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

THE GOVERNOR'S SALARY.
The Tribune of this morning fys to the
defense OF Governor Murray in the mat
ter of the $4,000 appropriated by the last
Legislature for the Governors "messen-
ger' far the years 1SS4-5. Let us analyze |
the 7ribune's defense Of that affair. 1t
says:
1t 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.
II 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 $4,000 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 2S, 1880, and it
expired June 2s, 1884. The appropriation
act passed by the Legislature Of 1884, which
contained this $2, 900, and was approved
by Governor Murray March 1s, 1884,
nearly three months and hall before his
commission expired.
The Tribune goes on to say:
II is notorious that no man can support q
| family here and entertain rs n Governor
should and as Governor Murray has, on the
salary paid by the Government We can be-
lieve that q Mormon Legislature can see
this fact and in measure remedy it, rs il
ought to, without expecting that 1t will 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 IL
but the veriest slave of the Church; who
does not know that in all the years past nei
ther the City Council of this city nor the
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 ant
they would not have appropriated that
$4,000 unless they had been OF the
opinion that Governor Murray, in return
would have signed certain of the bill
which he did not sign. He accepted thei
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 il
measure remedy it, as it ought to. with
out expecting that it will serve rs
bribe." II the Mormon Legislature ol
1884 saw that fact and wished to make
the salary of the Governor adequate to
the dignity and Importance OF tn,
Office, why did not that Legislature up
propriate money to increase that salary
1t appropriated not one single cent for tn,
salary of the Governor. 1t merely ap
propriated $4,000 "to be drawn on tn,
order of the Governor to pay 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 n very terrible
thing for the DEMOCRAT to have said tina
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 a
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 nc
statement which displays so gross an ig
norance as this one:
The salaries of Territorial Geyernors were
fixed when a dollar had more purchasing
power than two dollars have now.
These is no defense or excuse that cal
be offered in extenuation OF the accept
ance OF $4,000 by Governor Murray from
the Utah Legislature, and no sophistr,
can make OF it anything else than So
thrown to the Governor by the Legisa
ture. The "silly" part OF this bushes
is for the Tribune to undertake to max
black white. 1t can't be done.