The Jeffersonian Democrat. [volume] (Chardon, Ohio) 1854-1865, 1862-05-02

lowot than that of any other. With count,
| officers as now paid, taking the average o
the counties of tho State, il bears no com
parison, and with tho proposed reduction,
IN regard TO those officers. IL will thon Le
less. This is mado evident with greater
force, when we consider the fact that thei,
duties are discharged by those officers a,
home, without extra expense, separation
from families or neglect Of private business
While tho member of the General Assembly
IS compelled to go from homo, subjected 80
all tho additional expenses consequent upnn
the position, as we'll US those incurred which
are necessarily larger by temporary resi-.
donce at tho Capital. To this is added ths
loss inevitable from tho interruption OF
business to which ho is subjected, to engage
IN that which is to occupy his timo but for
brief period.
The mileage allowed members is un.
necessarily high, being fixed at the same
amount for twenty-five miles travel as for
one days per diem. This has been the poll.
cy Of tho State since its admission, excep,
for the few years before referred to. Ii was
adopted when the country was new. tho
roadsbad. and facilities for travelling mearre
and insufficient, aud was a following out of
tho system previously adopted in Congress.
The systom of paying mileage is ono liable
to abuse, and have thought much of the
propriety of entirely abandoning it, but
without finding sufficient reason for recon.
mending this course. Wore all at equal
distance from the Capital and subject 10
equal expense in reaching it, there would
bo moro reason in this, but as it is. we can
only, III this, bOpe to make tho pay of mem.
bgTa anHrnarh nniforn,;t.
purpose the present rate is too high. its
effect being to give those at the greater
distance the greater pay. The law now
gives members four dollars por day for
overy tweuty. five miles travel. This. with
the present facilities for travel, should be
reduced at least one half, which reduction
is proposed in the substitute before the
Senate.
Previous to 1884 no separate detailed
statement Of expenditures was kept and
published, and therefore, although it is easy
TO determine the total amount of Lrgisla-
tive expenses from year to year, from the
formation of the State Government. we
cannot determine the amount annually paid
Tor mileage except from tho time above re-
ferrod TO. For seven successive Sessions.
holden from 1854 TO 1861 inclusive. the
average amount paid for mileage at each
session was $5,2S7 Plan average to each
member of little less than $4,000. Under
the present rule of appo-tioument, fixing
tho number Of members, the average in any
ten years will not vary much from this es.
timate. By the reduction proposed, it would
amount to 81 CAB SO, an average of about
$1,000, which will be amply sufficient to nav
travelling expenses, aud accomplish the
object aimed at, of making those residing in
distant parts of the State equal with those
residing near the Capital 1t will bo borne
in mind that this will DO nearly or quito
doubled in some instances, whilo those re-.
siding at tho Capital receive nothing.
The first General Assembly of the State
met in 1903, holding a session of forty.sevon
days. at per diem compensation of S2
per day, amounting to S94 10 each mem ber
The hrst eight years, including 1910. the
sessions averaged seventy and one. fourth
days, at the same compen sation, amounting
in an average to each member annually,
$l4O 90. For ten years ending with 1920.
the sessions averaged seventy and one-tonIh
days, at an average compensation of 70 so
per day, amounting, as before, to $l75 25
per member The next decade ending with
1880, contained an average of sixty.eiph
DAYS, compensation So so, amounting TO
Slso 4o The ton years ending with 1870.
had an average continuance of sessions of
one hundred and one aud four.tenths days,
a. W per day, amounting to S304 20 to
each member. The next ton years closing
with 1850, the sessions averaged ninety.
eight and eght-tonths days, at an average
OF S2 ~ per day, making an amount of
$266 76 Tho last ten sessions closing with
1861, averaged one hundred and soyen and
nine-tenths daysat SO 90, making a average
of por diem to each member for each yoar,
of 1920 81.
By tho substitute proposed the annual
amount to be paid each member is $3.50 90,
which is reduction upon the average
amount of per diem paid members under
the new Constitution of $40 81. Add to
this $40 70 on account of the reduction
made by one session ia the last decade
holden at S3 10 per day, and it makes Ssl-
5l, which added to the amount proposed to
be saved in mileago,as before noticed, makes
the round sum of 500 90 saved to each
which with the General Assembly
of ono hundred aud forty mem
bers, which is just about the average for the
ten years, undsT the new apportiontment.
'hN " u" oBe'ososO ouNiHB W
Or in each year in which session is holden.
Of Sl4 1000, estimating sessions of the same
ength as the average of the last ten wears.
II the sessions be shortened thereby. as has
been before remarked there is the additional
saving in the necessary per diem to be paid
officers and other unavoidable incidental
expenses.
Should the amendment proposed by tho
Senator from Lawrence, (Mr. NeaI,) prevail.
/ will make still further saving of $50 20
10 each member. and in the aggregate So, =.
is u little more than one-third
1f tho whole amount of average per diem
and mileage paid in the last ten years.
Either reduces very largely tho amount
'eally received by members under Tie old |
adding in postage and other
oerquisites. At tho last OF these sessions, as
before referred to, adding postage to per
liem, it made to each member $3.50 90 |
besides mileage.
IL is true that by the brief sketch given,
I is shown that for some time there was an
increased expense from decade to decade,
,ut that incaease bears very slight proper
ion to the increase OF population. the ac-
,umulation Of wealth and the many i'm.
,ortant aud diversified interests OF the
State. ...
A reduction is proposed, and the question
s asked: Why, If the amount now paid is
rot more than reasonable compensation,
hould it be reduced Sufficient answer
las been givon before, and i will but just
i'd, that no compensation, which the pres
mt condition Of things 10 the country would
permit of paying, is, or would be such as
VnnId naka the comin0 IN tha IepisIatural