The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1877-06-14
DEBATE AS TO THEIR PAY.

look place IN the Senate over the
House resolution to fx the pay Of
members of the Legislature at S50OO0,
and that debate resulted in the Senate
fixing the amount at 10000. We now
give the debate which occurred in the
House upon the question of agreeing to
the Senate's amendment:
Mr.. Cal!ison, of EdgeGeld, and Mr..
Hamilton, of Beaufort, occupied the at
tcntion of the House with debate upon
Lhe value of a modern legislator for half
an hour, the former estimating the real
value of frst-class South Carolina
statesman at fifty cents per day, while
MIR. Hamilton disagreed with him, put
ting the value at $6 per diem, TO the gen.
cral satisfaction of the House, ard par
ticularly that portion who favor payment
| for extra session.
Mr.. Connor-The less we discuss the
subject of pay to members the better for
us. The people all over the State are
beginning to come 20 the conclusion that
the chief aim OF oar legislation is to pro.
vide for the pay Of members Of the Gen
cral Assembly. This question must be
settled by a conference committee, be-
cause the two branches of the General
Assembly differ as to what is proper. 1t
needs no apreal to this House to oon-
vince its members that we should not
agree to the Senate amendment. What
has already been agreed upon by this
House is TO much, but don't know that
it can be amended We have been ad-
yocating reform --retrcnchment--an
have practiced it serereiy as far as county
officers all over the State are concerned,
| nnH "a ~ rnfttua6 In t1,o
solicitors, while in attendance on the
General AsseT bly,, more than IS per day,
and now we claim for ourselves about 50
per day. 1t is inconsistent with our ac-
ton with reference to other officers, and
inconsistent with all our professions
during the late political canvass, and
hope it will be reduced below 5000 by
the committee of conference to be APP
pointed.
NJ. Orr spotc in defense of the Senate
amendment TO give the House 5000 and
mileage Of 20 cents for both of the ses-
} sions, except the Mackeytes, who were
! to receive 5000 and mileage.
Mr. Bradley, of Abbcvillc, thought
that $400 and mileage was plenty for
both sessions, and made strong speech
, in defense of his position. He was glad
that the newspaper reporters, who were
Il power in the land, were present, and
he hoped they would send abroad the
words and actions Of this House, and let
the constituents of the members know
how they stood upon this salary ques-
: ton.
Mr.. Werner, of Oconee, favored 5000
, for both sessions.
Mr.. Hcmphill, of Chester, thought IS
, per day fair compensation.
Mr. 4 ndruwo-I nintt in favor &c M
, salary grab. There il men here that
can identify to the fact that me and the
{ gentleman from Lexington has always
, been doing all The fighting against high
salaries. don't ask you to give me one
cent for last session. l am not To blame
for it. WIS recognized by the legal
, Senate. When the Senate come bowed
, submission to this House. But l ask,
gentlemen, if their services for last ses-
sion of twenty-nine days is worth any
more than ours this session of forty
{ days? am poor man, but I have q
pride in mo for conscience, fidelity and
justice. ask the majority to do justice
to the minority, SO that we may 60 home
and join hand III hand and be one peo-
pie: hut if any injustice is done me
will be compelled to preach it on the val
ley and the hill top. Now, let us come
down to fine point. Take the number
of days you served. But don't you take
$400 for twenty-four days last session and
only give Ills 5000 for forty day. The
Senate Is responsible for me standing
here. If it had not beun for the Senate,
, would have been with you before
Christmas.
Mr.. Curtis opposed the amendment.
lie would rather get nothing than vote
for the amendment Of the gentleman
from Anderson.
: MIR. Orr offered modification of his
amendment, which gave the AIackeyites
$500 and 10 cents mileage, instead of
5000 and 20 cents mileage.
Mr. R. r. Hemphill aaid that the news
paper reporters had taken great deal of
interest in the pay of the members, and
| yet they each did not pay more than
thirty-five cents taxes This amount, di-
vided amongst 125 members and attach
ees, would leave fraction of cent to
be paid by each reporter. And then he
made pathetic appeal to the generosity
of those who paid thirty-five cents taxes
to give the members a fraction of cent
each.
for $500. ~ " 'pp'"'
Mr.. Miller, of Beaufort, wanted full
pay with the other members.
Mr.. Hamilton, of Beaufort. favored
taking 5000 for the last session and 5000
for the extra session; but if majority
Of tho House opposed the extra session
pay, of course he would have to submit,
and would. do so cheerfully.
After lengthy debate, the vote being
taken upon the Senate amendment, the
House refused to concur in the same, and
the bill, together with the amendments,
was returned to the Senate.
On the following day Mr.. Orr offered
a resolution that it is tho sense of this
House on the above bill, rs far as said
bill relates to the pay of members, that
those members who served at the regular
session are entitled to 1900, less what
they have already received, and TO those
who have served at the extra session $500
and one mileage, and that the report of
tie committee of conference is adopted
with this understanding. ~.
MIR. Minort opposed the resolution,
and Messrs. Andrews and Humbert, COL
ored, favored it.
The resolution was adopted by vote
of 78 to IS.
The vote (adverse) or the 6option of
the report of the committee was recon-
sidered, and the report agreed to by
vote of 81 to 12
The concurrence of the Senate com
mittee in the House provision denying
pay for last session to members Of the
| Mackcy House MRS an evident am nfs 40