The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1893-04-19
FLoRIDA's "TaIRD HOUSE" KICKS.
Where Economy Might Be introduced
With Benefit.


TALLAHASSEE, FLA. April 17.-Ed-
ttor Morning NelCS: The proposition
of "the gentleman from De Soton and his
patriotic followers to inaugurate sweeping
reductions in the pay of the attaches OF the
Florida legislature, while leaving their own
untouched, has created no little stir in the
third house,
l am by no means opposed to clean,
thorough, honest and consistent cut in the
interests OF economy; but believe that the
knife should be inserted at the top of the
loaf and come out squarely at the bottom,
and that every mans slice should be but
tered alike. There is no reason sustai ned
by justice and prudence for any reduction
In salaries here which falls so far short OF a
respectable effort in that direction as that
In question, which is besides, characterized
by desire to deal out to others what they
are not ready TO take themselves. The
measure advocated by ''tbe gentleman from
De Soto" is shOrt-sighted, narrow and dan
gerous, and will bear heavily upon men not
entitled to mileage and vino are deprived Of
the sweets Of buncombe, cheap glory and
notoriety.
If the honorable gentleman is honestly
anxious for retrenchment, and if he have
any just conception of economy, let him
pause in his headlong career and reflect
upon these figures:
The estimated cost Of running this legisla-
ture Is 81 900 day, or $40 per member
which gives $3.50 day for the lower house
alone. That house has recently been sitting
about four hours a day, which would give an
expense of $40 an hour, aud when Mr. Gill
christ talks two hours, as he sometimes
does, he imposes upon the state a bill of
S34O. Let US assume, for arguments sake.
that be has talked on an average thirty
minutes day for the ten days of the ses-
sion, and we have the neat little sum of
$3.50; and il he goes on as gloriously az he
has begun. he will cost Florida for the en-
tire sixty days of the session something like
S., 100.
On the other hand, the amount that would
be saved by the buncombe proposition that
has been made in reference to tine pay of
the attaches would save the state but 50 $40,
cut bodily from the pay OF those who get
neither mileage. glory nor reputation, who
come here at their own expense and take
the risk of getting left after all.
The above figures show a difference
against 1.-THE gentleman from De Soto' of
81, 400. and the balance is in favor of those
who do the necessary drudgery of the legis-
lature. A cut of only 81 day on the mem
bers would show saving of $4,000,
aud II those who are en-
cheering this cheap device for
notoriety at the expense of others have any
conception Of justce-of right and wrong
they will not be checked in their move-
ment by amounts so niggardly as those pro-
posed, but will strike right and left and put
the clerks of both houses at So per day, the
members at "a, the sergeant-at-arms at 81
and the rest OF the cut as proposed. Will
they do it. or will they continue to talk of
retrenchment at rate that indicates both
their desire for fame and their incapacitv
to obtain 1t upon any terms acceptable to a
thoughtful man2 SoAPsTICKs.