The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1886-04-04
A NEW LEGISLATURE.

Our Washington correspondent, in
his letter which appeared in Satur-
days issue of THE HERALD. said the
difficulty and distress into which the
Territory has been plunged by the veto
OF the appropriation bill by Governor
Murray, were TO be overcome by the
President asking Congress to pass a
bill calling meeting of the Legislative
Assembly. As matter Of course Con-
gress will accede to this request. 1t is
a question whether or not the members
of the late Assembly would be eligible
to serve another. session without being
reelected. Some lawyers hold that the
Councillors and Representatives are still
the legislators of the Territory, and VIII
be until the end of the present year;
hence, in case of an extra session
being called by act of Congress
a new election would be unnecessary.
The majority opinion, however, is that
the term OF Office ended with the ex-
piration OF the sixty days session of the
Assembly, and that Congress itself can
not give the members new life as legis-
lators. 1t is probable that in the event
of an extra session being called, there
will be an election for members. twill
therefore be well for the people to be
deciding in their minds upon the men to
elect. Another consideration Will enter
into the matter than was taken into
account when the late Assembly was
chosen. The people should select men
who can afford to, and will, serve with
out compensation, or should arrange
TO paw by private contribution. 1t is
clear enough that under the present
administration, Utah legislators will
not be paid from the Federal Treas
ury unless the alleged debt due
from the Territory 10 the general
government shall be paid; and |
it Is absolutely certain that while the
people can control their own treasury
the unjust obligation will never be can
ceIled. No man who would suggest the
voting of money to pay the 'debt.
under the circumstances, could be 1
elected to any Office in this Territory, |
much less to a membership in the Leg
islatiye Assembly. The people would
be willing for the Legislature to be COM
pensated from the Territorial treasury,
but the law specifically forbids this.
hence while government viii not pay
the lawmakers must serve for love and
patriotism. We personally know that
several members of the late Assembly
were not merely annoyed. but fnan-
cially embarrassed through the with
holding of their compensation. They
were poor men, and had TO
borrow money to come here
and to pay their expenses
for two months; the cutting off of their
per diem lett them with obligations
which some will find it hard to meet.
1t will be too much 10 ask such men to
come back here and not only spend
their time but pay for the privilege of
staying. Also in all probability the
session will occur at a season of the
year when men can least afford 10 leave
their private affairs. s
The indications are that q nominal ]
ton for Governor will be made this
week 10 be followed soon by the suggest
ed message in regard to calling meet
ing of the Legislature, hence the voters
should be looking about them for men
who are not only representative, able
and true. but who can afford to spend a '
season in Salt Lake for the benefit of the {
Territory.