ill cm
! ployrrs, ; puUtrly tyr.I "pasters nnd
I folders," but prnprrly lonfors. The
I following debute, which look placo in
V tho House on the 17tH of February,
! gives partial view of how tiling aro,
I dino Inside of the "ring." To fully
i comprehend the mat tor, It is necessary
to state that lli Legislature of 1808
f was "o extravagant, and being alarm-
ed at thoir loafers' lil!' when thoy
J camo to soldo, be faro djourning
I passed an act prohibiting fu,turo bodios
i irom employing more than thirty four
.4 officers. ".'In the face of this act of
I Assembly, the Radical caucus secretly
agreed to employ twenty-seven ivddi-
tianul muking sixty-one employees
and passed u joint resolution through
the llouso to that effect; but when it
f turned up in the Senate for concur
ruiice it . was defeated. Hence, all
i those member who failed to get their
"man" in beforo thn thirty four seats
wero all taken, now bave him on hand
! und may be compelled to' pay his
. w ages out of thoir own pockets instead
iof out of tho State Treasury, as was
contemplated by the resolution in
question. Wo presume that if the
j House discharges theso twenty-seven
rats at once, the Senate will bo mag
nanimous enough to pav them for the
time they havo been employed; but if
tho former persist in their prodigal
.expenditure of the public fundi their
'constituents will thank tbe lattor for
their economical course. , i;, ;, i t ,
I Mr. Wilson, (Hep.) Allegheny, call
d up the general appropriation bill,
but yielded to
I Mr. Vankirk, (Rep.) Washington,
who offered a resolution, which was
twice read, as follows : ,
i Wirntm, Th appointment of twenty irren
ofSeM of ttiii llonre, in addition to the cumber
Ear by the act of April 8th, 1869, wai deemed
neceaearY at tbe eotntnennement of the preient
rMion, which neceeiile doei not now continue to
grxiat, for tbe rt-aeon that two eiectiuo caaei which
ferine before thin llouec, and acorned to require the
tai'poinfmeut of additional effort, have been, die
I'OfeJ of: nn4 .
J Whereae, The additional laW at the oeginninx
f tbe teflon, in preparing and mailing depart
mrnt reiom, 4c. has now, in a great uetuure,
;br-n pcrtormed ; therefore,
t R.eolvrd, That the remainder ot the twrntT
arven additional ofllcere, not alreadv diionirifcd
ey tboCliief Clerk, be now relieved and diebanr.'d,
aid that tbeir lalary ihall run Trout the time thev
tl.all heee been in their reepectire officee, which
F'miy ii.-m we m wrv rwrw mare OT in taltrr OT
vuon omwrr ror nc fesnon an nred dt the act ol
I ilr. Duncah, (Rep.) Venango. As
number ot Hut othcers bave alroady
jbcen discharged, I hope the House
win pans tho resolution at once.
Mr.. Sthamo, (Hep.) Tioga. Mr.
Jpeuker, I think there wilt be one
thing very apparent to every gentle
.man in tho House, when he reflects a
ftnoment upon this resolution, and that
B, however well intended it may be,
1 1 cannot at all accomplish the object
designed by it. If there is anything
-won settled at all, it is that Uiero is
et, least a conflict of opinion between
the two houses composing this Legis
1. 1 ore, as to the kind of legislation
necessary to insure tho payment of
tluse men. I tuko it that we are ull
satisfied that before tho disbursing
ffieers of the Commonwealth will
tuko upon themselves the responsi
bility of paying these men, they will
roquire authority either in the appro
jjiriation hill or somo other method, a
fair or joinl resolution for that pur
pose and bore is the difficulty. The
jtnly efloet of tho passage of this reso
lution will bo to discharge these men
without any provision lor their pay
ment. In, Wilson. I will any to tho gen
tloman that provision fur their pay
ment is a matter which ear. easily be
wcomplished afterwards, if jt is the
'ene ol the IInuss tt dischiirgo them.
1 see no difliculty in that rcipect. . j
Mr. StraN(. , It Is a very easy mat
ter to say that, but i beg leavo to dif
t'er, I'm toto, fifnn the opinion of the
r.mt!eman from Allegheny, Mr. Wil
wn.J upon that question. It there is
any one tiling rertnin, it is that these
men are not to be pnid uutil some law
iibed authorizing their pnyment.
if we propose to dischurge them now,
!"t tis treat them honorably and fairly.
'V have luken them into our cmnlov
jf-y the almost unanimous vote of one
l)liticnl party. For ono, I am not
i .innohcd to shirk the resnoiiHiliilit v.
i sm disposed to treat those men fuirlv
rnd honorably. If wo wish to dis-
liarge them, let us pass joint reso
Jtion providing for tbnir payment,
id when they are Tint fn a Dosition
j'-ite paid, let them be discharged, it
c cuisine sense ot tins I lout, tv list
fiod can como from ft resolution of
po Uouse alone, providing for their
li 'jnient I it t hut could have done
')' g"od, it would Lave been done
ngsgo. , ,
iir. M'GiNNis, (I)om.) Philadelphia.
' tho Senate would nut concur in the
".lulion nppoinling theso oflieers, I
not seo any gtHid reuson for our
"ing a joint resolution,
ilr. SrttANti. Simply because, not
a poitiun of this House, but
portion1 of the Senate, as I under
'hd, lake the position, !n which nnsi-
t n ihey ure suslaiiipd by the dis-
ing ofrK-ers of tlieCnmnionwealth,
1 ittli
iicr a Uw or' a joint resolution.
1 am saying nothing upon the
'fits of this rrso'iutionone tvuv or
( other, buUimply that the resolu-
rnnot acootnplisli the purpose
Mr. M'GlNMt. I offer the following
ndinent! To strike out the word
"Hinder," and insert, "ns many
'eof as the Speaker and Clerk tan
!ne with."
