Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1819-01-05
FOR THE ENQUIRER.
ON SALARIES

FOR THE ENQUIRER.
ON SALARIES.
The subject, as proposed i'm my last
The snfficiency of legislative, executive
and judiciary compensation. Ii has been
IN part discussed, for think have shewn
that there has been within The last quarter
OF century remarkable depreciation in
the value of money, OF what amounts TO
The same thing, an enormous increase in
The price OF every article of living, making
difference IN each case of at least one
half. This circumstance is conclusive, If
salaries have not been increased in pro-
portion, without taking into view the
"fuctuailon" during the same period "in
the state of society,"" unless indeed il
should appear, that they were originally
too high, by at least one half The latter,
has never been pretended, for although
our toreiathers were IN this respect, GER
tainly not as penurious as their descend
ants, they were never accused, aud coaid
never have been Justly accused Of eatra-
ragance III their grants of money. They
were plain republicans, sensible Of tile
advantages of engaging for the different
departments OF government, faithful and
able administrators, and willing TO engage
them at fair price, but as averse as any
men could be, 10 waste the public trea-
sure IN proluse expenditures.
That salaries during this time, have not
been increased in any thing like the in
verse rate of depreciation, is known 10
every one: but II is not perhaps so gen.
orally understood, that they have either
been stationary or lin one instance, as
has been thought i'm the teeth OF The con-
Sttfnflnnl les 10 tl,tr ,.,,n
he necessary TO take view of The laws on
this subject, applicable TO each branch of
the government: after which, shall con-
clude what have 10 say, with few gem
eral reflections on the present rate of COM
peRsatIon 10 the members of the assem-
bly,, to the executive and the Judges, de-
duced from the peculiar nature and rela-
tive importance of their respective duties.
Previous 10 1895, and at least as far
back as 1870, the wages of the members
of the General Assembly had been 50lb.
of tobacco per day, for attendance, and
two pounds per mile, for travelling. In
the year 1905. the tobacco allowance was
commuted 10 money one offs 80 per day,
for attendance, and cents mile for ira
yelling. The preamble 10 the act, reeog-
nizes the justice of the members claim,
"to have their reasonable expences paid,
whilst transacting the legislative bust
ness" and assigns as one reason for the
passage oft, ihatit was expedient that
the public councils should not be depriv-
ed OF The aid OF good and able men, who
might be deferred from entering into them
by the insufhciency of their private for
tunes to bear the extraordinary expences
they must necessarily incur" This sum
OF was tried for three sessions only,
for IN that OF 1899, -" ii being found by ex-
perience," as the act recites, that the wag-
es were insufficient for their support"
! they were raised tos - per day land mile
| age as heretofore" And so they have
| continued 10 the present time that is, foI
near twenty years.
| In 1871 the governor was allowed a sal.
AIRY of + lCO0,$io commence January
| 1882, and iIe privy councillors, t. 5000
| 10 be divided among them. In 1892. they
| we're reduced 10 $500 and 6 1000 respec.
| lively, but in four years after, viz. i'm I7e6
| the governors allowance was again RAISED
to The former sum of e 1000, whilst TN,
councillors continued at 1000, until tn,
last session of the legislature, when il wa.
| increased to 2400.
| II IS here 10 be observed, that when tb,
salaries OF these officers were fixed il
i7Sl, II was after the paper money reigI
was over, and when it had ceased TO b,
"a legal tender in the payment of nh,
debt or contract whatsoever" II was 10,
at period of great distress and financia
embarrassment on the part of the state
and when specie, from its scarcity, va
exceedingly valuable. under sucl
dlsconraglng circumstances, almost max
ing parslmony a virtue, the great mel
who then presided over our councils. dit
not hesitate 10 make an allowance. onl
equalled sIuce IN one case, and i'm "a
other, fallen short Of by e 500, notwiill
standing The country is ten times as rich
aud specie moi half so valuable. The oil,
provision for lie executive deparimeni
taking all circumstances into view, wa
liberal, was ample and We know viii
what ability il was filed. Taking tli
chance OF vacancies ia The council,
councillors pay was equal 10 f $50 o
+ 500, which gave him tic same command
| over The nectssaries, convenipnces an,
Injuries OF life. that 900 or 1000 would a
this day, and consequently Tic station
was an object of ambition, moi merel, {,
young, inexperienced men, totally unskil
led in business, and ignorant OF siaie al
fairs, but iO sober, s.sid, experienced ci
tzeus, with families, whose principles Ina,
been tried ia other situations, aud wl,
had passed The chargeiul and expc rinen
tai time OF life. II the office IL nieudef
TO give stability aud steadness TO Tie ex
J ecuiiye department, should imagiue 4