New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1879-03-07

ment was adopted by vote of 81 to II. The COM
mittee TO inquire into railroad discrimination was
named. The bill TO establish state Reformatory
for Women was ordered to third reading. Dill
was introduced to reduce the Sheriff. compensation
in this city.
REDUCING LEGISLATIVE SALARIES.
A VIGOROUS DEBATE ON TIE PROPOSED CoNsriTU-
TIoNAL AMENDMENT-A LARGE VOTE IN lis
FAVOR.
(FRoM THE REGULAR CORRESPONDENT OF THE rRIBUSE.l
ALBANY, March 6.-Tbe Assembly turned
It's attention to-day Ia Mr. Hepburus amendment 10 the
Constitution providing for reduction OF the salary OF
future members OF the Legislature from $l'3oo W
81 900 Upon the announcement OF the subject Mr.
Bradley of Westchester County, a new member OF the
Assembly, asked with surprised air. II there were any
reasons for such reduction OF wages. There was ho
public demand for it, in bis opinion The moral CHAR
dcter of the Legislature had palpsbly improved
the yearly salary was raised from s3Oo
to 81 800. There portion OF the LORDS
Prayer which members would frequently utter if the
present salary was much reduced, namely, Lead US
into temptation" In CONCLUSION. Mr.. Bradley SAID
that he believed the quality OF the work done by the
Legislature would be made poorer If the proposed
amendment was made.
series OF earnest speeches in favor OF the amendment
followed. Mr. Bridges, Of Otsego. said that me peope
OF section Of the country without regard to party
favor OF reducing the pay Of Legislators lhey
considered that the salary was constituted during
period OF imitation OF the currency, ana snoui"
therefore be reduced. Erastus Brooks said that
the Constitutional Convention Of 1871, OF when
he a member, recommended That the saIary
of members of the Legislature be $1,000. All the re-
spOnsibity OF rested upon the Legislature
winch amended the proposed amendment TO the Con-
sttuton that IL provided for 800 instead OF $1,000
the salary. In his opinion $1,000 was sufficient
to secure proper representatives. He should be
very sorry members were Influenced as to
their votes by amount OF their salaries
Mr. Sloan said Z" shall vote for this resolution with
good deal OF pleasure because 1t before us In
practicable angbe form, and IS IN the interest OF re-
trenchmcut and Indicates To the people OF the state
that we who vote for ii are In sympathy with them In
doing everything that we can do TO meet the demand
which 10 prevalent at this time for reirenchment
and economy every branch OF the State Government
There naturally great DIVERSITY OF OPno as 10 ne
amount legislator ought 10 receive IL should not DC
avirIce low out that IT m"i be attained Dy the
NEST impccunuus citizen. Considering the great de-
cline that place IN the price OF commodities
and the shrinkage Of values since the constitutional
amendment adopted $1,000 might be considered az
high compensation now as $1,000 when the people
voted But at all events THINK the people ought
to De given AN opportunity to pronounce upon IL at ths
time Entertaining these views, shall VOte Tor the
resolution with a good deal Of pleasure"
MI Case Ontario. said that the people OF his county
demanded that II reduction should dc made. The Board
OF Supervisors had unanimously passed aresOutlOn 10
thai effect Sir. Sheard. OF HeIk.mer said that he
wou.d heartily support the amendmenL Mr. Noyes, OF
Cayuga, said that the Board Of SUPERVISORS OF his
county also IN favor Of the reduction MI Hep
burn then, in repl, TO Mr. Bradley. SAID that while
Lead not Into temptation" WAS an important rart
Of the Lords Prayer "Give this day daily
bread was cquaiy important, and the butdened tx
payers Of the 81 te LAYING great stress upon II at
nrescn The amend mcnt would save the STATE $50 900
While THIS was small amount IN comparison
with the of the state, sill IL was by an aggregd-
a of sirh amounts tuat The State rIpenditn es be-
came great. AT time when farmers only realized 3
per their investment merchants Ouy carried on
business the strctest economy, ana mechalcs saw
their savings disappearing, u was rIght tDat theTe
should he reduction OF the salaries Of OIL e-hOders IL
was good political purpose To adopt. Mr. Bradley IN
what the service was worth he knew Of nifty
OF the Assembly who were serving the state at loss.
A low salary would cuu1ne the membership OF the
Legislature TO rich men or 10 knavlsn Door men.
1t had been his experience that the best way
% keP avoid temptation Mr..
Straan that he Intended 10 test the strength OF the
AssemOys resolve TO save uohy ~ 0iierlns Iesolu-
ton tor a surrender by members OF 5000 each or tier
salaries TINS year 10 the STATE, lh's announcement
caused good deal Of laughter and applause from mem
hers Mr. HcpbdTn said that tnr salaries or the country
members Injured to tneir own beI Whle the saiarles
OF the city memners we're spent largely IN secu,lnG
doubtful voters. Mr. Giddcn asked MI Hepburn u he
know what the Term "COpenhaGrh meant. MI hep
burn answered that Iull information concerning tha
word would be found IN the Potter report. Mr. !
Fish, Putnam. sad he thought $1,000 was
amply sufficient. lie himself never spent more than
Thai Tor board during four months session In con
cusiOn Mr.. Hepburn moved that the amendment lie
ordered TO thrd reading The motion was adopted by
IA vote OI 81 to II.
the following Republicans voted against the adoption
OF the motion: Bradley, HaIsey Mcqueen, Robson. |
shut, segman Travis. TIOwbndEe WaInrr Wells total
10 The following Democrats V0itd AGAINST the mouoh
Clancy, DOuehery, Douslass Gavin. HoanaI, Madi-
gan McDuuuugh, Mcintyre Patterson, PcarSe Sherldln
total IL. AZ there are IS Repubilcans ana ~ Demo-
erals Z Will be noticed that faT larger proportion OF
Democrats than Republicans opposed the adoption OF
the amendment New-iork aud its vicinity fulnshed
If opponents OF tue amendment MI. Stdldn
arrward offered his resolution for :" voluntary re.
turn the Treasury OF 5000 OF the salary OF eae
member the present year, but SPEAKER AlYord ruled
the resolution on the ground t9at would be yT-
tua " coercion" Ga members not To do what the law
permits them TO do.