Democrat and sentinel. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1853-1866, 1855-02-22
Compensation of Membersand officers of the
Legislatures

Some days ago bill passed the Senate, re-
gulating the pay of members and officers of the
Legislature, which, in our Judgment. will prove
to be an efectual bar to long sessions, and, we
may say. extravagant Legislation.
The first section of the bill repeals all acts
heretofore passed in relation to the compensa-
ton of members and officers. and makes the bill
under consideration apply to the members and
officers of the present Legislature.
The second third and fourth sections fix
the compensation of members at five hundred
dollars per annum, and ten cents per mile cir
'cular for their expenses in going to and re-
turning from each regular, adjourned and ex-
ira session, and also gives to each fifteen dol
lars for stationary and lights
= The fifth section regulates the compensation
of the Speakers of the House and Senate, by
giving them. in addition to the salery of five
hundred dollars EACH the SUM of fifty dollars.
The sixth section authorizes the payment to
each member, at all extra sessions, the sum of
three dollars per day, when such session is
called BY the Executive. and when not. the sum
of but one dollar and fifty cents per day.
The seventh section declares that no mern-
Der shall receive pay for the days he is absent,
unless such absence has been. caused by sick
ness Of himself or family. or by attending TO
duties assigned him by the Legislature; and
it also makes it obligatory upon the chief
clerks of the respective Houses to keep cor
rect and accurate account of such absence, and
to file a statement, not only with the Commit
tee ON accounts, but also with the Auditor
General
The eighth section regulates the compensa-
ton of officers The chief, assistant and trans
cribing clerk are to receive each three dollars
per day, and an annual salary the chief clerk
of four hundred and the others one hundred
and fifty dollars each. The other officers are
to receive two dollars per day each.
We look upon this bill as most excellent
one In the first place it gives to members
an annual salary of five hundred dollars each,
and as this amount viii be paid tc them wheth-
cr the session be long or short. it makes no
difference to the people if their representatives
remain in session from one years end to the
other, except, indeed, it be aon account of the
bad Legislation which might be enacted. In
the second place. all other compensation is cut
off, and members as we'll as officers have but
to look to the salary which the law authorizes
and nothing more. 1t is well known that
when members find they are only to obtain a
certain specified amount as their winter S
wages, they are not the men to stay moment
longer than what absolute necessity requires.
In this respect it would be very good law.
and be saving to the people OF large
amount of money, besides bad Legislation.
So far as clerks and officers are concerned,
we never did think they were paid what their
services required. They are the men who do
all the work and receive the least pay. Il is
mistake to suppose that such policy is the
spirit of economy 1t is the very reverse; for
instead of having good efscers and clerks,
they arc often very incompetent. Pay men
to fho Mill ho
the efficiency of the officers The people OF
Pennsylvania do not wish that economy which
requires man to work for nothing. Not at
all. What they want is to prevent the expen-
diture of large sums of the public money in
useless objects. and not attempt economy by
taking twenty-five cents from the daily pay of
one who labors faithfully for the public Re-
form is good thing but it should commence
at the right place, ,---Democratic L5sion