Mr. WiLsny. The original rcsoln
r' Ciilling for the additional number
"flicers to the nuinbvrof twenty
'"", provides that when, in the
Kmcnt of the Chief Clerk, any olh
" Srs not Reeded, ha Shall dischal'lTO 1
4frl It f.eema in ma thb .n.,hi I r
"0 IHO nili al inn
....... w llv i. v i..g;iiv .v
"'M '(jimm withdrew his amend-Jr-
lAV!s,(Iqi.)Phila., It is very
'"It t( rill, llitil u A t, ,., n m!
f '"difficulty here, and lbs best thing
u inn morning is to try to pel
01 !t. Now, the House has appoint-
nuiubor of additional officers, and
"' gentleman from Tioga, Mr.
"o j I never shirk any responsl
t i a,'n favor of their appoint-
- mier tne action of the Pen
te. .v iicium mo ncuon ui I
o rf1.1!' If"!,int 10 "Ctioli the!
""uiin
4n"'l,'"onse amending tho bill from Philadelphia Mr. Davis will having aalherity to do so, Mid know
Jeri I believe it ia eery doubt- j not prevail. w t Jinf lie pomber requisite to carry on
71
All
n '1 J
GEO. B. GOODLANDER, Proprietor.
VOI,41WIIOLEN0.21GT:
fill whether those men will bo paid.
Certainly the Houso hIiOiiIJ paiVsomc'
such resolution as that offered by the
srontletnnn . from. Wnshingtotl, Mr.
Vankirk. . These men should be paid,
at least lor the time they have been
here, Kow, my judgment is that if
we let this matter run oil- to the end
of the session, those men will romuiu
hero, doing the work assigned to them,
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 fcuusie would
refuse to concur; though they bave
positively refused to pay them for the
entire session. I would be in favor of
standing by what tho House has dono,
if I believe we could do so with justice
to the mon brought here from thoir
homes I do not believe that tbe
Houso has too many officers. If we
have, it is a question for us, and tho
responsibility lies with tho members
and thoir constituents; but it is en
tirely wrong lor us to keep these men
here with the risk of lulling them go
after tho adjournment without pity
for their services, This resolution
should to-made a "Joint resolution.
At the time tho resolution of the gen
tleman from Tioga Mr. Strang was
passed, I bcliovcd, after mature con
sideration and careful examination of
it and the law upon .the subject, that
these men could riot be paid, unless
the Senate concurred in and the Gov
ernor signed the bill providing for the
payment. Tho disbursing officers of
this Commonwealth bave decided in
thesumeway. 1 wasontilled to bund
in the name of one man, whom I wish
ed to appoint from my district. Ho
was a poor umn, and I pre furred that
ho should' board at homo with , his
family to boarding bore without re
ceiving pay in the spring; and I never
gave iu his nume. I will stand by the
caucus of the party, and 1 will stand
by the House. I will go as fur as any :
but W3 must pay these mon or dismiss
them. The resolution is eminently
proper; it should bo passed this morn
ing, if passed at ull. I move to amend
by making it a joint resolution, sv that
it may receive the concurrence of the
Senate, and these men be paid for the
time they have been hero. I do not
think the resolution as it stands will
do any good.
5Ir.Xicitot.soN, (Hep.) Beaver. Mr.
Speaker, I think things are getting a
little mixed up. Let us try to unravel
this husines. When the resolution
providing for additional officers was
passed, 1, contrary to my own judg
ment, acquiesced. It was said that
we needed moro officers, and 1 believe
we did need some. They were ap
pointed with tho distinct understand
ing 1 wish to cull the attention of
the ex Speaker (Mr. Davis, Thila.) to
this that thoy look the risk of receiv
ing no pay at all. 1 think you, Mr.
Speaker, and two or threo others of
us, at least, know that it requires both
branches of the Legislature to pass an
act of Assembly, and I think there is
another power somewhero about tho
hill that has something to do with it.
Now let us not mix up tho mutter.
Tho contract with those men was that
they were to bo dismissed when the
Clerk thought their serfk'es were not
necessary. Now, this resolution is
only a reminder or instruction to the
Clerk. Most assuredly wo can in
struct tho Clerk.
Air. Davis. ( Philadelphia. ) I wish
to mnko it a joint resolution to pro
vide for the payment nf these men.
Mr. Nicholson. I will como to that
if thegentleman- will waitr I vet ns
pass this resolution which is in accord
ance with tho contract and the expec
tation of these men ; and then let us
pass a joint rosolgiion jo pay them on
its own merits. Let us end this mat
ter. Thedilliculty will be much great
er if wo continue these men to the end
of the session ; for in thut oaso I am
satisfied tho Scnato will r over agree
to pay them. Whether right or not,
tho Scnato bus taken its position, and
it requires a great deal of nerve, even
on the part of a wise man, to say "I
wnstrVing." ;Ticre Jtre a few, who
can do ft you and I, and a few others
can say so; but everybody will not.
Tho Senate tins said oer and over
again, and I think 1 have heard some
whisperings from that other quarter
to which I alluded, that this should
not bo dono. Xow, is it wise on iho
part of the friends of these twenty
seven oflieers to insist on their ktaying
her five, six or eight weeks more, and
increase the chance of no pay 1 Lcl
us pass this resolution, and then pass
a joint resolution providing for their
payment, and tight it out on thut lino
until tho end of the session.
iir. J toots. (Dotn.) Philadelphia.
