The Van Buren press., 1868-01-31
From Lii,le Roet Daiiy Gazette.
CONSTITUTIONAL CONVENTION.

.
JANUARY 2lst, 1867.
.rhe Convention was opened with
pFs;i or.
Mr.. Mcclure, from Finance Committee
submitted the following amended ordi-
nance:
Ordinance No. /. To be entitled an ordi
nance raising revenue for the purpose
of defraying expenses Unconstitutional
Convention.
BE it ordained by the people Of the
State of Arkansas in Convention Assem-
blad. That there Is hereby levied upon
the taxable property Of said State, one
quarter Of one per cent for the purpose
ofsIcfraying the expenses incurred under
the provisions of an Act OF Congress en-
titled "An act to provide for the more
efficient government of the rebel States, "
passed March 2, 1867, and an act of Con-
gress supplemented and ancndatory
thereto. And that the officers now pro-
vided by law for the collection of taxes
shall collect and pay the same into the
Treasury of the State on or before the
first day Of June, eighteen hundred and
sixty .t
And be it further ordained, That the
Auditor of said State is hereby directed
to issue his warrant upon the Treasurer
of said State, for such amounts as the
Presidents and Secretary of the Conven
ton may certify To be due to any person
or persons, for expenses or services in
cure Under the provisions Of the afore.
said act, upon the receipt Of the warrant
aforesaid, the Treasurer will issue his
warrant payable out of any funds arising
from taxes collected on the assessment
oflS6S for the amount that may be due
such person or persons.
All collectors Of taxes shall receive the
warrants o. the Treasurer of said State is
sued rs aforesaid in payment Of the tax
levied by the ordinance, or for any taxes
iue to said State.
That the amount to be levied by the
provisions Of this ordinance shall be
placed upon the tux books for the year
1868 by the officers now designated by
law. And it is hereby made the duty Of
the Auditor of State to make the appor-
tionmcnt among the different Counties of
the State in proportion 10 the valuation
oftaxable property in said Counties.
Mr. Mcclure said that many Of the
members were here without friends or
money, and ifsomcthing was not speedily
done for their relief, necessity or rather
poverty would compel them to return
home, and thus re,ard the action Of the
Convention.
Mr. Mallory, from Committee on Sala,
ries reported an ordinance fixing the pay
of the members and officers of the Con-
vontion
There was disposition manifested to
delay action on ii at present. This drew
from Mcclure an appeal to the Conven-
ton to act at once as the stern necessities
Of some Of the members must be provd
ed for. Various amendments were ofered
raising or lowering the pay, bat were all
defeated. u.u
Then another running discussion arose
on the motion of Mr.. Brooks to amend
50 as to pay members mileage by the us
nally travelled railroad, stage and steam
boat routes Mr.. Duvall opposed it.
After some time, the differences were
compromised by allowing mileage by the
actually travelled route. Mr.. Hollis, after
several efforts at different times, succeed
ed in having the pay Of members fixed at
so instead Of 3S. Mr.. Monroe wanted
the pay Of the Door-keepers etc, fixed at
So. Mr.. Cypert favored it, because there
were 50 many more such officers than
were necessary. The motion was lost
Mr.. Brooks wanted brains and culture to
be better paid than muscle, and desired
the Assistant Clerks to have $40 instead
Of 5S, thcsame pay as Doorkeepers. Mr.
Wilson, Of Union, arose to vindicate the
claims of laboring men. They should
not be spoken of slightingly by men who
chcwed good deal Of tobacco and filed
the spittoons. lie wouldn't wash three
ofthose spittoons for his pay Oslo per
Nul. hC IbOIlOii w llINiNd@t VIC pay VI
the Assistant Secretaries prevailed The
amended ordinance then read thus:
Be 10 ordained by the people Of Arkan
sas in Convention assembled
See. That the per diem Of delegates
to this Convention shall he ten dollars
per day, and mileage at the rate Of one
days pay for each twenty miles travel in
coming to and returning from the Con
vention, the distance to be computed on
the actual travelled route.
See. 9. The President shall receive six
teen dollars per day, the Secretary twelve
dollars per day, the Assistant Secretaries
ten dollars per day each, the Chaplain
ten dollars per day, the Sergeant
eight dollars per day, the Doorkceperi
eight dollars per day each, the Post-mas
ter eight dollars per day, and Pages foll
dollars per day each, and mileage at the
rate above specified. Adopted,
:,