The Wheeling daily register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1864-1878, 1872-03-14


Naked Eye-A New Scheme OF Keep
resentatiOn.
Special Correspondence OF the Register
CHARLESTON, March 9.
This day has been almost ~astsd in
the Convention. In the captivating
cause Of economy" about half dozen
gentlemen have talked themselves
hoarse; worn out the patience OF their
hearers; and caused the loss OF much
valuable time. 1t really seems to me
that if some OF these peculiarly ardent
advocates Of a niggardly and parsimo'
NOUS scheme of State expenditures
would cultivate little more irugality
of their words and lie somewhat more
abstemious of speech, they would better
illustrate their theory and, possibly,
make more converts to their views.
The entire day was spent in consider
ing in Convention the following Sec
ton of the report. of the Committee OF
the Whole in relation to the legislative
department:
1873. The members OF the Legislature
shall receive Tor their services the sum
OF four dollars per day during the first
session held under this Constitution,
and ten cents for each mile Travelled in
going to and returning from the seat OF
Government, by the most direct route,
and thereafter not exceeding four dol
lars per day, together with mileage at
the rate aforesaid for each mile travelled
bv the most direct route. The Speaker
OF the House of Delegates and the
President OF the Senate shall each re-
ceive an additional compensation oftwo
dollars per day for each day he shall
act as presiding officer. No other
allowance or emoluments, directly or
indirectly, than that by this section
provided, shall be paid or made to the
members of either House for any pur.
pose whatever, except the sum Of ten
dollars per session to each member,
which shall be in full for postage,
stationery, newspapers and all other
incidental expenses and perquisites.
1t was moved to strike out all after
the word whatever" thus abolishing
the "postage stamp swindle,' and leav-
ing the members Of the Legislature
simply their four dollars per day and
mileage. After great deal Of unneces-
sary palaver the motion prevailed, the
vote showing - in favor and 81 against.
Mr.. Knight, of Kanawha, then moved
to further amend the section by making
the last sentence thereof read as fol-
lows: mo other allowance or emoIu-
ments, directly or indirectly, than that
by this section provided, shall be paid or
made to the members Of either house
for postage, stationery, newspapers, or for
any other purpose '0hatever." Of course
the debate was renewed, and very nearly
the same speeches were raade that had
been poured forth so extravasantIy on
the motion to str Ike out. The yeas and
NAYS were finally called, and, as some
of the members seemed exceedingly
anxious to be put upon the record, |
here insert the vote:
AYES - Arnett, Atkinson, BasseI
Bee, Campbell, Core, Grim, Gushing,
Farnsworth, Farrell, Gallaher, Hall ,
Harding, Raymond, Haynes, Jackson
OF Lewis; Jackson, Of Wool; Johnson,
of Wood; Kautner, Knight, Lurty,
McCreery, Martin, Monroe, Morgan
Park, Pendleton, Roberts, Smith, Sta
ton, Strickler, Thompson, Thornberg,
Ward, Woods-3j.
NoEs-Armstrong, BoggS, Brown,
Byrne, Byrnside, Calfee, Davenport,
Dick nson, Faulkner, Ferguson, Fitz
huch, Holt, Hoge, johnson, Of Tyler
McCleary, MaslH, Matthews, Motfet,
Osburn, Pannell, Pate, Prince, Peerce,
Pugh, Robinson, Shider, Travers
Worth, Wilson, Wiley, Mr.. President
81.
But this wa. not all. A motion was
made by Mr.. Jackson, OF Wood, to
reduce the per diem of members Of the
Legislature to three dollars per day,
instead offour as provided in the report.
The verbal gymnastics received a fresh
impulse from this proposition and three
or four members, pumped forth with
appropriate gesticulation torrents OF
watery eloquence "in one weak, washy,
everlasting flood" The virtues OF
economy were praised: the blessings OF
cheap government magnifed; the fear
full sin of extravaganza denounced; and,
hour after hour, was thrown away in
ad captand,m speeches intended for
home consumption, and to show the
people of three or four counties how
watchful of the money bags their i'm
mediate representatives, are. The pre-
vious question was finally called and a
vote was reached just before adjourn.
ment, and here is the result:
AYEs-Messrs. Bee. Core Grim,
Faulkner, Farnsworth, Terrell, Gala
her, Hall, Harding, Jackson Of Lewis,
Jackson Of Wood, johnson Of Wood,
Kuatuer, Lurty, Martin, Monroe, Park,
Robersts, Smith, Station. Stricken,
Thompson, Wilson, Woods-24
NoEs-Messrs. Armstrong, Arnett,
Atkinson, Basel, Boggs. Brown, Byrne,
Burnside, Calfee, Campbell, Gushing
Dickinson, Ferguson, Fitzhugh, Hay
mond. HAYNES, Holt, Hoge, johnson of