I think thai the Senale having refused
to concur in the resolution first intro
duced by tho gentleman from Tioga,
Mr. Strang, will not stultify them
selves by adopting this rcsolulifin if it
should be mnile a joint resolution. At
t he tiin the first resolution was beforo
the Houso scvetal gentlemen on this
sido of tho chamber myself among
the number made the point that it
was contrary to law. The gentleman
from tho Tenth districtofrhiladcliihia
Mr. Pavis being then in the chair,
overruled the point. Ho said Hint the
Mouse could chooso lis own olbicrs
under the Constitution. '-Tho Senate
thought differently, lind I think' gen
tlemen ou both sides of this chamber!
now think that decision was wrong, j
If not. where s the necessity ofi tins
rtsumtlon? tho point tucu iade
was that it required a joint resolution
to chance tho net of 1H68 Tbe (lis
burkinrr nfticnrs nf ll.n ( 'nnimnntarall h
i ? . .. ; , : . u . ., i
ii ii rmi-m iu.i hit i"Timn i nun jl :it-u, i
and il is not prohuMe that the Senate, j como here and done the labor, tho co
holding the same view, will adopt this . ordinate branch agreeing with this.
it made a joint resolution. 1 think i
tbe Suggestion of the gehllcimiit f rom
Beaver Mr. Niihotcnn is u very wise
one indeed. We might as well begin
to correct our evil doings nnd dis
charge all these men at once; then
we can. try the Senato with a joint
resolution to pay them. The Senate
certainly cannot, in consistency with
their past action, adopt ibis having
flatly aaid to tho House, "You hud no
power io pass mui resolution. 1 1
hops lheamndmetef the gentleman
i1
Mr. M'CuLLoiioii, (Dem.) Clearfield.
Mr. Speaker, I desire to bs just, as
well as generous. Shortly nllcr the
appointment of these twenty bovon
officers I took occasion for several
days to vitiitths departments lis which
their labor was being performed. 1
bad heard grealdcal said, and though
I had taken no part in the matter
whatever,! constituted myself a com
mutes ot one, to look alter the work
of these men and those whd had been
previously appointed. The Scuato re
fused to concur in the resolution of the
Uouso-liiut body, so dignified- pro,
bahlv not dignified, but so refined -for
1 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 other branch.
.Now, granted for the sake of argu
ment, that they did not concur, and
do not intend to concur in a resolution
paying theso men, I believo as was
held by the Speaker prq tan. the othct
day, that Urn House. lias authorily
under the Ccnslitutrou to appoint its
own ofhccrs, Had by implication Us
employees. JS'ow, this House is uur
tainly as dignified n body as Ihe other
branch of the Legislature, although it
may not be as refined. The House
appointed certain employees and ofli
eers, to the number of twenty-seven,
and those having authority to dis
charge them, have seen propor, in
their wisdopi, to discharge a certain
number who did Uwjr work well; uwd
now let me say that after having ex
amined tho departments, I found a
I urge msjonty of those men laboring
diligently, late and crtn, tho per
fornmivee tf trir4Hies. And let me
siJk ile Speaker, that I havo found
ns many us five of thoso employed by
the Uouse at work for the Scnato, w bo
refuso to pay the pittance allowed by
act, of Assunbly to those, poor men
who tamo here believing that they
would bo paid for their labors. I
presume, Mr. Speaker, I t-liall be cen
sured for what I om saying, but I
stand hero to do equity and justice
between wen. I shall not stultify
myself, if I do bolong to tho minority
sido of tho House. I intend, w bile "i
am here, to stand up for the right,
Cod being my helper ! If this House
has the Authority to appoint and select
its officers and employees, and if those
who have charge of the several de
partments see proper to indicato that
a certain numberof men are absolutely
noeessary to transuot the business ol
tho House, then, 1 say, wo do right
to vindicate this House. A majority
ol this House has decided to employ
additional officers; these men havo
been selected and havo come here in
good faith, believing that Ihey would
be paid, and havo been nurfbrminir
their labor as it should be performed.
I, for one, having voted against the
appointment of the twenty-seven, say
thut these men who have been em
ployed and have faithfully performed
tho labor as they have been command
ed, should be paid; and I shall stand
hero from this time nntil next March
a year before I will turn these poor
men away without the pittance they
aro justly entitled ti. I rare not
whether I am censured by this sido of
tbe llotiso or the other side.
Mr. Wkhb, (Uop.) Bradford. I
would like to enquire if the gentleman
has a "man" hero among the twenty
seven 7
Mr. M'Cci.iouan. I huve. I was
told that I might select a "man," and
I did so, and he is here performing
his labor from morning until night.
I shall not deny anything that it the
fact. I would have said just what I
have said if I had not a mun here. If
his pay is rcfiiscd ) can pay him my
self. Mr Webii. Anothorqnestion. Who
told yon you could huve a "man ?"
Jlr il Cutxourm. . Woll, sir, the
persons having authority to do so.
Mr. IlltlR, The question of the
gentleman from Drudlord Mr. Webb
can be answered. The gentleman
from Clenrfield was informed by tho
Republican party that be could have
a "man" hero.
Mr. Wf.hb. I would like to know,
Mr. Speaker, who spoke for tho lto
publican j arty ?, I did not know the
party hud given such authority.
Mr.(Hr.un. fly authority of the
party, without respect to individuals.
Mr. Nicholson. Without regard
to raco or color. Laughter.
Mr. M'C'vLMrtiii. Willi regard to
race, I huve nolhing to say ; with
regard to color, I shall not say any
thing. Now, Mr. Speaker. I am in favor of
disposing ol this mailer as tho dignity
of this body requires. 1 am in luvor
of passing a joint resolution, bet-atise
thut is the only way by which these
men can bo paid, if they aro paid at
ull. 1 am io favor of this joint reso
lution to bring tho mntlcr bcloro the
House in its propcrshupo, that it mny
go tg tho co ordinate branch of the
Logiblulurc in Iheonly shapo in which
we are authorized to present it. If
these men arc to bo pnid, let us know
it ; it tint to bo paid, let us know it.
