The Helena independent. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1875-1943, 1891-02-10
THE PRICE WAS RAISED.
after This It is Proposed to Charge
the State More for Legis-
lators.
Representatives Think That Six
Dollars q Day Ii Not Enough
for Their Services.
4 Long Discussion Over the Bill Fixing
Fees for Members. Officers and
Attaches.

The only ripple that disturbed o thu
calm and peaceful legislative waters occurr-
ed yesterday in the house when the bill pre-
scribing the duties and fees Of officers came
under discussion. The bill which is num-
bered 4, and was introduced by Mr.. Toole,
has been hanging tre for some time. II
was first criticised by a standing commit
tee and reported to the house, when It was
pretty thoroughly discussed on the sidc by
the members. Then it was referred to =
standing committee and again reported
back to the house and again discussed by q
committee Of the whole, Mr.. Barrows pre-
siding. The entire afternoon was con-
sumed in quibbling over points and tinker
ing with details, all Of which was very
monotonous until Mr.. Loud amused the
boys with an amendment. He proposed to
increase the salaries Of representatives from
IS to 50 a day. This change would not at
feet the present house because the consti-
tuition provides that legislators annot FIX
their own salaries. The discussion aroused
much. interest doubtless because some Of
the representatives expect to be returned
by admiring constituents.
After the amendment was read Mr.. Loud
spoke for a few minutes in favor of its
passage. He argued that the expenses Of a
representative were heavy while living in
the capital city and therefore he should at
least derive enough to live we'll. He also
thought u m should draw rs largo q
salary rs any of the subordinate officers
which should be large enough to make it
worth a mans time 10 serve his constitu-
s. ~-k~ M o~-nonrtntipn Ms md ynaInu.
nted thai more or less expense was attached
to 4 campaign for election to the honorable
body and he intimated that this should be
considered in the discussion of the amend
ment.
Col. Frank Hollywood. Of Deer Lodge.
had a word to say in favor of the amend
mcnt. He thought II tendency had been
shown to make an aristocratic body out OF
the house Of representatives because eome
OF the member thought that the salary
should be kept down to nothing. This sys-
tenn would deprive the state of representa-
tives among the w~orkingmen who could not
afford to CON to ths legislature under
these conditions.
Mr.. Howey opposed the amendment in n
ten-minute speech. He began with a sar-
castle reference to Mr.. LIQUIDS argument.
saying that the idea that the state shouid
pay a representatives campaign expenses
WIS something new to him. He could not
understand why the gentleman was SO in
terested in future legislators. n he
thought that SO q day was enough. That
sum, he saw, was a good deal moe than
Q good many OF them would earn as home.
He believed that any mar could live we'll in
Helena or in any town in Montana on that
sum, and then he added that it was Il we'll
known fact that the representatives were
not obliged to pay railroad fare. 1t was
the same old story. When a man is elected
TO Office the salary is not large enough. The
1oCielatuY0 had been in Sqaai0u 1C5 daya
s worth D Of work. He He thought lou u 'st tie
amendment if passed would outrage public
decency and it ought to outrage it. lie
ions OF his fellows. An election to the leg
islative department is always regarded as
an honor and it is an old principle that leg
islators are ex pected to devote part of their
time to the interest of the state without
compensation. If a man coilnot do that he
has no business to represent tho people.
The representatives should not enter into n
political race If the state is to pay their ex-
penses. Mr.. Howey had noticed that not
W~ithstanding the meagre salary there was
NO lack OF applicants for the places. ZAP
plause.] A vote was then taken on the
Hollywood, Breen, Day. C~rutchdeld, Poole,
Monteath, Goodman, Roberts, Lochray,
Whaley, Moran, Boardman, Blake, Cory,
HASTE, Horsky, Thompson. Harlan. New
comer-21. Hayes, Kempland, Hughes,
Beach, howey: Wallace, Woodson, Harden
Mitchell, Wing, Hotter, Burnside.
Another little brush occurred when the
chief clerks salary was reached. some one
had sent up an amendment that this should
be IS instead of $40. When Mr.. Woodson
sal! he thought the clerks earned
s Bal. sA'' said Nj. An'G Wood son. bad bad
great idess concerning the value of labor.
Then some discussion followed over the
salaries Of the other officers. Mr.. Blakely
sarcastically asked why the chaplain was
not included: The amendment changing
the chief clerks salary was voted down and
the salaries of the watchmen were changed
from IS TO S. a day. The bill after all the
discusslon appears IN nearly It's original
form. 1t will probably be passed to-day.
II all the representatives appreciated the
fact that this session costs the state $500 a
day needed legislation would doubtless be
promptly enacted. The time wasted yes
terday would pay for the increase of some
of the salaries.
The bill providing for a state examiner
and prescribing his duties has now bsen
with the committee on state boards and
OAoSO Va aoyos nv ACoou CAtCC z L
anxious to have it becoms a law at the
earliest possible moment and thus relieve
the suspense. They are David G.. Brown, of
Fort Benton, chairman Of the state COM
mittee Of Choteau country; Col. James
sullivan, ~ex-state auditor, and John w.
Buskett. Each would like to be state
sYaminer, and nc wonder, for il will be a
pleasant Office and will pay the incumbent
$4,000 a year with an allowance for travel
ing expenses. Mr.. Brown has been in town
several weeks looking after his interests
and all expect to get the Office. Mr.. Brown
and Mr.. Buskett are in the house every
day.
Mr.. Boardman introduced a dill concern
ing the establishment of the proposed new
county of Teton. 1t proposes to leave the
matter for the citizens of Chotsau county to
decide by ballot. This will delay the final
settlement Of the question for some time.
Mr.. MitchelPs bill proposes to have the
question disposed Of by the state legislat-
urs at this session. 1t is said that Mr..