The weekly Floridian. [volume] (Tallahassee, Fla.) 1867-19??, 1889-05-28

To the Editor o, the FLoRrDIAS:


To the Editor OF the FLoRIDIAN
The near approach of June and the large
amount Of important legislation, both unfinished
and new. which viii unavoidaby he left with
out consideration or passage should the Legisa-
ture adjourn next Friday, has brought promi
nently forward the question OF the true constitu-
toual limit Of the sixty days sitting OF the Leg
islature, that is whether or not Sundays shall be
counted in making up the sixty days This
question embraces further, two other questions
to wit are members legally and morally en-
titled to pay for eight Sundays, on which days
they have not worked or held any meetings and
on which days they could not have legally done
any work and for which they would have made
themselves amenable to the laws against
Sabbath breaking if they had worked? And
also the question OF validity of any action taken
or laws passed after the expiration of sixty days
from April 2d, the day on which the Legisla-
ture convened.
These questions are being seriously consider
ed, and while some members clamor for sun
days pay when there was not even pretensa
of work made, nor any meeting of either body,
others say they are willing to earn their per
diem and finish up needed work, or if adjourn
ment is insisted upon, to renquish any claim
on the eight Sundays when they did not work,
and for which they feel they have no right to
be paid. The whole question seems to hinge
really on this, for it appears absurd to question
the validity of any act passed any one of the
sixty working days after the converting of the
Legislature, for certainly no one will claim that
any legislation done Sunday would be valid
and taking this as standpoint, the limit Of
sixty DAYS surely could mean nothing more more
less than sixty days on which work can be done,
for many State constitutions expressly say
Sixty days, exclusive OF Sunday and the
failure 10 in. eIt the latter clause in our own was
evidently an omission which should not have
been made
PAY for Sunday wsrk violates the laws OF
God and man and all the teachings Of morality
and religion, while pay for work not done VIC
lates every principle OF hight, justice and equity
and is a grievous imposition OF an unnecessary
and inexcusable burden upon the poor tax
payer and the dear people, which the aver
age salary grabber viii find ii difficult to ex-
plain to his constituents if they have any sense
of justice or feeling OF regard for the sanctity OF
the Sabbath.
II farmer or a contractor hires man for one
dollar day, he pays him one dollar for each
day he works, but not a picayuue for any Sun
day on which he does not work The Cons,j
tuition says the members OF the Legislature shall
be paid so much per day, the amount to be fixed
by themselves and which they have fixed at
the very highest figure allowable, and that
they shall not Sit moIe than sixty DAYS. If the
Legislature had finished up its business in two
weeks, would it have drawn pay for full scs-
sion: Most assuredly not. Why Because
it could not have had the cheek TO demand nav
for services not rendered for balance Of the
term. Why then the members entitled to
anything for any other days SUNDAYS On
which they did not, and could not legally. rem.
der any service:
Is there a Christian, G fearing man who
thinks he is justly entitled to paw for Sunday
work which he has no; performed. while he has
been trying to prevent railroads and steamb PATS
from earning money on Sunday and getting pay
for work which hey 90 perform:
The Legislature has wantonly and neeGles.y
wasted great deal of time aud many OF i.
members will draw pay for many a day on
which they never showed th-ir faces at their
desk, and 1t is ~ llIc HEY c,ul DO 70 ., to
work and devote those eight days lin lieu Of sun
day and make up that o. time, as far IS POS.
sible, in finishing up needel legislation
Governor Fleming should consult The Auor-
ney General All HE judges OF the Supreme
Court and give legtl ana decisive opinion on
this question, and tue legislature owes i, to it
self and the people to be nu. on record in this
matter. JUNIUs