The River Falls times. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1894-1933, 1897-01-26
More Promises to be Broken.

The Milwaukee Sentinel recently
DoIled the members of tile Senate and
Assembly on the anti-pass bill now
pendingin the legislature. 1t developed
that only twent -ive members out OF
the whole legislature favored the anti
pass law, while the others either
lodged the question or were non
committal. The chances are that the
dodgers may be put down among
those opposing the bill. George E..
p att, of this city, is quoted in the
Milwaukee Sentinel thualy: 81 will
favor anti-pass legislation, if the
state will pay the members OF the
legislature salaries SO that they can
afford to travel" If quoted correctly,
lth an argument is not only thin
bu wy u + tir. Al assembly
man gets salary of five hundred
dollars for his services during the
session OF the legislature, which usual
iv lasts about three months. in
addition to this he gets ten cents per
mile to and from Madison. which
from this city would increase this
salary $52 40, the distance being 1852
miles, making total Of 1852. 40.
By deducting the gular railroad
fare( $15. 7O)and five dollars per week
for board $3.50 on the basis of a
twelve weeks sessomhe would still
have $476. 70 or a net salary OF
$158 90 per month.
In the light of this, who would
not consider the salary of
legislators an ample compensation
for the services rendered even though
the session should continue a week or
so longer than the three months.
But there are those who will agree
that the matter of salary should
have nothing to do with influencing
all assemblyman's vote upon this
hi Or any other. Assemblymen or
Senators who accept nomination
for an office with a fixed salary at
ia, he'd show poor Judgment and
still poorer value as representatives
of the peoples interests, who after
election will legIslate in the interests
of their pockets instead OF those
of theff constituents. But if quoted
correctly what do such statements
means? II assemblymen ale not PAID
adequately in their opinion. are they
willing 20 accept from corporations
sufficient addition to their perquisites
to fully compensate them for Their
services and genius? And If so, how
do they propose to divide their
allegiance between the two masters
the state and the corporation?
Barring the fact that the people OF
this state have through their delegates
representing all parties and especially
the republican party, declared
against the free legislative pass,
barring the fact that the state pays
a mileage sufficiently large,
which ii invested i'll mileage tickets
would carry every legislator to his
home and back at least five times
during a. session of the legislature and
barring the fact that a legislator, who
will accept free pass to increase
his salary though he may not
accept hercourtesies for similar rea-
sons, the free pass system works
other hardships. it cannot he denied
that the system has a great influence
in causing the many APPOINTMENTS
which prolong the session. 1t has
been estimated that it costs the state
one thousand dollars per day to run
the legislature outside of the regular
fixed salaries. When it is known that
one third OF the Legislative session is
spent IN adjournm. mis-. it is easy to
see that great waste OF ther re ources
of the people can be accounted Tor
through the legislative free pass.
Sham Hall Marks.
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