Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1841-1853, 1843-12-19

f struction of the records of Miami county,
Mr.. Sands offered an amendment SO as TO have but one
agent on the New Albany and Yincennes Road, and also
fixing his compensation.
Tie amendment was debated by Messrs. Davis of d.
and NJ, Sands, Ewing, and Davis Of f. and the question
being put on the amendment Of Mr.. Sands, was decided
IN the negative-ayes %, noes q.
Mr.. Cornett moved that the per diem allowance of
Door Keeper shall not exceed the per diem allowance of
the members of the Legislature, which was adopted.
Adjourned.
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES,.
Mr.. German asked and obtained leave to record his vote
in favor Of the indefinite posiponement of the bill, repeal
isg a part of a certain act Of Incorporation, taken on Sat
urday evening, repeating the individual liability principle.
Mr.. German, on leave, introduced a bill TO reduce the
salaries Of the Governor and certain officers of State
fixing the salary Of the Governor at 81 800 judges of the
Supreme CoHrt 81 800 each Circuit Judges $500 Sec
retaryof State $500 Treasurer of State 81 900 Auditor
of State 81 GOO; State Agent $1,000 and expenses the
law allowing clerk hire to Auditor and Treasurer of 1900
each TO be repealed alss the allowance of $500 for clerk
hire 10 the Secretary of State members of the LegisIa-
ture TO receive 50 per day for the first five weeks of the
session, and 81 so per day for The remainder, and three
dollars for every twenty-five miles traveI in going to and
returning from seat Of government as mileage.
MIR. Blakemore moved TO strike out SO much as relates
to the salaries of the Supreme and Circuit Judges which
motion did not prevail. Ayes Is, noes SO.
Mr.. Moore moved to strike out one thousand dollars as
the salary of the State Agent and insert eight hundred
which amendment was adopted, ayes 81, noes Is.
Mr.. Blakcmore moved to strike out so much as relates
TO the pay of members, and insert that they shall receive
81 per day for the whole session, and 10 apply TO the pre-
sent session.
Mr.. German said, tina, the quarter from which this
amendment came, showed that it did not come from a
friend of retrenchment and economy. The mover having
previously made an amendment striking out the reduction
Of salaries Of two officers. The part of the bill, applying
to members, he was convinced, would result in a short
session, thereby producing a reduction of expenses in every
thing connected with legislation.
Mr.. Blakemore favored his amendment and said, that
he considered the salaries of the judiciary low enough al
ready, as competent men could not be procured, If re-
duced.
Mr. Gregory moved to amend, so as to strike every
thing from the bill in relation to the compensation of the
members of the present General Assembly.
Mr. Gregory insisted on his amendment on constitution
al grounds.
Mr. Macy favored the amendment Of the gentleman
from Cass (Mr. Blakemore) So far as the judges of the
Supreme and Circuit Courts were concerned, he would
rather increase than reduce their salaries but he was in
favor of making the pay of members uniform throughout
the session, and would be willing TO reduce to 50 per day.
Mr.. SimoEson favored the provision of the bill allowing
three dollars per day for the first five weeks and one dol
lar and fifty cents for the balance Of the time. The peo-
pie Of the State had been loud in their requests for short
sessions He had been Of opinion, that the ordinary bu-
siness of n session might be performed in six weeks bat
was willing to the bill as it stood, as one dollars and fifty
cents would be sufficient to pay expenses.
Mr.. Foley opposed the amendment TO the amendment
in a speech of some length when.
III. .ualheny moved the previous question which be-
ing seconded, was put. 70 wit! Shall the main question
be now put! and decided in the affirmative, ayes 81,
noes Is.
The bill was then ordered to be engrossed by a vote Of
ayes "a. noes 4.
A motion was then made by Mr.. Edmonson to dispense
with the rules and read the bill a third time.
III. Edmonson remarked, that this was a case Of ur-
gency, inasnuch as it was well ascertained, tia. no cleo
} ton for State officers would take place until this bill
passed.
III. Mcdonald claimed to be heard in opposition to a
I suspension of the rule. It was not his intention to make
speeches for Buncombe. When he descended TO that, be
was well convinced his constituents would keep him at
home 10 hear them themselves. But consid, ring that a
. suspension of the rule, in the present instance, would be
! a violation OF the Constitution, and make him a peIjurcd
man, if he voted for it, he was compelled to oppose the
motion. No considerations of party or policy could induce
him TO violate his oath Of Office.
