, 1878-07-13
Salaries Of state Officers.

they undertake 10 regulate tie salaries "'
officials by constitutional limitations. IN
this matter, as in iiiauy others, they might
well pattern after the trainers uf the cohstI-
tuition Of the United States. Written con-
stitutions at most are only expected to lay
down certain great fundamental principles
that are to control. leaving al matters Of
detail to be regulated by legislation.
This was the theory Of the fathers uf oar
institutions and with a.! our progress we
Doubt whether TIE men Of to-day excel
them III knoWlcd.c Of the science OF govern
ment. 1t Is true that the members OF the
convention have precedent for their action
in the adjoining state "f Oregon, where The
constitutional convention undertook II regI-
late the salaries OF all the mere important
state officials. But the practical working Of
the system III Oregon affords the very
strongest argument against the principle. Ia
hat state the constitution limits the GOV
ernor to A yearly salary Of SI5nc; the
supreme court judges 5000; state treasurer
$500 and 30 on to the end OF the chapter.
Now 1T 50 happened that at the tiE,c when
the constitution for OREGON was framed the
territory WAS sparsely settled, the people
generally poor, and the whole idea .: Il stale
little more than 4 trayestIc upon rs; con
ceptions Of government. telt;in mc!l had
fixed their eyes upon seals ia the United
States senate, and to reach the goal of 5hcir
ambition 1t WAS necessary to cook up Il rev
state it mattercd not how. The population
was mainly made up OF small farmers, who
had but recently made the dreary trip across
the plains, and were in poor condition TO
meet the expenses incident To L state orgaili-
Zation To meet the emergency, the salaries
Of the state officials were placed at riG:cU
lousy low figures, and stump orators we've
engaged to travel over the territory, prcpar-
cd To show from figures that . state govern
mcnt would cost less than the rNie;ir: ter
ritorial organization.
This was the sugar coating to the pill. and
blinded with this deusion. the constitution
was adopted 10y the vote oi the people, and
thus LITERALLY Oregon Was brought INTO the
Union under cover of fraud. It fortunate
ly happened that at the first election under
the constitution, John Whitaker, an honest
farmer, was chosen governor, and his col
leagues generally were men OF integrity.
Commencing thus fairly, the provisions oi
the constitution We're carried out IN GOOD
faith, and for the tirst iour years of her e.
iStcnce as a state Oregon was ruled in ac-
cordance with the provisions Of hcr cons:i-
tuition.
At the second state election different class
OF men came into power, and from 1864
down to date. it has been the constant cn-
deavor of Oregon politicians to thwar, the
provisions OF the constitution The governor
Is restricted 10 SlJD a-ycar. but To- over
come this difficulty the legislature furnishes
him 4 private secretary who Is expected to
divide his salary. In this way, and by
means of allowances for uiicc rent. ct-.. lit.
salary of the governor Is raised irum SlIG0
to $1,000. The supreme court judges are
limited 10 salaries of S20U0. but cyen this
constitutional inhibition Is brilsed over by
the legislature allowing them Sl0Uu lryr
annum for travelling expenses. The c"nsti-
tuition fixes the salary OF the treasurer a;
$500 pcr anuum. and Yet by L legislative
hocW$ poc~> the office is made worth <iU1o,
s.ealIngs not counted.
This IS the practical wol king ui the sys- |
tenn III Oregon, and in the high; thus shed I!
upon 1t, We are surprised to tiGd the mem !
bers Of the conven,i"n-now III session ia /
this clty-seeking 10 engraft it upon tie
coming state OF Washington. Not the least /
objectionable feature OF 4 provision of this !
kind is that 1t tends To corrupt legislation. |
The member Is scarcely warrn in his sat.
after having solemnly sworn to support the /
constitution, wien he finds himself confronted |
by pr"position to override one of It's PLAN |
est provisions Ill order 20 favor the state /
officials. 1t is an oll and true saying. that /
1t Is the first step that costs, aid the MEM |
Der Of the legislature who commences his !
career by voting I" override the c..st.tu- /;
tion IN one respect, is not likely 10 maintain .
his integrity 10 the end of the session.
The whole system Is wrong. and proceeds /,
upon the basis Of false pretences. Let the .
constitution prescribe the duties Of the OIL |
GERS, and hedge them IN by all proper safe !
guards. Their eompenSation is Il matter that :
should be left entirely to the legislature II /,
the state becomes rch and rorulous. then /
the higher officials should receive salaries /
ranging from $1,000 10 SG4G0. Ii she Is Door
and on the down grade, She representatives +.
OF the people VIII be quick to discover tac /.
.act aud regulate salaries accordingly. Cam /
plers hart habit III getting up IilcSs IN /
cards. and until these tricks ale ,iiSco.cr.l /.
the game works admirably. so of low
salaries fixed by constitutional limitation. f,
The trick worked well III Oregon and served !!
the purpose OF tidmg over the difficulty q:
securing popular approval. Ice Lane and /
pelaSon Smith were tlcatci into tie senate /
and - all went meriiy rs marriage bell. .
The people OF Oregon long since were taught
the lesson thatthe whole thing was delusiap
and snare and now AZ this l.te J,v +,,.
tempt to play the stale trek Oft on the peo.
pie OF Washington territory Is unworthy
the members OF the constitution. We rms