Richmond daily Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1842-1861, 1847-02-13


committed in any other department OF the Government
nay, in the legislative department. II tho abuse had
been confined to members OF political psrty-thcrc
would not have been patriots wanting proclaim over
and 10 the dear people But the abuse was
in the legislative department and participated BY
bcs OF both parties, no member OF Congress found
10 move enquiry into the matter That there fault
somewhere, will deny II the law as il is now
permits such thing, IL ought be amended n IL does
not the money improperly paid should be returned But
no member Of Congress takes upon himself enquire
whether the fault in the law the administration
the law. The abuse is allowed without tho least attempt
to proven, ITS rcpeuon and need be surprzed If
the same thing should occur again lsi9 We have had
nothing heretofore bad this, the part OF members
OF the General Assembly Of Virginia. Let take
that there be nothing like it hereafter.
The trainers OF the amended Constitution Of Virginia
nave done what they could to prevent members o the As
sembly from cgislang increase their pay beyond
what their immediate predecessors received for like Pc
Rod of service The trainers Of the Constitution had not
in 1929 forgotten the Of Congress OF March 1876 which,
instead OF the compensation before allowed by law pro-
sded that there should be paid annually the Speaker Of
the House of Representatives $1,000, and every other
member OF the House and every Senator : 500, with
provision for reduction proportion the time OF alb
scncc. At the session the repealed in defer
enee TO tho voice OF the people, by whom greatly
dSaPprovcd. But the members o Congress who passed
the law retained the benefit OF 1t until tho end OF their
term The repeating act, passed at the second session.
took effect only from the end OF that session. Remember
ing that and its history. the legislative committee of The
Virginia Convention recommended amongst other re.on.
lions, the following That the members of the LeRisla-
ture shall receive for their services compensation TO be
aseerianed by law and paid of the public treasury
aOi
the Legislature shall take effect until fAs cad the nert
annual session after the said law may been
One, at first view might suppose enough prevent
law increasing the compensation OF members from taking
effect until the end OF the enacted
IN other words, might objection letting take
effect from the Of the next annual
But the trainers Of the Constitution looked little farther.
IL occurred To them las indeed could fail to occur 10
them after the acts OF Congress before mcnonedO that
law might pass increasing the of membe,
that the people at the ensuing election might dsapprove liz
and II in force from the M Of tho
next session. members elected by the people repeal IT,
would be receiving pay under from commencement
OF the session until the repeating took eect and there
would be bias upon them which might either prevent
them from being in hurry pass the repeating law or if
they passed IT, might losd them TO take effect
only from the close Of the session. Hence we see tina,
when The resolution before mentioned under considers
ton IN the Virginia Convention, o. 7O7 OF the Debates.
Mr.. Clayton moved to amend 1t by striking the word
end and Inserting the word commandment But on
suggestion by Mr. Coaier that the object to prevent
the Legislature from being under tho bias OF
salary when they their vote, he withdrew his amend
mcnt. and the resolution agroed to-"
No material change made in the solution Ii form,
part Of the sh section of the 81 of the Constu
ton. in these words:
The members Of the General Assembly shall receive
Tor their compensation be asceained by law
and paid out OF the public but law increasing
the compensation OF members shall take effect until the
end OF The merit annual session after such law shall have
been enacted "
What is the compensation, other than mileage which
the members OF the General Assembly receive tor
their services for the session OF 1861 ascesned by
lawl This Is regulated by the acts ct Jany = 1919
q r. C. ?. l66) and Jany g. lsi4 Sess. Acts 1891 D.
20 ch Jo) Under the former II Sc per day for the
Speaker OF the senate per day for the Speaker tho
House OF Delegates and 81 per day for every other mem.