!, The vote was then taken on a suspension Of the rule
and decided in the affirmative. ayes 20, noes 30.
The bill was then read a third time.
Il lii. Parker's health would not permit him, on this &C.
n casion, to make a speech satisfactory to himself or with
: any degree Of pleasure 70 the House; but this was an i'm
d portant measure, aud be could not vote for the bill under
d consideration. With regard TO the Supreme Bench it was
a fact, well known, shat one of our Judges had recently
declined the appointment of a lfe-ofEce worth a thousand
e. dollars a year, and requiring but little labor in comparison
to the duties of a Supreme Judge. He would not accept,
because the saleTy would not support himself and family.
He declined that Office, knowing at The same time, that he
held his present station by an uncertain tenure from he
Legislature. There might not, perhaps, be the same dan
ger in %tampering with the salaries Of other Of our State Of
&c hcers, although there was great danger here but with re-
gard 10 the judiciary, there was danger of driving talent
and integrity from our courts and having the bench filed
with third or fourth rate petiifoggers. He was well as
II SQfeU udt nNf was BOT o a Single OnfCe III II DtdNc
where the duties were well performed, that the salary
l., was too high. Gentlemen at a distance could not COM
pete for The offices at the seat of government, without III
lining themselves. But there was another view Of The
lie subject, more important TO his own mind. Men woult
live, and money would be obtained by indirection, if no
"a. directly given hem.
.Jf. Wright favored the passage of the bill, and wa
Ia surprised at the course of gentlemen who would vote &
reduce the compensation of members Of the House, anC
an oppose a reduction Of others because il would drive talen
from the public service. Night not the same principle
nd apply to members of this body Is it not as essentia
that the people should be well represented here, as in tn
I "Sf other Offices.
i Mr. BlakemoYe said he had moved an amendment wit
he regard to members of the Legislature and the Judges o
ne The courts. and had failed in his effort, still he would voi
sht for The bill.
.1h. .HcDoncld would give some reasons for his voi
the against this bin. He desired to do so. because this Nigh
be bis last session, for be had no doubt that there were d
maeogues in the country that would treasure up this voi
to be urged against him. He entered into an argument
oil considerable length TO show, that the bill was unconstit'
tionaL. With regard to policy, this bill was essential
aP- aristocra,ic, and would be calculated to drive the poor ma
aus from public stations, unless men obtained Offices for 9TH
aus purposes than The public interest. He referred 10 the la
' Governor, who be was informed retired from Office will
A., out scarcely ODy thing over his expenses for the time speT
~ While in Office. He said there was a Kind of horse-ra
KS. competition between the two political parties in favor
the bill.
EN- MI. Barrett favored the passage of the bill, and replied
the the arguments Of the gentleman from Porter AID Lake al
en- the gentleman from Fayetie. He referred to the prices
ON produce, &c, FIVE years ago, when the gentlemen would a
NIT we had talent an our pubic oInces, with those oil te pr
sent time, which he consiieled a sufficient reason TO indui
ieH him 10 vote for a reduction Of salaries.
Mr.. Safer supported the passage Of the bill. lie referr
to the fact that but a few years ago the salaries Of our pub
officers were much lower than provided in this bill, and VIII;
said he. was the character OF our public Sihee's we
thev moi capable and honest Did not our State then sta
high in credit and high m character? This will be admitts
per But about TINS Ilme, certain pO NV ion ~. .vJA ~, - ." salaries we
raised. and what was the consequence? A set OF men we
rke, Taught mo eS ~ EsSstae who have brousht ruin up
len ~ : ~ - 10, going back m tac old state of thin,
n5;ss 80 hsf,re Indiana lost her high character for D:
odd, desce ;o,sg,i,y and honor. So far as making speeches a
acting for Buncombe were concerned, he would remark, Il
f j., il was sIxavs IN reference to the people he represented n
NJ, he made snceches on this floor; and he trusted that he wo'
Mil eysr ooo,;ru 10 have their interests in mind. If mcmb