Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1831-03-08
THE RICHMOND ENQUIRER.
WAGES AND SALARIES.


The following 10 Voice OF a spectacle Ciz en- be-
yond the Mountains. Understanding IN al there is some
intention OF renewing the proposition for asng he
Governors salary, as is there ia nobny i'm
the constitution to debar the present Governor from
the proposed augmentation, his Office commencing
before the 3lst March, have deter mned to Law the
suggestions oil our Correspondent before readers
II the Committee would only summon some of the
Citizens OF Richmond before them, in order TO ascer-
tain the expence OF living this City, we re ally think
the Legislature would be convinced that the present.
ealary Is inadequate TO the accommodation of the Co.
vernon, 1t must have the effect of separating him
from his alny.-We have little hesitation in say-
ing that We differ essentially from respectable Cor
respondent, as to the Members wages They are
already low enough-too low, in opinion, to com.
peDsate them for their separation from their families
and their homes. Many OF The Members of the pre-.
sent Lei slature about retire 10 private
Unquesionaby one Leading consideration is the small
ness of their wages.-We agree with the writer per
feetly, as to al increase of the Judges Salaries No
Branch Of the Government ought TO be go we'll 6II.d
no part OF the machinery ought to be kept well po-
lisbed and perfect, as the judiciary department.
Unless the talents Of the bench equal If not supe
Tior, TO those OF the bar, the decisions OF the Court
will always be huctuaiing-aways liable TO error and
but little calculated TO command thu confidence of the
People The Salary oaght always to be sufficient TO
command the best legal taients in the country.
FOR THE ENQUIRER
To the Legislature Of pIginia
Being an old man, aud unable to bear exposure TO
thu cold and SHOWS of the present season. have been
confined to the House; and amongst other things have
be eliminating on the pay Of the memb RS of your
body-whch, must say, considering the hardness OF
the times, is most exorbltan In this opinion can as.
YOU am not singular-for, will venture to saw
it s the sentiment Of nineteen enehs of the com.
mupi,y. When the old Constitution was FIRST organ.
lied, the pay was ten shilngs per day-af,erwards il
was raised to S2-at which II stood for some time
when II was advanced TO $3-and finally TO GA
which II now stands. The reason given for this pro.
gressive advance, was the expences of living; which
had increased Ia about the proportion The peo-
pie therefore, satisfied that their
should be paid 10 proportion TO the rise which had Ia
ken place in the price Of their produce and the adj
vance in the rate oil living consequent thereupon. A.
these were the reasons assigned Tor raising the pay
which the people admitted 10 bs Just, woulI ask -
why IL 10, that the wages now kept up, when
every thug has fallen more than one haf-and when
the Farmer and Planter finds the greatest difficulty iu
making both ends meeH Is there any justice in IL!
Why should the representative aud the constituent moi
bear alike, the unexamped pressure OF the umes'
IL has been assorted in the House, that The
is uncalled for-thet there are p t.0n5-a why!
Because il was confidently believed that this, the fret
Legislature uoder our new Constitution, would have
taken the sut set up and acted upon in such
as TO have RENO, ed complaint. From the universal
disposition manifested in The State for REFORM and thf
high character OF the present LsgslAture the people
had right TO make this calculations; but they have
been sadly Disappointed. The question has already
been decided against them. II seems their silence ba
been construed into acquiescsnce. IL this be the
depend uPoo II, there will he .tons enough laid OF
your table the next year have said that the per diem
pay Of the members, al The time the old Cons tutor
went into operation, ten shngs; which, Al
that day, considered, doubt, quite adequate.
this time the price Of every thing IL as low II wa
thsn-but, notwithstanding this, would not Tedue
the wages as low as they were al that time. woul,
be liberal, aud add twenty per cent. thereto; which
would be equal to 81 per dsy-msking Sl4 per week
When the price OF gontesl board can be had in Rich
moud, at 81 per week, would ask If the other 81
not enough TO pay all reasonable expences--for d
contend that no'biog more than necessary exPence
ough, 10 be required. II gentlemen Of high legs
a,tsinmen,s are TO have such compensation as TO ndem
nifty them for hsir pesuniary losses, whilst engaged n
the business OF their country by what standard wsuI
you estimate those lo,ssR Talk 10 them about 81 pc
day and they would laugh at you No--ihey ar
governed by motives ip6oitsly hgbsr--ibe advance