Lancaster daily intelligencer. [volume] (Lancaster, Pa.) 1864-1928, 1881-03-26
PiI.MEK'S OPINION.
The Legislators Do Not Like 1t.

The Legislators Do Not Like 1t.
Ia the state Senate yesterday Mr.. Cor
don offered the following:
WHEREAS, The attorney general in a
published opinion has advised the state
treasurer and auditor general that men,
bers Of the Legislature are entitled to re-
ceive only $1,000 for a hundred days of
session and that the law providing for ad-
ditiOnal compensation at the rate of ten
dollars a day not exceeding fifty days for
extended time, which has been in exist
ence and acted upon for seven years is un-
constitutional;
"And Whereas, No other Legislature
will meet for two years after the adjourn
ment Of this body for the purpose of gen.
eral legislation therefore,
Resolred Gf the House concur), That
while we believe this decision works in
justice to the members Of the Legislature
we nevertheless recognize that our duty
and service to the commonwealth should
be faithfully and fully discharged, IRE
spetiye Of said decision or its effect upon
us and further
''Resolced, That VIC will remain in ses-
sion for such additional time beyond said
one hundred days, whether paid for the
same or not as shall be requisite for the
passagei of necessary legislation, for the
conduct of the government, the refOrma-
ton of existing abuses. the benefit of the
people, and all other proper and necessary
purposes
Mr.. Sill offered the following as sub
stitute.
WHEREAS, The will of the people or
the injunction of the constitution requires
that certain acts be performed by the
Legislature ut its present session, prOmi-
nent anon; which are tho refupding OF
maturing state bonds at a reduced inter-
est the apportionment OF senators and
representatives Of the Assembly the judi
cial appOYtionmcnt Of the next decade
the revision OF the tax laws and the con-
sideration Of certain other questions re
terred to 10y his cxcellency in his annual
message and
WHEREAS, The trust reposed by the
| people in the present members Of the
Legislature is far above all questions Of
pecrniary reward. as it may be affected
by recently promulgated decisions as to
compensation therefore
"Resolced, That it is the sense of the
Senate that no adjournment should be had
until each cne Of the above measures have
been carefully considered and such con-
clusions arrived at as may best subserve
the interest of this commonwealth"
Mr.. Laird thought the Senate had moth
ing to do with the attorney generals opin-
ion, as it was not officially before it.
Legislature should proceed without regard
to the opinion.
Mr.. Newmyer saw no reason why the
opinion should interfere with the duties OF
tine Legislature. He did not believe in
the spread-eagle declaration that the Leg
| islature would do their duty.
Mr.. Reyburn- considered the opinion an
outrage Oh the Legislature, and it deserved
10 official recognition.
Mr.. Stewart expressed surprise that the
attorney general should have written such
an opinion, and that the state treasurer
and auditor general seould have adopted
the course they did. The action of the at.
tOrney general, and the declaration of the
state treasurer not to pay members for
their services, was revolutionary, aud an
assault upon the power and dignity of the
Legislature. The law fixing the salary OF
members, was presumed to be cOnstitu-
tiOnal until the supreme court declared ii
otherwise Under the law the state treas
,rer is required to pay members on war
rants drawn on him by the presiding Off
GERS of the Senate and House. The at
torney general had taken upon himself
more than legal authority, and the pro-
posed course of the state treasurer was an
unwarranted presumption.
Mr.. Norris said that it had been pri
vatcly stated that the state treasurer
would be controlled in his course by the
opinion Of the attorney general. He pro-
posed a remedy in this respect in tie shape
of a bill.
Mr.. Craig favored the resolution Of Mr.
Gordon as false impression may have
been circulated throughout the state.
The whole subject was indefinitely post
! y,oc,I