Let thoso who brought the men here
know it ; because I suppose they have
been brought hero on account of their
incrii,or iiceahse they were tho favor
ites of those who brought them. Let
us proceed in tho only way in whith
ws lit authorised by the laws of this
Commonwealth ; lei us havo a joint
resolution bringing the matter square
ly beliiro this body, nnd go into the
co-ordinnut branch In u shape which
will rcqtiiro their attention. And if
tho Executivo of tho Commonwealth
aaM ar.ilr In turn lir.r. without
. I - ... t. i
in fir ynj , jiiim mon nun nuu
then I say let him do so. 1 am wi
Jliig lo pay the expenses of tb gentle
man whom I brought bcre, although
ho is a Republican. Let us got at this
in tli riglit way. ' If tho gentleman
who introduced iho resolution (in gnod
f.iilh, I bave no doubt,) will amend it
so ns to make it a joint resolution, I
will agree with him. Let us, Mr
Speaker, ascertain how many of thrso
twenty sovon men hare entered apon
mo unties assigned inrrn, na now
iiiuuy bave boon discharged by I bote
FIELD
PRINCIPLESi
CLEA1.FI ELD, PA., WEDNESDAY, MAHCII '3, 1869.
the busiuess of tho Hciiso. Let u
ascertain the facts. 1 say we have
not twonty-soveri additional officers
hero; I nssurt that we havo Dot sev
enteen additional ; I do not know how
many havo been discharged, but I
know that ns many as tivo on the
several days when I havo examined
the departments, wore employed in
doing the work of tho Senate ; so thut
when that body says to this branch ol
tho Legislature. "Wo will not agree
to anything of tho kind," it comes
with a very bud grace. As I said
before wo professed to havo and exor
cise us much dignity, if not refinement,
as the co-ordinate branch. I propose
that we go at this mutter "right-end
foremost." to commenco at the com
mencement, and go through with il as
men. Any question asked meastomv
havinga"mnn" here has nothing todo
with tho cuso at all. I acknowledge
that I named, as I supposed, and as I
know, nn honest, upright man, who
has always voted the Republican tick
et. If that be a sin, why, hero you
have it. I did not f eel at liberty to
bring in a Democrat. My district has
never had an employee in the House
of Representatives sinoo the formation
of this Commonwealth; therefore, I
chose one, and he is hero, performing
his duty from morning until night.
Now, let us get ul t:iib as we should.
Let us have 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 of the Legisla
ture will allow these men now cm
ployed their pay, nnd vhethcr the
Executive of: the Commonwealth, or
whothcr both tho co-ordinalo branch
and the hxecutivo will turn out of
employment, without a cent, theso
ioor men, who have boon laboring
icre to maintain their families. If
so, I want to send my mnrt,Jiomo to
give him moniy to pay his expenses
home. If he telle me thut he cannot
get along with his poor family, I ex
pect to give him a hundred or two
dollars, because 1 brought him here.
Mr. Straho. Mr. Speakor, I pro
pose now to make in three minutes
my lust "pastor nnd folder" speech.
I was in holies I had made it some
time ago. 1 tako, it air, that 1 occu
py a position In rcferenro to this
question, which gives mo as good a
right to mnko a speech as any gentle
man of the House. 1 apprehend I
havo been about as much talked about
in this connection about ns well
abused by the bigd-toncd prcs of
tins commonwealth as any other
gentleman on this floor. During tho
lour yours I have hud tho honor of a
soat hero, I believo I havo not spent
four minutes in talking about myself;
and I do not intend to spend very
mucu ii mo in uiiKine aoout mvsclt
j now,
Now, sir, as to tho tironosiiion bo-
fore us. We find ourselves in just
this fix. The Legislalui eof lust win
ter, which, as has been said over and
over again upon this floor, found it
necessury to employ for their conve
nience over ono hundred officers dur
ing the ontiro scmeioii, becanio so
economical just at tho close of the ses
sionso willing, as tho comic writer
said slioul the dralt, "to sacrifice all
his wife's blood relations" ns to say
that all future legislatures should bo
confined to thirty-four employees, al
though over one hundred men were
necessary for thoir convenience. But
no man among all tho reformers who
wero active in the pussut'o of that
resolution found that they bad too
many men then j but just at the close
of tbe scnion they found themselves
ablo to say Ihut we and all legislatures
w ho should come niter them, should
find thirty-four men sufficient, and
thoy passed n law binding us to thai
number. The Senate, and I give them
credit for it. (1 am not saying a word
against the Scnato in relation to thut
question) tho Senate, composed of
thirty-three members, wero smart
enough to manipulate that bill during
its parage, so as to provide themselves
with twenty-lour officers. All right,
all right; but ns I am credibly in
formed, somo of tho loudest-miiiithed
among tbe reformers nome of those
who were building thomselves tho
most lofty reputation ns economists
tho fiercest watt h dogs of the treasury
of this Commonwealth and doing
their barking aud biting in that Senate-
' 1 -' ' '
Mr. BitowN,(Dem.)Clarion. I would
ask tho gentleman if theso men ore
not members of the same polilic.il
parly he Is 7
Mr. StraNo, I should not wonder
If they were. I should mil wonder il S.
the party to which tho gentleman 1
from Clarion happens to bolong.should
cvor got in the ascednncy, either hero
or there, from the avidity which ho"
mauifests upon this question, ho will-vp
lie apt to get his full share. ,
Well, sir, we got together, at tho i
beginning of this session, and looked
this thing over, nnd I undcrtako lo',"
sny tlint every honest man of bnlluea,
political parties camo to the conclu
sion that thirty-four men wore too
few for this Houso to gel along with
properly, comfortably uud easily in
tho transaction ol business. Why not
sirf If twenty-four men are not too
many for tho Senate, w hich is coin
posed of thirty-three members, are
not thirty lour men to few for this
Ilou.-w I Grunting, sir, and I am wil
ling to stand before tho people of this
Commonwealth, ns I said in the few
remarks I inailo the other day on the
question, granting that perhaps sixty
one men may be h If a dozen too
many. I tin iinl stand hero denying
it. 1 never did and never intend t
deny that sixty-tino men may be half ,
a rtor.cn more than are ahsolutclv
necesury for Iho rigidly economical
transaction of tlio bnsineea of this
Hnise, upon (he s.imo principle which
a hiutiulsctaring company or any pri
vnto corporation do their business.
When you get together sixty-one men
in a body orgnnized like Ibis, you have
no rcsorl but to distribute your pat
ronage or to throw yourselves into the
tender mercies of iho contractors who
swarm abont this capital, propoi"g
to do the labor of this Houso by con
tract ! Prom all contracts, Mr. Speak
er, good Lord deliver me." I do
not car how honest tbe contractors
i
1"
NOT MEN.
aro, or may bo, or how conscientious;
let them once fasten their fangs upon
a contract In connection with the busi
ness of this Capitol, nnd wo know
where it leuds to. Talk about eeon
omislng by making contracts for tho
pasting and folding of this House!