Der, for each days attendance. The latter provides tina,
after the expiration OF IS days from the commencement OF
the session, the pay OF the Speakers the two Houses shall
be reduced 81 per day and the pay of the Other mem
bers shall be reduced 50 per day
Su was the compensation ascoTtancd by law for the
session OF lSii-5 and that Of 1856; and such IL Ike
wso the compensation by a for that of ls467
Ii IS true, iha by OF Feb 20 1876 that of sl4
Ses' acts lel5-6 p. 81, repealed and under the
act Of Feb 1916, after passage thereof as NAV
be consistent with the Constitution the pay of enbers
70 continue at the prescribed by the act of 1919 for
30 days from the of the session and afr
the expiration OF the % days, the pay the Speakers
10 be reduced to 81 per day and the paw of the oilr
members 10 s. per day. But the OF Feb l6 can
not under the Constitution, take effect as TO increase
the compensation OF members until The end OF session
OF lsiGT Untl iha, time. cannot 50 take effect A. In
give them more than they would have received If il had
not passed
What will be the compensation which the members Of
the General Assembly may receive for their services for
the session OF lsiI-s 1t will be according to the act Of
Feb lei6-that Is 10 So per day for Speaker Of
the Senate, IS per day Tor the Speaker e tho House and
81 per day Tor every other member, 80 days from tile
commencement OF ihe session. and after the expiration Of
the 10 days, the pay will be at the reduced before
mentioned.
This subject under the consideration of the Rev
Of the Civil Code and adycrted TO bv them in mole
TO the 18th section OF the 18th chapter at D. IS The law
reducing the pay after 30 days there referred to in these
terms: II the sole object Of the law adopting this rule
| o thc
son by or about the time at which the reduced rate Of
pay commences, the law be regarded as a total
failure But i worthy Of serious consideration whe-
her the saving thus effected in the expense Of the Cen
sra. Assembly, - counerbalanced by the injury r.
suuug from the increase - crude legislation :, r.,
IRON the laws passed OF late years being a. improvement
upon those OF our ancestors, they be more aud
more wanting IN cearness precision aud method And
the wonder IS not that many questions arise a. 10 the
meaning OF the Legislature but we escape with s
Jew such questions az we do. How Improvement
TO DO etrced Not, % u.s. by proyi.ion v,b5
causes the great bulk OF the laws passed every session
'i To be hurried through close Of session yyib,u
'eyen being read IN the Assembly. Defective Legislation
" = the natural consequence such course IJp,n I'M,
whole seems best to Us that the words 10 tales should
" be omitted. And inasmuch the Constitution fart
- % provides that no law increasing the compensation
" OF members shall take effect until The end Of "a, n,
annual session after such law shall have been enacted
- we recommend that this subject be acted upon Al the
present session IL important that this be done in n,
- der that the Assembly should got through with m
revision during the next session. iis sucrnedp, se
" should bn unifammsed to its Duration"
The subject has already been acted on IN the House Of
De'2'e' an1 some OF the members supp Ise that
they get the increased compensation tor their services
a. TINS session This Is great mistake. No law passed
al this session can 90 take effect increase thc compn
saon OF members for services this session. beyond hnt
they would have received II such law had not beep ,n,r
ed. And would be Just cause for concern and rsg,e,
IT, after the passage OF such a law any r1cmbor Of Tho
Assembly should under certificate procured from the
Clerk o either House lhodng his office no the pleasure OF
the House. or under wauan, procured from the Firt
Auditor, 'ho.drg his Office az the pleasure II the General
Assembly, receive any greater pay Than he would have
received u such law had not passed. IT, indeed members
OF The Assembly after deliberately examining the subject
fhai really think they can consistently with the Cons
Ton receive day after ~ days. and desire 10 receive
~ lei them suggest o. the Frs, Auditor he u not car
a. TO 'he" hgh' to dsaow tho claim that the matter
may be wocucd to Judge EsJ,,isoa for his dcc,ioD-
Being no" In session ho would decide the matter ar once
Ana hrs decision should be- satisfactory the C1ur,
OF Appeas' which 30 in session, once either ai I'M
| or rcvHftc
Let not members Of the Gcncf, Assembly exhibit them.
selves az takers Of rcy from tho treasury IN ola and
pl'pabc violation Of tho Con'ti'uton Lot not this ,cc
taeo be exhibited by General Assembly which ~ 90
generally 10 adopt pfcambos ADD resolutions On the suc
OF the violation by Congress Of the Constitution Of the
United Siica.
The wner' having concuucd IN the recommendation oi
e foysof', me- scarcely Soy that be would not have he
east pWecn o. Tue members receiving day for every
oy hey might md necessary Ell, 90 this session II Ii
could eousuuuonlly be done but be has an utter ard
insurmounabo uyefson violation Of the Constitution
about tuch a matter. a.