The Manning times. [volume] (Manning, Clarendon County, S.C.) 1884-current, 1895-09-18
VOTED IT DOWN.
THE MEMBERS OF THE CONVENTION
NO SALARY GRABBERS.
4 Motion to Increase the Pay of the Mem
bers frora Two TO Four Dollars Voted
Down by a Handsome Majority.

Down by a Handsome Majority.
COLUMBIA, S. c.. Sept. 12.-One of
the livliest and most interesting de-
bates during the session of the Constr
tutional Convention so far occurred
yesterday when the members refused
by large majority to pay themselves
four dollars per diem instead OF two,
the amount fixed by the Legislature.
The subject was brought up by the
introduction of the following resolu-
ton which was offered by Ex-Gov.
sheppard:
Resolved. That the members Of this
convention shall receive as compensa-
ton two dollars day during the ses-
sions of the convention and five cents
per mile for each mile travelled COM
ing to and returning from the conven-
ton.
It was moved that the resolution be
referred to the proper committee, but
MIR. Sheppard insisted on its immedi-
ate consideration, holding that there
ought not to be any delay about it:
iTne Legislature in its wisdom had
fixed the salary of members and he
thought they were to accept it wheth-
er they thought it was enough or not.
He facetiously remarked that the con-
yention would have g chance at Legls-
lators salaries and might return the
compliment, but he thought the mat
ter could be disposed of as well now as
| AT any other time.
! Mr.. George Johnstone said that we
did not know yet what the expenses Of
the convention would be- The appro-
priation may or may not be adequate,
but so far as our own compensation IS
concerned we owe it to ourselves to
speak out now. We ought to accept
the decision of the Legislature:
Mr.. Breazeale didn't think the reso-
luton carried out the terms of the Act
of the Legislature, but Mr.. Sheppard
said it was in the identical words.
The immediate consideration Of the
resolution was then ordered by a vote
of 116, the negative vote being so small
it was not counted.
! ECONOMY RULES.
The discussion of the subject was
continued at some length, but in the
end the 50 people won.
Mr.. Rogers of Marlboro, while con-
sidering economy a good thing,
/ thought 50 was entirely inadequate
and he didn't believe in that sort Of
] economy. He moved to amend the
resolution by making the per diem 81
sand he believed that was little enough.
Mr., Clayton moved to lay that mo-
ton on the table as the members We're
morally, if not legally, bound by the
action of the Legislature. He with
drew the motion temporarily in order
to- permit other members to express
their views.
Mr.. H. G. Burn walked into the
middle aisle and made rousing
lspeech in favor Of 50, although he
thought it was not enough. He did
not think the Legislature had any
rigIt to bind the convention, but it
was a patriotic duty to abide by the
result as the people expected them to
get only 50 per day. He considered
that the Legislature had got too "big-
| gity" in arrogating to itself the power
to bind the sovereign people OF the
State, and although 50 would make
them stay in cheap boarding houses,
vet from patriotism he was willing to
ACCEPT it. His remarks were loudly
tappiauded.
At this point Col. Aldrich moved
that as no rules had been agreed upon
that for the present motion to lay
over shall not act to cut off debate.
Mr.. Ellerbe said that last winter he
had not favored the 50 salary, but it
was passed by the Legislature and the
appropriation for the expenses of the
convention wasmade on that basis and
it should not be changed. He believed
that if members got 81 per day 1t
would have a tendency to prolong the
session. whereas if they only got 50
they would hurry up with the work
they had to do.
Mr.. McCalla of Abbeville favored
economy, but he didn't believe that 50
was enough and he didn't believe the
people wanted them to serve without
having their expenses paid.
Mr.. Prince of Anderson said while
the convention was in no way bound
by Legislative action, he thought 81
should be accepted because the people
expected it. Let the convention fix
the salary at 50 simply because the!
people expected it to do so.
Mr.. Rogers again speaking to the
subject said that he did not believe the
convention to be either legally or NOR
ally bound by the action of the Legis-
lature, but this thing Of 81 per diem
was setting a race to carry economy to
an extreme that made it ridiculous.
This cry of economy had served dema-
gogues in years past and he was will
inc to fix the salary at such figure as
to rid the State of this demagogism.
He believed that the people were will
ing to pay fair salaries.
Lieutenant Governor Zimmerman
said that the Legislature only made
the suggestion as to So and he thought
this body was willing to make sacri-
fees for the common good Of the peo-
pie. He thought members owed 1t to
themselves to pursue a wise and just
policy and accept the S2 per diem.
MI. Derry SalO lndL Wueu Heu4OeIo
accepted the position Of delegates they
did it under tacit contract that they
accept the 50 per Giem. Members
should not involve themselves in an
inconsistency by accepting 81 when
they were here to make constitution
so that the administration Of the gov
ernment could be economically done
in the future. |!
Senator Watson of Edgefeld said
that 81 wouldn't pay a business man to
quit his business and come here. We
are here as patriots, he said, and he !
hoped that a 81 per diem would notl
be insisted upon. He could get good
board here for S. per week-just as
good as at home He hoped the Leg
islature of the future would not de- |
mand more than 50 per day.
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