Why, every man who ever viaited
this Capitol, let alone such as have
boon members hero, knows that it is
the sheerest nonsense In tho world.
The contract for the printing of this
Houso is for sixty per ounlnm less
than any living man can afford to do
it. We know thnt the contraolors
always manage, by some hook or
crook, to mnko money. I would
rather, trust tho finances of this
House in the hands of the unsophiKti
caled pasters and folders, than in the
hands of a shnrp set ot contractors ; I
do not care whether thoy coine from
Lancaster or anyvhore else.
Now, sir, I have said nil I have to
say on tho merits of this question.
We find ourselves in this fix. The
Sennte has twenty-four men to thirty
three, while we havo thirty-four to
ono hundred. Tho gentleman from
Beaver tells us iLey 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 grnllo
mun from Beaver indicates. I bcliove
these men came hero with tho under
standing thnt they wero to get their
pay somo way or olher; no man of
llieso twenty-seven came with the
clear, definite understanding that be
was to ran the risk of getting his pay.
I think we all assured I hem, upon our
honor as men, that we thought there
would bo no trouble about their pay.
I have no doubt shout that. I am
willing to compromise upon this basis.
If it is the sense of the House to dis
charge these men by a join resolution
to day, to-morrow or next week, let
us puss a joint resolution to thut effect,
and say, if you please, that tho noces-
.1.. ... ... i .
sity for this appointment bus le.in j i
to exist, and pay them pro rata for
Iho time they havo been here and
send them homo. I am willing to
discharge every officer of the House
if tho gentlemen think the economi
zing spirit of their constituents re
quires it. lint let us by a joint ruso-
lulion say to tho Senate, "if you era
willing to discharge theso men in t-aso ,
they aro paid pro rata, pans the bill to
discharge them at ouco." And if
thoy will not, with the gentleman
front Clearfield, Mr. McCulloughl I
will stay hero until next your, but
that tho appropriation shall be passed
froviding lor the pay of these men.
would never go bock never, sir,
while I had the spirit of n man, or
the first characteristic of manhood.
I will never go back upon our implied
contract, and discharge these mon,
until some provision by law has been
made lor their payment up to this
timo.
M r. Miller, (Rep.) Allegheny. Mr.
Speaker, so far ns this side of tho
Houso Is concerned, perhaps I stand
in rather a peculiar position In rcgi4
to this question. When the resolution
was offered lo increase the number of
men, I not only voted in favor of the
increase, but I advocated the increase
of that number, deeming it necessary
for properly conducting tho business
of this House, thnt these additional
men should b appointed. I voted in
favor of tho resolution. In onnso
quenco of that, I have incurred tho
censuro to somo extent of tho mem
bers oLlho political party to which I
huve the honor to belong; but what
I did was dono conscientiously. I
believed then that it was norcssnry,
and wlen the resolution was offcrud
.1 .i.-. , ....
with the provision that where the
Speaker or tho Chief Clerk deemed it
neccsMsry to retain thoso additional
mon, they should be retained ; but as
soon Ii that was passed, thoy might
bo discharged, or such number should
be discharged as thoy should deem ne
cessary to discharge, 1 voted for It.
I did it, believing lhat it was necessa
ry for properly carrying en the busi
ness of this brunch of the Legislature.
And, sir, when I believe a thing Is
necessary, I volo in favor of it, no
mutter w hether my political party sec
proper to censuro mo for it or not. I
sland here upon this floor lis one of
tho representatives of my county, as a
free mun. 1 act ns a free man, and
when 1 believo a thing is right, no
matter whether it cmnhulns from the
Romi' 'i. hrt 1 Vmocralio
.1.1. medieine la ol lDdieii..a ur bytp
ill .... J.r llni.H.nd l U.r in U I .
ia. I ran eeriiiy bi fruia experience. 'officers, under tliO Constitution, and
Voire, wiib re.peet, Jtil).n.' fr n,,, jnir tmt assertion, I hnvo ic
Frsm Re. Jo-eli t Keni.ee.1. D. P.. Pat ccivcd, perhaps, more abuse, cxeep-
ottiie Temh Maptiei csiirrh. I'siieneifhia i ting tho geiillomnn from Tioga Mr
pr.j.c..-f...rKtr '"b'"' ,r'1" Strang than any other gentleman in
It retliir'fei l rfinei-t my name with reer l J G
oirn.lii"ai uf ditr.-nt loti.le "t tnedi.ioee, the House. , . ,
n-jturiitnr. tU free . t iee a nut af mr Mr. DaMS, ( Philadelphia., I insist
nr...r,.te rph.re. I j k" "" that tllO ROIlt It'lllan Include tllB tnein
el.eedl hat Witts a A' ''"-"r av.rl
. mi rl i r-u 1 H T in nii Own Ttlnll'T
n nwn iiinn'T
nd' tlrfi en hill,
U....I f....rn. io-
the ut-ljlii?rnul lr. .. fl;ind
I d.trt lor oar. trm my rwmt .
pi.lnt. it it a ie tint eiuiie nrrprei..n. I
ill be Trrf bt'arfi'-Ul to tb.ne who enSer ft
';' " .:
tbe abort eauit. Youn, ery riepeiruUr,
J. v Kfisim
tci taini'd by diilerent men, whether'
it is a very high honor to be a mem
ber of this body or nut. But, upon
that nintlor, I have nothing lo say.
Sir, I havo no man here, although I
advocated the resolution ulfered by
the gentleman from Tioga Mr. Strung
I havo bo aian in the pu sting and
folding room ; hencp I act indepen
dently. It was not because I have a
nun here thai I advocated Ihnt reso
lution, or that I expccicd to. havo n
man hero. I acted honestly und con-
scicntioualy in n gurd to thnt matter
During lnt winter, when the act was
passed, limiting to a rei tiiin number
the officers of this House, I thought
then that it was gollm up for bun
combe on tho purl of iho opposition
sido ol tho Houso, and some of them
havo been honest enough to admit
since that it was a great mistake.
