The daily phoenix. [volume] (Columbia, S.C.) 1865-1878, 1874-01-22
Leg,.,at,ve-The Pay OF Members.

| dHHlu JootCk0uyp obA oo uPoA khhe
peculiar work, by courtesy called legis-
lation, but which. whilo adding largely
to the bill of expenses put upon
the people. brings them no relief, and
reflects upon them no csedit. In the
Senate, the first thing heard was covert
insinuatiop INDUCED in against our peo'
pie by Mr. Whittemore, in q reference
to the severe trials which tho sympa-
thies as we'll as the pockets of Mr.. Car
darelli have incurred in the presence
hero of somo sixty or seventy of his
compatriots, brought hither he did not
known by whom or for what. Mr..
Whittemore did not sny th"t any Demo
crat, or Conservative, or old citizen,
was implicated in this business, but he
felt that it was the expressed willing
ness Of the people to receive such addi
tions to the population which had oc-
casioned tho vonture Of bringing them.
Aud this he evidently does not regard
with favor. An immigrant himself, and
things being arranged in tho State to
suit him, We suppose that he would now
shut the door upon all foreigners or
Northerners who would like to follow
his example. As regards tho Italians.
| he made several erroneous statements,
and can, il he chooses, ascertain the
faots about them, their presence here.
and how they have boen treated, in our
columns of Tuesday. This little cpl
sode about the Italians came up in con-
neotion with a claim OF Cardarelii, which
was suggested by motion Of MIR. Nash
to pay q similar claim OF p. T. Frazee
out of receipts from the 3lll mills levied
in the tax Act for deficiencies.
The special order was bill to pay
the members of the General Assembly
5000 and mileage for the regular ses-
sion, and the same compensation for
the specal session. There was conside-
rable discussion upon it. Mr.. Keith, of
Oconee, expressed doubts whether the
salary Of $500 was constitutional, the
language of that instrument being that
the members shall receive six dollars
Per diem while in session, and twonty
cents mile for mileage. In reply, Mr..
Whittemoro said that the bill WAS re-
ported by the Committee on Finance,
and the sum was thought net to be too
large, although there were persons who
considered their services worth nothing.
But for his part. he considered the in
telligence of the present representatives
of the people equal TO those who had
precedcd them in thesc seats. And
many wore poor. and the pay mutter
OF serious concern to them. II was diff
ferent now from the old times, when
people Of wealth came here and spent
thirty days in legislative duties and ex.
elusive social enjoyments He pro-
posed not in earnest, but to test the
sense of the Senate, to strike out $500,
and insert six dollars per diem.
Mr.. Smalls thought 5000 salary was
just as constitutional AS Sc per diem.
Some people think that wheA the pay is
SO much day, tho members havo Il mo-
tive to increase tho days of service. He
would favor $1,000 pay for each extra
session, 80 IS to deter those in powtr
from calling them. As to The last extra
session. everybody know that it had
done nothing. Mr.. Jervey took the
same view. Ho was willing to work
with u will for few weeks, but must
have his pay. Mr.. Hope favored the
amendment. on both practical und con
stitutional grounds. But just hero Mr..
| Whittemore, who saw his way clear,
Withdrew it. Upon being renewed by
Mr.. Keith and put to vote, it was lost,
by 8 ayes, nays.
Mr.. Whittcmore next suggested u
way to get round tho constitutional
difficulty, and at the same time keep up
the desirable figure. The language
might bo 'such per diem compensation
as will amount to and not exceed 5000. "
Mr.. Cardozo nude the motion that this
amendment be adopted, and it was
adopted. Under it, if the Legislature