Daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, Va. [W. Va.]) 1859-1865, 1863-10-09
trutb. Il vas thought tbat The interests Of

.truth. = Il was though. that the interests Of
legislation would be promoted by an al
jOurnment over the hot term. Members
unused to it could not have safely remain
ed in the city during the intensely DOT
weather of August, aud there were ardn-.
ous Iabors resting upon the chaIFmen Oh
several of the most important commit
tees which il was thought could be oetter
done in recess than 10 session, ana Know
that come of them lRbored assiduously al
through the recess for the preparation OF
business for the Legislature TO dlspaten
when It reassambled. Those who know
anything about legislative bodies Know
that a few men, rarely over dozen, 90
the great bulk of the COMMITTEES Woeks-.
Prior to the recess they we're unable 70
furnish work for more than an hours ses'
sion each day, but during the recess bills
accumulated in the hands Of chalrnen OF
committees, which were reported ON reas-
sembling; so that the business is to-day
farther along Than it would have been II
NO recess had been taken. But the taking
of this recess compelled many members
| who lived at great distances from the Cap.
| itAl land who opposed the recess for that
reasOn) to go home on expense, or what
was the same, remain here on expense, so
that il il but simple justice to them at least
that their mileage should be paid them
The pay of members Is so low that il bare
~ pays current expenses; aud IT we are
not able to pay the men who are framing
the laws for our State the paltry sum OF
three dollars q day and their necessary eX-
penses for traYel, We had better dispense
with legislation at once aud resort to mon
arehy which would of course be a great
deal cheaper.
think from my knowledge of the char
acter of the gentlemen composing the
present House of Delegates that they
would be as far from receiving 'ill gotten
gains as any others who might be put in
their places. There lis not a member of
the House, verify believe, who would
have drawn a farthing for his mileage if
he did not behave that law and usage and
simple justice gave it TO him. Whatever
the law says pablo officers shall receive
for their SERVICES is supposed to be right,
and their honor is not to be impeached if
they receive the compensation provided
for them. They cannot increase it. Why
should they be required 70 diminish it2 In
this case at least there is no reason for it.
Garry ont your principle and see where
it leads. Members are paid for Sundays.
Is that right? The legislature holds no
sessions on Sundays. II they go home q
few days, Zone at a time) they are paid
just the same as If present. Is that right
They 60 home "for their owe private con.
yenience and pleasure" From The beginning
of the session till this time there have
been absent every day on an average ten
members, and they have drawn tI0o thou
sand dollars for that time spent at home
Can legislature that does that sever
face their constituents again?" i'm
agine they can. 1T has always been
so in all legislatures,l and always will be
till members can bring their families
and farms and constituencies along with
them TO the scat of government. Aud yet
the public have not been damaged, but
rather benefited thereby. The business
goes on as well during their brief absence,
and the wants of their constituents are
better and more frequently known. Be-
sides your denunciation is altogether too
sWeeping. You allow no discrimination.
There are many who would rather give
than take from the State treasury, and
who will not draw the money they be-
lieye the law gives them.
Garry out your principle still further.
If members are to be paid exactly for what
they do, some would be well paid and some
would stRrVe. If the best are only worth
So per day what are the silent ones worth,
who vote only while the others speak and
draft, bills? Ths'priuciple is 40 impracti
cable one. We have got to attain the best
practicable results with the best available
means; and all this mighty vapOring about
Legislative corruption when it does not
exist, whatever it may be designed to do,
will only embarrass legislation aud mill
itate against the true interests of the pso-
pie by getting up really causeless hos
Utility between the people and their ser
wants.
has been raised, The Legislature of the
old State was made the subject of similar
animadversion, but 1 believe it did not
materially damage it in the public estima-
ton. Whatever the merits of that case
may have been am sure when the circum-
stances of the present one are generally
known and understood, this Legislature
will not suffer in the estimation of the
public so much as the authors and circnla-
tors of the upjustifable imputations upon
its integrity, VISDsx'
Meeting In Roam County, West Va
A meeting of the citizens of ,Roaue coun-
ty convened in the Court House of
said county, on the Sd of October, 1853,
Inuranant. IN nPavi0na n0tica f0r kha unr.