Hut It was gotten up for buncombe,
and they hnvo had to recede from that
view of the case, which they took lo
their homes, and ask for an additional
number of men.
Now, because this resolution emana
ted from the licntiblicsn tide uf the
House, is it any reason why any Dem-,
NEW
O'TSt, after thut resolution has been
passed alter theso mon havo been
employed is it any reason lhat any
Dumocrnt on this sido of tho Houso
should refuso to vote for a joint reso
lution providing for the payment of
these men, simply because they choose
to make a polilicul question ? No sir.
Let them mnko it a political quostion
if they chooso ; let them' vensure mo,
as they have censured mo already for
voting for it. Buu sir, their con su res
pass by me like "the idle wind," for
which I care cot, I believe I bavo
a duty to perform, and in tho con
scientious performance of that .du
ty I stand hero to-day ; and I will
perform i., no inattor who find fault
whether they be Democrats or ite
publicnns. I will perform lhat duty
fearlessly and regardless of any indi
vidual. Now, sir, I stand here an indepen
dent mun.iu this mutter. I havo no
instructions from my constituency,
and if they hud attempted to instruct
mo uion mutters of legislation, I
would huve said to thorn, "No ; I will
stay at homo before 1 will be instruc
ted." I came here to perform my
duties as a member ot ibis Legislature
according to tho best of my ability
and understanding, nnd I will perform
those duties ferrlessly and regardless
of what mny be said to the contrary.
either on one side of the House or the
other. 1 hope therefore, that this
resolution will be amended and made
a joint resolution. '!-':
Mr. P la word. I fuel reluctant to
occupy a moment of the time of this
House in the discussion of this resolu
tion. 1 know that the Chairman of
the Ways and Means Committee Mr.
Wilson is anxious to cnl! up the ap-j
propriaiioo bill, and I do not desiro to
delay it a moment. I premise thut
I will not consume ever throe minutes
of Our vulunble timo. ' t
All through this session we havo
heard a gretu deal about the fairness
und unfairness of the apportionment
of these employees, and from the be- J
ginning we havo had the discussions
connected with the passago of the act
of 1tirt, and the small number of ofli
eers provided by that act to discharge
tho business of this Houso. - The
Houso resolution prop id tag for twenty
seven additional officers lullowed, in
tho passage of which tJifre was shown
noinu disrespect to tho Senato. 1 am
not here us tho apologist of that body -j
or its defender; but I say the proper I
way in relation to that matter would i
have been to introduce a joint resolu
tion increasing the number of officers
of this House, end after it passage
hers, to have sent it over to the Sonste,
w hen 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.
Mr. Platform. In case the Senate
refused to concur, then it would have
been propor to have cut these moo
adrift, and dispensed with all these
extra officers.
' Mr. Strano. Does the gentleman
think thirty-four officers enough for vole against this resolution ; bull feel
tho transaction of the business of the : sir, that every ono of those twenty -li
crnac f n. i , , i J seven who have fuithfiillr performed
Mr. pLAYronn. I do not know the the duties devolving upon'thom (and I
amount of busin-ss to be transacted ; 1 know one of thoso twenty seven who
but there was no nonosMly for going j lna performed his duties faithfully),
on and employing those mun, and tlion ! should now receive tho support of
compelling them to run this risk of
receiving their puy- .
Mr Strang. Does the gentleman
know that iu 1SC3, whert the Demo
crats were in a mujnrily, that the
number of officers in this House W as
: one hundred and threo ? , i ,i
I . Mr. Platfori). I know this, that
the expenses of tho House wore much
I loss under Domocratio rule, than thoy
....
have been sinoo
As to this mutter, I think bo risk
should havo been run. . There is no
implied contract nn the part of the
Senate to voto for tho payment of
theso men. There is Bulbing binding
upon my morals, or epon wy con
science, to vote one single dollar as
compensation to theso men. Lot
thorn who bronght thorn bcre pay
them ofT, if it comes to that.
I am in favor of this resolution, but
I think tho Senute will stultify itself
if ii agrees to pay one dollar towards
compensating these men, in the capa
city of employees.
Mr. Wilsos. I am exceedingly
anxious to bring the consideration of
this resolution to a close; and I hope
it will be made a joint matter. I nov-
er had any doubt, sir, M tho right of
I -
this House to employ these additional
v -aitnn w.-.iivv a-.
' - - - " - - - '
delphi.1 Mr. Dlivls J LllllgbtCT.
. Mr. Wilson. I have received pi
. yir w UAltSt iAViS re('OiVtJ Phr
paper, published I believe 111 C ambria
county , my niteniion was c linen to
that notice thmiitth, I suppose, Ihe
editor of the paper, w ho took partic
ular pains to solid me a copy t hoi",
wise I would never have known of tho
c.xisleneo of the sheet. 1 suppose he
presumed I would give him five dol
lars: to tell tho truth, hull did not do
sny such a thing. In thnt pspcr I
was most grossly abuscd.nnd in other
journals I havo been most nnjnstly
cciisuren on account ot tins matter.
Mr. Nicholson. I hope that this
amendment will not puss. 1 leave
this suggostion to tho good senso of
tho House. l.ot ns pass this resolution
dismissing theso men, and then let
soino gentleman get up a Joint rcsoltt
tion to pay them. Let mo nsurc you
that this Joint resolution, with the
amendment ortVrcd, will just compli
cate tho question, nnd that it will not
bo pusscd in tho other body. I have
been assured within five minutes, in
the Scnato, that if you pass this reso
lution dismissing these men, and also
providing Tor their payment, it will
not pas fine. ' -
Mr. Davis.i rhi!aV"'Toobviate tbnl
diliiciiliy, I withdraw the amendment
5I, StrasO. I renew II
Mr. Nixjiiot.soN. , I beliov I bv
tbe floor, and want to finish what 1
V
1 i L& N
lie
TEEMS $2 per annum, in Advance.
