Salt Lake evening Democrat. [volume] (Salt Lake City, Utah) 1885-1887, 1886-01-20
THE GovERNeR' SALARY

THE GOVERNORS SALARY.
The Tribune of this morning fys to the
defense of Governor Murray in the mat
ter of the 1000 appropriated by the last
Legislature for the Governors "messen-
ger" far the years 1sS4-5. Let us analyze
the Tribune's defense of that affair. 1t
says:
It was appropriated after Governor Muir
rays term had expired; when no one knew
that he was to succeed himself; when had
any other man been appointed it would have
been his.
If that is the case and no one knew who
would succeed Governor Murray, how
does it come that this appropriation was
drawn by Governor Murray day or two
after it was passed by the Legisla-
ture? What was the reason for drawing
it all at once before the messenger,
etc." had earned it? If Governor Muir
ray had not succeeded himself, where
would have been the means for defraying
the expense of messenger, etc." for
the Executive Office for the years 1SS4-5?
The Tribune SAYS that the $1,000 were
appropriated after Governor Murray's
term had expired; when he did not know
that he was to succeed himself" That
is false in every respect. Governor Muir
rays commission as Governor of Utah
Territory bore date June %, 1880, and it
expired June %, 1884. The appropriation
act passed by the Legislature of 1884, which
contained this $1,000, and was approved
by Governor Murray March 13, 1884,
nearly three months and half before his
commission expired.
The Tribune goes on to say:
1t is notorious that no man can support
family here and entertain as Governor
salary paid by the Government. We can be-
lieve that Mormon Legislature can see
this fact and in measure remedy it, as it
ought to, without expecting that twill serve
as bribe.
When did the Tribune experience a
change of heart in regard to Mormon
Legislature when it has, within fort
night, said:
There is not man-Mormon or Gentile-
who does not know that in Utah the State is
but the verlest slave of the Church; who
does not know that in all the years past nei-
ther the City Council of this city nor the
Legislature of the Territory has dared to
pass one important measure without the ap-
proval first of the heads of the church.
The Mormon Legislature of 1884 had
no great regard for Governor Murray and
they would not have appropriated that
$1,000 unless they had been of the
opinion that Governor Murray, in return,
would have signed certain of the bills
which he did not sign. He accepted their
incense but denied their petition. The
Tribune says that the Governors salary
is inadquate and it believes "that Nor
mon Legislature can see this fact and in
measure remedy it, as it ought to. with
out expecting that it will serve as
bribe." If the Mormon Legislature of
1884 saw that fact and wished to make
the salary of the Governor adequate to
the dignity and importance of the
Office, why did not that Legislature ap-
propriate money to increase that salary?
1t appropriated not one single cent for the
salary of the Governor. 1t merely APP
propriated $4,000 "to be drawn on the
order of the Governor to pay a messen-
ger and other expenses of the Executive
Office for the years 1884 and 1885,"
That was what was done, and never
word was said about the Governors sal
ary.
The Tribune thinks it very terrible
thing for the DEMOCRAT to have said that
the Territories have no right to appropri-
ate money to Territorial Governors.
Well, that is both true and sound politi-
cal doctrine. 1t exclaims:
Think of that to come from teacher of
the people! A Territory is a ward of the
United States.
A Territory being ward of the United
States, these who are appointed to act as
guardians have no right to accept pres
ents from their wards.
There is more of the same sort of stuff
in the Tribune's defense( p of Governor
Murray, but we believe it contains no
statement which displays SO gross an ig-
norance as this one:
The salaries of Territorial Governors were |
fixed when q dollar had more purchasing
power than two dollars have now.
These is no defense or excuse that can
be offered in extenuation of the accept
ance of $1,000 by Governor Murray from
the Utah Legislature, and no sophistry
,an make of it anything else than sop
thrown to the Governor by the Legisla-
5ure. The "silly" part of this business
IS for the Tribune to undertake to make
black white. 1t can't be done.
AMERICAN BREADSTUFFS.