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

pied as much pay as before, while ther
would be great saving TO the Siate-a
in number OF ways incicated.
Having oaid thus much as to the pro
posed mode Of paying members,
now propose to call more particular at
tention TO what is proposed by the bill enc
substitute under consideration.
The amount OF compensation allowe,
by law is S4.oO for each days attend
ance, and $500 for every twenty 6y,
miles travel. The bill introduced by III,
Senator from Fayette, (Mr. Gardner,
and recommended by the Committee OF
Retrenchment, reduces this to $500 pe,
day, and $500 mileage. The subslitu,,
proposes TO give $3.50 for each year il
wEicn there is a session Of the Genera
Assembly, without any additional amoun
II ;Eere be an extra session holden within
the same year, and zoe for each twenty
five miles travelled. As a member of the
committee, in recommending the passag,
OF the original bill, or as an individu ual Sen
ator, in offering the substitute, have no
done so for the reason shat believe tha
The compensation allowed members of II,
General Assembly is more than, ,under or
dinary circumstances, they should receive
Nor would it appear, although the pei
piem Of members had been raised untel
the new Constitution, that the anouu
now received was any greater than be
lore, taking into consideration all the cir.
cumstanoes, the additional expenses OF
living, and the comparative amounts paiI
for public service in other departments.
together with the amount Of compensation
allowed for services in many branches ol
business in private life. Ir fact, pro.
pose 10 show that il was even less than
Tor some time previously, and less than
amounts allowed for other services. Not.
wiIhstancihg this, l favor reduction, and
while changing the amount received
would also change the mode of payment.
At time like this, when :he service,
blood and life OF the loyal men of the
country are demanded and freely given
in support of the Government-when
every energy Of every loyal mat, and
every resource of every loyal State, is in
like manner demanded, and should be
subsidized 10 any needed extent in behalf
Of that Government-wben, on this ac.
count, We are called upon TO watch with
an eagle eye any unnecessary expense
from the treasury, it behooves US, as the
guardians of that treasury and custodians
OF the interests Of the State to scan closely
every department Of the public service,
and TO cut with an unsparng hand,
wherever it can be done without disturb
ing the efficiency Of that service.
The first session OF the General Assem-
bly under the old Constitution, was
holden in 1908. continuing Al days, with
45 members 10 attendance, at SO, 90 per
day andS2.Oo for twenty five miles travel.
This rate OF compensation was continued
until 1916, when it was raised 10 $500
for each days attendance and the same
amount Of mileage. This rate of COM
pensation was continued until after the
adoption Of the new Constitution, except
in 1891, 1929 and 1898, it was again re-
duced TO SO 90 and ibe mileage to 81 90.
Also, in 1914, lS45 and 1916. it was fixed
at $500. AS before remarked, COM
parison of the amount now received bv
members with what they received at dif-
ferent periods in the history OF the State,
except the three last mentioned wears, con.
trasted with the amount received by other
officers Of the Stale Government, then and
now, will show that the increase in other
departments Of the public service is much
greater than in this. AS, for instance, the
Governor, whose salary no Senator upon
this floor believes TO be sufficient to psy
his necessary expenses of living during
his term, SO that it is frequently remarked
that no one not wealthy can afford to take
the Office. Under the old Constitution
his salary ranged from $500 TO $500,
averaging about Sl120, annually. 1t is
now $1,000. being an addition OF more
than sixty per cent. The Treasurer Of
State, ranging from $400 10 $1,000, aver
aging less than $3.50. Now it is 1880,
an increase OF more than one hundred per
cent The Auditor of State, ranging from
500 to $1,000, aud averaging little
more than Sl 900 annually now it is
$l600-increased sixty per cent. The
Judges of the Supreme Court, their com
pensa,ion ranging, under the old Consti.
tuition, from $3.50 to $500, at an average
on $ll20. For few years the same
officers have been paid 3.000-nearly
two hundred per cent. addition, which by
a law passed at this session is reduced to
S2. 500--which is an increase OF about
one hundred and twenty per cent. The
Common Pleas Judges of the State had
from $3.50 TO vi ,200-an average OF
about ~ 900. Now they have 81 800
an increase sixty per cent, and yet for
neither OF those officers except the last
two.i it claimed that anything more than,
nor even as much as fair compensation,
is allowed. While TO the member OF the
General Assembly the increase allowed
over The average Of that under the old con-
stitution is but about fifty per cent, and In
fact, for a number Of years before the
adoption OF the new Constitution, the ad.
ditional amount received by members IN
payment Of postage and other perquisites,
made TO them greater compensation
han that now received. For ten years
preceding that time, the amount used in
payment Of postage OF members averaged
more than VS., 900 annually. and at the
asst session under the old Constitution il
was Sl4.52s, or making to each member
about one dollar and eighteen cents per
lay for each day of the session Of one
hundred and fifteen days. These per-
luisites the new Constitution entirely pro-