SEllIES-VOI, 9, NO; 32
havo to say. I will not speak moro
than an hour. Now, in tho fuce of
known facts, stubbornly recorded, and
proclaimed by tho Senate, will you
ride, heedlessly ulong, and pass the
resolution i Can you havo the assu
rarioo to do it f ' 1 ; '-
Mr. Stuano. I am not ready to
yield to the Senate quite yet, . .
ilr. Nicholson. Upon thut partic
ular remark I desire to say u word.
Some timougo the gentleman notified
this House on a particular occasion
thnt he would do no moro "dirty work
this session,"' and tho editor of the
Pittsburg Gazette has so stated, that
the gentleman from Tiaga Mr.
Stbano, would do no more such work,
and he quoted the language used, too.
Now. I submit to the gentleman Jrora
Tioga that I wish he would not make
that expression any more.
ilr. Strand. I think the gentleman'
from Ueaver Mr. Nicholson bns no
reason to complain. 1 I am certain be
has none. -. , '
Mr. Coiinman. (Dem.) Cumberland.
If the resolution offered a few days ago
by the gontlemiin on the other side
had been adopted," I think there is
no doubt but that the mutter would
nuvo been seined ere this. A propo-
silion had been made to sol apart a
day for the discussion of that bill. I
have oo desire to discuss the merits or
demerits of this bill ; but this much I
will sny hero, and now and that is
that a man who voted for the upoint
ment of tho twenty-seven additional
officers would stultify himself if ho
failed to volo to pay them for services
rendered. I voted against these
twenty-seven additional officers be
cause I thought their services were
not necessary, and I think so now.
Mr. Strang. If the gentleman will
allow me te interrupt him, I would ask
him if ho also is aware that in 18C3,
the Democratic party had ono hundred
and three officers ift this House ?"
Mr. Cor nm an. 1 do not knew about
that, But there is one thing I do
know; and I refer tho gontleman
from Tioga Mr. SiBAN'o back to the
year 18-17, and from that year to the
present time, ami bo will find that
when tho Democratic party ruled in
this Houso the expenses wero at least
twenty-five per eeutura less than they
iiro to day. . I tiely him, after a careful
examination of tho records from ihnt
timo until now, to show a different
result ; and if he can, I ask him to do
so. Tho result of such a financial
research coold soon be reported, and
placed before us for investigation.
l l i...r. .. .. : .;...
Sir, I was not in favor of that reso
lution, as 1 said It has been stated
by gentlemen upon this sido that they
oxprcted to bo consurcd and are cen
sured by gontlemen representing this
portion of tho House. I do not know
as they aro censured, I hold that
every man upon ll.it floor has tho right
to d jut as he thinks to do what he
thinks is right, notwithstanding the
vote of this Houso. I propose to do
what is right. Whether I am in the
minority or not. I Totd against the
additional twenty-seven, and I will
thosc who favored their appointment
I believo they should now be dis
charged, and that every nun who
faithfully filled bis position should be
paid. . ... ... i, ,,.'.
Mr. Wiiib. It strikes mo that the
debato on this resolution lias taken a
very wide rango, although very mnch
has boen said in relation to tho morits
and dements of the. cuee. - it - .-,
Now, 1 would like ,to know if any
of thc'o twenty seven persons bave
been placed In tho employ of this
Houso by proper authority? ' If I
m-eolent rightly, the gentleman from
Tioga Mr. SraANo effered tho reso
lution, which was passed, authorising
tho Speaker and Clurk of this House
to appoint twenty seven persons for
certnin purposes, if in their judgment
such la'pointmentN were necessary.
Now 1 iriako the inquiry, how many of
theso persons havo been Appointed by
this House? . am Informed that
nono have boon, and too, from a siurre
that i entitled lo credit. I ngain ask
if any person provided for in the gen
tleman's resolution has lcrt put to
work by or under that resnlutina 1 If
so, then it fms tt me that the talk
; about equity paytnont bore does not
: amount to much.
It scorns to me that if the resolution
now before tho Honse is to be pnssed
at all, it should be passed frr relieving
t hose persons; and l hen lei their friends
take csro of them in 'ho appropriation
bill, as was sneeestod by thegnnteman
from Heaver Mr. Nicholson. '
Mr. Nicholson. If tho gentleman
will allow mo to Interrupt him, I de
sire to inquire of tb Speaker in rela
tion to this' question. If tho joint
resolution, as read hero and amended.
pss( this homo, will thee additional
officers bo dismifcd, regardless of the
soilnn of the Senate or, euppoamg
the Senate will not pass this joint res
olution? I want i nn answer to this
question. ' : ' i .
Tho Speaker. The Chair does not
know Hint they will by the 'joint
resolution. ' ' -
Mr. Wtnn. Tn rnlation to these
t'venty-sovrn rwnns
The SrrAKvR, I am tirt aware
thnt all these men ar necpasnry.
' Mr, Won. Now, I woultl like to
Inquire Of the Chsir whether it fs ex
ported that these twenty seven per
sons will be paid, if this resf-lution Is
not passed: Is it tint the Intention to
pnl the mntter of theirpsy into tbe
a proprialion bill,1 and stnndbyit;
and nNo to InsUf. npon Its passage
through the Senate, and have bin
Kxrelloney the (iovtrnor approve it,
whether ho is so inrlimed or not?
Now, let us pass this resolution. 1
Mr. KTRANn. Poe tho gentleman
desire nn answer to his question f '
Mr. Wnin. Ym.
Mr. Strang. The idea Is this: We
Rre willing to make this Compromise
with tho Ser.aie. We will discharge
these men now; aria put them a pro
mtit amount of their allownocc. S"c
Leire lo paea tbia resolution now, and
see what thfit nwf Is. A fair Intl
sqnsro wa,it tfrns t') mo, to mel
the H..Niii br itt d lisis (kos 1
men ami pay ihom for the tune ihry
have teen hero.
Mr. Wnin. It srnn to me, Mr.
