The new North-west. [volume] (Deer Lodge, Mont.) 1869-1897, 1871-07-15
= EXTRA coMPENsAHoH -
What 1t COST and Why II aesId be Re-
r. -"Dealed. - m

The Republican Platform contains tht
following resolution:
Rssolved, That the Laws Of the Territory grantins
extra compensation to Federal officials aud member
OF the Territorial Legislature 10 gnjust to the "a:
lature their unconditional eepeal
A resolution SO sweeping as this should
not be adopted without good cause, and II
there Is good cause the people should know
it. We propose, therefore, to submit the
facts in the case.
The Organic Act of Montana provides for
the payment from the u. s. Treasury, in
green6acks. to the Federal and Territorial
officers in the Territory as follows: For the
Governor, $500; Chief and Associate Jus.
ticcs, $25OO, (now $30OOE Secretary, $1,000.
Members of the Legislature, a per day,
and "a for each twenty miles going to and
coming from the Capitol; a. per day add.
tional to each presiding officer; a. per day
each to eight clerks o per day TO oil other
officers of the Legislature.
This passed in 1894. The depreciation of
greenbacks and the extraordinarily high
prices of living, travel, etc., in Montana,
induced the Legislature TO pass On act Up.
proved Jan. "a. 1859, granting from the
Treasury Of the Territory compensation in
sUoAs'oI " "OO'C - AOuO"6 ~ INC Oov
ernor, $780, to the Secretary, $2000 to the
lature, tl2 per. day; to the Assistant Clerks,
tl2 per day; to Enrolling and Engroesing
Clerks, 81 per day; to the Sergeant at.
Arms, 90 per day; to the Fireman $12 per
day; to the Doorkccpcr, 81; to the Pages,
IS per day, and to the Chaplain 3 per day,
and to each one Is cents per mile in going
to and rctu rning from the Capital.
BY the act of Dec. 6, 1867, the act was 90
amended Is to only pay the Governor extra
compensation while in The Territory, By the
act of June 10Th, 1869, the Judges extra
compensation was reduced to $1,000 per an.
mum. and by an act of Dec. ~, 1860, the
extra compensation 10 the Governor was to.
tally repealed.
This leaves the compensation of members
of the Legislature a. $16 per day and As cts.
per mile for mileage going and returning to
and from Virginia. while the compensation
Of attaches is but little less. Every reason
able man will see at once that it is an outra.
put an end 10. The cost of living and
travel is now only little more here than in
the States, where Legislators receive only
81 or "a per day, @ allowed by the U. 8.
to Montana In 90 far ~ relates to Federal
officials, the United States should nav its
appointees. and ii the salaries are Insult.
cient-as in some cases they xre-the Gov.
eminent should increase them, but not give
them pittance and then ask or permit the
Territories to make up that pittance to u
living salary As though those officers were
We have only presented the extra COM
pensation business as matter of days. To
show how immensely it aggregates, We
submit the following official statement from
Auditor Rodgers:
AUDITORS OFFICE, MONTANA TERRITORY. J
VIRGINIA CRY, Feb. slst, lS7l
Territory:
DEAR Sir:
Yours of the 9Oth iuet reoues,-
ng an oflcial statement Of the amount paid BY the
Ierrt0ry to members attaches of the different Leg
satures, since the first organization Of the Terrific
y; also, amount paid to Government officers. il re-
ctved. ACCOMPANYING please find Ststama,,i, - de-
have the honor to be
Very respectfully,
Your obi serv't
WIN. II. RODGERS.
Auditor Montana Territory.