The Montana post. [volume] (Virginia City, Montana Territory [i.e. Mont.]) 1864-1869, 1866-12-22
TUE INCREASED COMPENSA-
TION LAW. -.

Cur readers will be surprised to learn
that Governor Smith has approved bill
uroviding for extra pay to members of
he legislature, clerks and other Terri
,orial officials. Having vetod the same
MEASURE in the preceding week on ac-
.onnt of its injury to the financial inter
osts of Montana, we confess that we were
not prepared to receive the information
that he had changed his mind AS the
,Iqsstte. Democrat and Herald have sus-
tanned his veto message, we shall peruse
their comments with considerable curl
osity. Figures we're arrayed by the Ex-
ecntive to fortify his position, and the
same facts exist to-day. What has in
fuenced this somersault? We can easily
understand why sordid legislator like
wilkinson should, after lodging vote
and trying topersuade the people that he
had been an earnestopponent of this bill,
when he was certain that it would pass,
carry it through the Council by his
aye" He is filling his pockets with
the taxes of the citizens. But no such
cause has controlled Governor Smith in
his official tergiversation. Each law
maker receives $500 in scrip, and the
aggregate will be in round numbers,
$2O,0G0. We are always pleased to see
man who is ready to listen to an argu-
ment and modify his views according to
ncontrovertible facts. Statutes which
are adapted to the condition of nation
in one period of its history, might be ru-
nous to another generation. In the
present instance no defense of this char
acter can be urged. Vacillation upon
this question of the expenditure of the
public funds for the benefit of few indi-
viduals cannot be justified. In this con-
nection we desire to remark that it was
announced upon the floor of the House,
when the proposed law was introduced.
that the Governor would sign it. These
words were not contradicted, and several
members who had upheld the veto, right
about faced and sustained the measure
Our columns are open to any party who
will give US the light that we so much
w, ~ ,f, Ok iy,r fhnSa fho q
upheld the extra compensation, but
pointing out the inexplicable inconsis
tency of the Governor. We will con
clude by clipping a few extracts from
the veto message, which is dated Decem
Der j, 1866, and all persons can readily
see that we have not misrepresented The
matter: "
Then instead Of increasing the burden |
seems to me that wisdom and prudence, ant
the future prosperity of the Territory, woul'
dictate the rapid liquidation of the publ
debt and reduction Of taxes In every regard
Such an increase Of taxation Is wrong ant
unjust to the people, as you certainly VII
conclude when you shall come to reconsloe
this matter. .-
consider it an unsafe and prejudicial pre-
eedent to establish that n legislative bod
E'ay increase the per diem of its members an
attaches for the time it is in session. Th
following general assembly may do the sam
and go far beyond in the amount, and so tn
next, and the next, until there would be n
limit to the expense incurred.
II this bill becomes law it Is apparent I
every one that Territorial scrip rapidly q,
ereases in value and will scarcely demand n
Teen or twenty cents to the dollar. The holdt
OF the scrip loses greatly, yet the Territory
bound for every dollar called for on the rae
of the warrant. arn .ra.. a."