Speaker, thst lheciest and ri way
to reach tin's question, would be te
p.iR a rviolutiim discharging Ihem
ftitrhwith, and then to put the matter
of thi ir pay Inti theeppropintion bill,
or amend this joint revolution provi
ning for their pay, and send it to the
Senate.' Jo case this resolution is
passed in thut w ay, If the Setiate "goes '
back" upon it, wo can then put it in
the appropriation bill, and compel the '
Sonate to accept it or lose the whole
bill. Il is a poculiar question, look
ing at il in any way you may. . Thnt .
men are not necemiry. and they should
be discharged and paid a pro rata
allowance, us provided in this bill. '
Something has been snid here, about 1
gentlemen on tho other side of the
Houso, huving mon employed here
upon the floor. The gontleman from
Duuphin Mr. Hcrr says that it was
done upon tho authority of thj Repub- .
licun party, that some mon upon the
other sido of the House aro to have
positions. Now, 1 would like to know
how thut authority was delegated or
by whom it was mude. Il has been
slated' by tho gentleman from Tioga
Mr. Strang and by other gentlemen
on the floor of this House, that each
member was to have a man. Now,
sir, if that be true, each Republican
member should have had the right to
name a man. Thcro are Republican!
npon this floor whoso men are not
here. Tho gentlemen from Lancaster,
four in number, bave only two mea. .
The gentleman from Bedford Mr.
Longonecker, sir, I ani informed, has
no man ; and the gentleman from '
Philadelphia Mr. Daiis bus no one. :
Mr. Stuano. -1 -mse u a point of
order.. It il not proper to state the
business of this House those persons
who have men hero, and those who'
have not. ''.''' ' " ' 1 -
The Speaker decided the point of
order we'l taken. ; : . J
Mr. Wibb. Then it is probably in
order for me to stale thai I have not'
man here, and I suppose it is also In'
order to say lhat the sixty members
of the Republican caucus bave no
right to name a man for any other
Republican member. ,,t ...... . , j
Mr. Jones. , Tho point is well ta
ken. Laughter. . ' ' '
Mr. Vankirk. There seems to be'
some doubt as to tbe discharge of
these men at this time on account of.
this having bean amended so a to bo
a joint resolution. My object and
purpose was to efl'ect tho discharge of
tho men not needed, at once, and to.
dispense with all further trouble about
the matter, i I therefore offer the fol
lowing amendment to the amendment;.
"And thai the Chif f Ore. lit directed '-) die-'
eherfre itnDimediatelr tbe twrntr-ieren additional
officers autboriit-4 by a raeoluiioa l aliii liouie.
Mr. Siranu. That is offered as an
amendment to the joint resolution.
Tho amendment was agreed to.
The Speaker. The question is, will
the House agree to the bill ? , ; '
Tho joint resolution was then
agreed to. , ; 7
Tbe titlo was read and agreed to as
follows: "A joint resolution dispen
sing with the services of the person
appointed tinder a resolution of the
House of Heprescntatives, and provi
ding for their payment for the time
they were in servioe."--
Tbe bill was then road tbe third
time, passed, and ordered to be sent
to tho Senate fur concurrence.
Wr. CutMmg'B Treaty.
Thetrcaty mado by General Gushing
with tho Government of Columbia
conccdos to the United Slates the ex
clusive right to construct an Inter
oceanic canal across the Isthmus o(
Darien nt any point which may be
selected by the United States. Tbe
Columbian Government cedes six miles
of the land on each side of the canal
one half for its own benefit, and the
other for that of the party undertaking
the construction ol tho work. The
Columbian Government is to receive
ten per cent, of the net income for the
first ten years, and after the canal is
paid for twenty five per cent, of the
net profits. ' The treaty Is to bo rati,
fled by tho United Slate within ten
months, tho surveys to be mado within
two years aflcr iho ratification, the
canal beirun within five years and fin
ished within fifteen yeurs after the
ratification. otherwise the charterfells.
Tbe charter mus for una ; hundred
years. . ... ..
The canal is to be nndor the control
of the United Stntes. und Congress
can fix the rate of tolls. The naviga.
tion is to be open to all nation in
timeof peace, bat closed to belligerent
who msy seek to avail themselves of
its advantages. It is estimated that
tho canal will cost 8100,000,000. ' A
company was not long ago organlted
in New Tork under a charter of that
Stalo, with Pet onCooper as President.
It is snid ci distinguished authority
thai this company huvo the capital and
Hie ready to commence the work.
Congress, howevor, is at liberty to
give the preference lo this or any rubor
private company or the United
States can itself undertake the con
struction of the canal. Tho treaty
was sent to the Senato on Monday.
Uarrisbvrg Patriot.
' Suhratt to Waits a Book. The
Washington correspondant of Iho Bos
ton Mcratd says : "John II. Surrutti
now in South America, but will return
here in a niclh. ' I learn from one
of bis friends that be has prepnrcd a
full and explicit statement of the con
spiracy which rosnl'.ed in the death of
President Lincoln. In this he denies
all know lcdgoof Hie, assassination plot,
hut confesses freely Ihnt booth nnd
himsolf and others were in a plot to
abduct Mr. Lincoln. lie tloclnres that
Assassination was never spoken nf to
him, and was not agreed on by Booth
and Payne until the night it took
pliire.- Ha further insists on tho en
tiro innocence of his mother, maintains
thnt every cffiirt was made to keep
the abdnciion plot, and says she wse
simply the victim of unfortunate cir
cumstances and the machinations of
the witness Wcichnisn, whoso evi
dence, it will be remembered, caused
Mrs. Suirati's conviction. Surrntt
proposes to tell the good, bnd indif
fcrrent and mnkenalh tnit. He feels,
it is said, that it will he so impartial
and straightforward that it will bo
believed.
A revivalist encountered a lar;o
ised African, and asked him: "Mw
good man, have you found the Lordi '
To which Sambo replied in a surprised
manner : "Golly, massa, am de Lord
loett" , .,
If you are truly benevolent and
charitable, perhaps yon will, when
yon ace a neighbor 'in distress, asli
.nse other neighbor to help him.