Daily State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis, Ind.) 1861-1865, 1863-02-06
INDIANA LEGISLATURE.
SENATE

The journal OF yesterday was read ana approved
Mr. Williams Finance Committee: Reporting
back Senate bill M. IL with a recommendation
that Il lie on the table
Mr. Caypo0l argued against tabling the bill
IL was Just TO make the salaries OF State officers
the same. They should all be 81 900 or all be
$4,000. Why should the President OF the Sink
Ing Fund get more than the Secretary of Stitel
Mr.. Williams submitted that the salary of the
President Of the Sinking Fund, considering the
amount of money that passes through his hands,
and the labor and responsibility, Was low enough
bill was already before the Senate 10 cut off
all fees from the State officers, and both bills
should not pass.
Mr.. Wolfe was in favor of the bill He did
not think any man could earn Toy his own labor
more than 5000 There was great deal NJ
labor probably To be done in the Sinking Fund
Office, but the labor was not done by the Pres
dent. but by clerks who were paid by the State
and should be we'll paid The President super
vised aud directed the work, and he considered
81 900 as ample compensation. Ii an additional
clerk were needed. give one aud pay him. but he
opposed these large salaries both in the military
and the civil service.
| Mr. Landers was in favor of the passage of the
bill introduced by the Senator from Delaware,
! MIR Morel.) To take the fees from the State
Officers, ana lie tnpu1nt u NOuiu pass, anu COh-
Sequently did not think this bill should pass
Mr. Ray: rhe proposition to reduce the salary
of the President OF the Sinking Fund was before
the Senate two years ago. when the Stale of the
country demanded reduction more than it does
now and il was voted down. Ii he WAS not mis-
| taken, the gent emen who favored reduction now
opposed il then
| Mr. Wolfe said he introduced the bill two years
ago tu refuge salaries.
Mr. Rey was not mistaken in his remark that
the mlio;lty of those who favored reduction now +,
opposed it then He repeated the arguments
used by those gentle men then. and said they had
| far more force now when all the neLeSsaries of
life had advanced at least Al per cent
| Mr. March favored the passage OF the law cut
ting off the fees o the State officers, which wire
enormo"s. and di>proportioned to the labor. If
that bill passed. he not particular To
this one. lie thought. however, II salary Of
81 900 sufficient for any of these officers.
| Mr. Williams found by reference TO the jour
nails of two vests ago, that Messrs. Ciaypool,
| March and Blair who were anxious nov 10 re
duce the salary of tue Pr ,sident OF the Sinking
| Fund voted against il then. Now IA change had
came DER the spirit Of their dream" How is
| thiS7
| Mr. Claypool: The gentleman's argument
would conpei man ''oncc a fool to remain Il
| fool always Mr. Claypool contended that the
pfDpO>ltion TWO Years aHD WIS Only W TIE
salary OF officer, that of the Sinking Fund
President This bill equalizes ali the salaries.
| He pronounced "A glowing eulogium Gen. Du-
mont the President Of the Board two years ago,
aud said that his legal services. connected with
the duties of his Office were worth more than the
entire amount of his salary. The duties of the
Office he eontended, not onerous now as
they were two years ago
Mr. Cobb did not think the salaries too high
1 tto
was certainly not too high. The responsibility
was very great. and he was liable on his boud Tor
all errsr. IL required great financial ability and
great care TO perform the duty. Mr. Cobb said
that the question of legal ability had ltlle 10 do
with the question. 1t legal advice was required
the President would get il. and he would pay for
IT, Ii two years ago the salaries were not too
high, certainly they were not too high when
the currency had deprecated 50 greatly
| Mr. March said that all the Stite Officers, ex
cept the President OF the Sinking Fund, htd
pocketed the lees of their Offices in defiance at
the law Ii the bill To prevent this in future was
pissed he would urge the passage oi this bill.
but he thou sht this bill should not be lad aside
until the other was passed
| Mr.. Wolfe: lf the gentlemen who wrong
two years ago were right now he wOull forgive
them. Ii was better To be right than 90 be con
Sistent but men could he right anu consistent
| IL
two wears ago aud lie would DO 50 now He did
not Who the incunbents tie would
pay Republicans and Democrats alike IL The peO-
pie chose To elect them. He did not think Re
publican could Till an Office a. veil a. a Democrat
but if the people chose to fer with him and
elect one. he would pay him without question.
He argued at length Ia favor of the reduction,
and suggested that the bill should be further con
siderei Mt future day.
Mr Browne, OF Randolph had always thought
that one great evil OF our fern of government
was the creation of too many Offices The de
mand WAS generally equal to one office tor every
tenth man in the community. When these office.
were once created then the camor was for sal,-
ries or perqusites Ito command the highest order
of talent and 80 We 20 There were too many
offices around the Stalking Fund There was no
use TOR large Board oil Commissioners. But il
! the law and il wa, not proposed 10 change il
now. He was Tor redacin. s,lries. tie favored
this bill and Mould give his reasons Tie spoke
at length. and cUnrluded by declaring his conyic
zion that right and justice demanded a reduction
Mr. Dunning Mr. Downey in the Cnair) had
beet amused al the gentlemen appealing 10 the
record To prove their consistency and inconsis
tency. The gentleman FROM RaniOl pa mace a
yer. pretty speech. and il ma ht be very etiec
tive on the stump 70 wheedle be pie of their
votes he was ia favor OF paying tor services
rendered and paving public servants veil. Il,
did not believe ia working for charity, 10 I'll,
neglect of a mans family. AT home h,
worked for pay, aud his people understood that
he dri so Ii they did not wish his services they
need not have them. lie Was prepuei TO vote
10 pay members OF this Legislature better fol
their services. and he could defend the vote be
fore his people He was unwilling 10 see oul
State officers reduced 10 live mere pittance
Would gentlemen give u? their business at homs
aud bring their families here unless they woulJ
receive a salary that would enable them to live
respectable They would not. he spoke OF The
.Sinkiss Fuad-ol It's importance IL the Who'll,
people OF the State, ana the onerOus duties OF ths
Pre>ident. aud said that the salary WAS not one
dollar TOO high. IL not party feeling with
him-it matter of principle Two year.
ago he u urged members 10 vote against j
reduction oI salaries. and two wears hence. If the
+, Republicans were ia power, he would do the same
thing he would vote for The report vl the com
miftee
Mr. Shields thought TWO ,ears ago 81 600 WAS
a sufficient comyens ltion 10 tie President OF the
sinking Fund, aud the vote ne should give to-
day would De consistent with that. The rise oi
ali commodities that were used. made salary oil
50 600 not worth more than 81 800 two year.
ago lie in>taDced the price OF all articles OIL
consumption ami comtended that decrease
would be grossly unjust A further depreciatiou
Of the currency might take place. and ie EN-
treated gentlemen to pause and reflect. The re