Monongalia mirror. [volume] (Morgantown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1855, 1852-04-24
Virginia Legislature.
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HOUSE OF DELEGATES:
Friday, April 8, 1855.

House had proposed all amendment,
and to which the Senate disagreed,
was taken up, and, on motion Of Mr.
Leake, laid upon the table.
COM MtsstoNERs OF ritz BOARD OF rpB.
Lie WORKS.
The bill districting the State 70,
Commissioners of the Board of Pub
lie Works, providing for their cleo
ton, &C., was read the third time
A motion made by Mr.. Jackson to re-
consider the vote ordering the bill to
be engrossed, was rejccted-ayes 81,
noes Ga.
The I'd section Of the bill contains
this clause: Elections shall be held
by the qualified voters of their re.
spective counties cities and towns,
composing each of said districts, on
the - Thursday in - next, for
the election in each district of Com
missioner Of the Board Of Public
Works"
Mr.. Price moved to All the blanks
with the words, "4th Thursday in
August" Mr.. Taliaferro, with the
9th Thursday in May" and Mr..
Jackson Of Pleasants and Ritclie
with Tuesday, before the LIST day in
November"
The question was taken upon the
last proposition, which was adopted
ayes 10, noes 81.
The saiiie bill contained this clause:
lathe said Commissioners shall each
receive compensation of = dol.
lars per annum for their services, and
shall be paid all NECESSARY travelling
expenses incurred in attending to the
business of their office, which shall be
paid quarterly, as in the case Of other
public officers"
Mr.. Martz titoved to fll the blank
with 81, 500, Mr.. Taliaferro with ST..
600, Mr.. lmboden with $4,000 and
MIR. Echols with sl,250.
The votes upon the several propo:
sitions were as follow, Upon that Of
SO, ,500-ayes 6, noes lis. Upon that
of 81, ,000i ayes 20, noes 81. /,
Mr.. Med stated that he would
mot have said a word, had it not been
for the remarks he had just heard
from the distinguished gentleman
from Grccnbrier, (Mr. Price). He
differed from him in believing that no
man could be found who was compe.
tent to perform the duties ofa member
of the Board of Public Works fol
less than $500 or $4,000 per year
He was satisfied that the best talen,
of the State could be commanded fol
a less sum than $500. Fix the sala
ry at such figure that there will no
be scramble for it, for the sake o
the spoils of office. There are now
perhaps, a greater number Of candi
dates for this Board than was ever be
fore dreamed of; and tell me not tha
it is mere patriotism, that causes thi:
rush on the treasury. All over the
commonwealth the press Is grbanine
with the announcements Of venera.
BILE politicians, who have been dead
and buried for twenty years; by some
means these dead have scented an Of
fee in the distance, supposed to have
desirable perquisites attached, and al.
so patronage to dispense to their liv-
ing relatives; and hence tho anxiety
Of these persons to rise from hedead.
1t is evident that the host of persons
named for the Board of Public Works,
is caused by an expected large salary;
and for one, he would disappoint them.
and the list would be diminished, and
none but men who desired to distin-
guish themselves in the service of the
State, would remain candidates,
Mr.. Mcdonald further stated, that
living, as he did, on the border of
Pennsylvania, he had learned some
thing Of the system there. The time
once was in that State when the ca'
nal commissioners did not receive a
dollar of compensation, except OK.
penses; and having the honor Of be-
inc the second officer of the govern.
ment was sufficient to make it itsought.
Under the new system in Pennsylva.
mia, they receive Sd per day and en-
penses, and that pay commands the
hest talent of that state; and within
a few weeks Presidential nomina-
ton was roconciled by canal COM
missioner given to minority. He
trusted tha. with those facts Of the sys.
TEN elsewhere, this House would not
vote 81, 800 per year, to, we know not
whom, nor for what services; with a
discretion as to travelling expenses,
that would keep the commissioners
travelling over the commonwealth in.
cessantly.
Mr.. Martz moved to fiji the blank
with the words 81 600, and Mr.. Speed
with "$l,sG0." Each Of these mo.
tons was decided in the negative.
MI. Preston then proposed the sun
of $780," Mr.. West that Of 81, AGO
and Mr.. Keyser the sum of "SlOO.'
Each of these motions was defeated
The question then REQUIRED upon