Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1859-11-11

meni The former superintendent received bui $1,000
Mr. Fdgcrt0n but $50 III had been informed that ~
towers dd not receive S10VO AZ the time ne as,uns9
office Of supcnicndenti but rs he had sol he d'd not
deem this n any Importance We pay small salaries 70
all officers The House ayersc, and the people
Of the State averse paving their officers great
salaries He did not deem il lust right aud prudent to
pay the named In the bill, and felt that his CON
suiucnts aud the people at large would not sustain US
Mr. Hunton said he aid not put this on the ground Of
what Mt Powers could have got for his services hut inc
value Of them. How much former superintendent had
received was no criterion for u.s. The value OF snch
services had advanced The committee did not think
that the amount was too large some indeed thought u
too small DR. Powers had expected more. VIII this
House be smali II would be- honorable pay him fair
compensation He hoped that the House would do IT,
self the Justice TO vote commensurate with the
oucrous duties and very valuable services Of the super
intcndent.
Mr. Sherwood or Fairfield remarked that This matter
had been talked over much among tho members, and
among the people. Tie bad been inquing what the ex
traofdinafy qualities Of DR. Powers were; and said he
what are they Why he found that they lay in his
ability 20 hire mechanics low wages, and purchase ms
tcrias at low price. But now, in making out his own
bndoes he make small bill No, but he asks The sum
Of s6'325; This monstrous Mr. Powers why Dr Pow.
ers and all the other powers on Gods earth, would NOT
make him vote for the bill.
Mr. Myers Of Jamaica opposed the bin, firstly because
there was statement OF facis secondly because a
joint resolution had been adopted TO- raise committee 10
examine The accounts Of the superintendent and 10 70
port on The same lie thought would pc wen 70 wan
Tor the report OF that committee He was ready 20 pay
fair and lust compensation, but not to pay bounty
liz alluded to mistakes IN construction which were some
what expensive and which he thought should be on ele-
in fixing the salary n this officer They certainly
fell within the scope Of Investigation n this matter II
his wish TO render fair and equitable judgment TO
Mr. Omsicd hoped that the matter Of salary would not
he mixed up with other thiugswith what the supcrn
tendent could have had iu some other business OF WIN
the matter Of building lie did not think the Committee
should have admitted evidence 90 what Mr. T. might
have obtained Tor bis services. He believed that the
true basis which 10 establish this slary was the woH
uf The services rendered Nj had not been forced into
this Office. when he accepted it there something
else in bis mind than dollars and cents. He ought 20
have fair ompcnsaton II he had made mistakes. 1t
of no in fixing the pay for bis lahors But
the single question Is. what the services r0fhf Is
this only by comparison Of Mr. Powers services with
those NJ other men.
Mr. Stafford of Springfield had not intended 70 speak on
this bill, but had been requested 90 do Tie thought
Mr. loungs salary, Of which mention had been made,
was no criterion. lie young man. and made his
in the erection OF the former house he but the
architect not The superintendent He had heard ihc SUI
porntcndcuts of the court houses az Rutland and Wind
mentioned in connection with MI Powers. They re-
cci,cd s. per day for their services butho knew tha
their llhors not for moment 20 be compared
with those OF Mr. ia respect To magnitude, difficulty
aud responsibility. He believed that Mr. Powers bad
made as few mistakes any would have madci al
men were liable to err. Mr. Young had made signal
mistake In the construction Of the Senate chamber n the
old State House The Sl20 per year the sum proposed
in the amendment was % mere salary NJ clerk Lncr-
atty and generosity required more Of the House than
that. We owe to Mr. Powers, in great degree, the cN
oecnco and the beauty OF this State House the despa ch
and the moderate expense with which 10 has been built
Mr. then closed by allusion to the delicate and re-
sp0nsibo duties of the superintendent 10 bio being sub
jeotcd 10 continual criticism and repeated Investigations
into the matters pertaining to the building OF the house
Pending the adoption Of Mr. Aliens amendment, the
House adjourned.