The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1898-11-17
DON'T WANT THE PAY CUT.
ADVERSE REPORT ON The BILL TO
CUT COMMISSIONERS SALARIES

should Fill the Positions and They
should Receive Good Pay-Com-
misSioners Discussed the Matter
with the COmmittee--Comparis
OF the Appropriations in Several
states for the Railroad Commits
siOns.
The bill of Representative Lane 10 re-
duee the salaries OF the members of the
Railroad Commission has been taken up
and considered by Subcommittee OF the
general judiciary committee of the leg
isiature. This bill contemplates the re-
duetion OF the salary OF the chairman to
5000 and that Of the associate members
to 81 800. 1t was decided by the committee
TO report adversely upon The bin.
Those comprising the committee are Rep
resentatives Mclaughlin, chairman; La
Roche, Starr, Barron, Handy, Bower,
Merritt and Hutchins, The Railroad Conn
rnissioners met with this committee and
expressed themselves, upon invitation. as
being strongly opposed to the proposed re-
duction 1t might be supposed that they
would do so, but the opinions the gentle
men expressed were such as 70 indicate
their belief that the best purposes of the
office would not be conserved by a reduc-
ton,
Chairman Trammell OF the board of COM
nissioners made a weighty argument
AS his term of office win expire within
year, he said he could not be looked upon
as having very much personal interest in
the bill, one way or another. For the good
of the commission and the objects for
which II was formed however, he said he
was strongly opposed 10 the salaries be-
ing reduced. For seventeen years he mas
been a member of ihe Railroad Commits
sion, aud during this period he has known
of the introduction of several bills TO cut
down the salaries of the commissioners.
The chairman said there could be no
doubt that the commission has saved the
people of Georgia millions of dollars since
its forma ton, and that good men should
be kept upon il. To keep good men in
the position they have to be paid, as there
is such a demand upon the time of the
commissioners to attend 10 the duties of
their positions as 10 make ii impossible
Cor them 70 carry on another business.
Col. Trammell said the work Of the
commission has increased fourfold since
its establishment twenty years ago. Tele-
graph telephone and express companies
have been brought under the jurisdiction
of the commission, and he does not see
the logic in a reduction of salaries when
there has been an accumulation of work
and when results show that great sav-
ing has been effected by the commission.
A comparison of the salaries paid the
commissions of other states show that
most Of them get more or as much as
Georgias. Some of those cited were as
follows:
Alabama,-Three commissioners salary
of chairman, 50 800; associates, $4,000; Sec
rotary, 81, 500l printing fund, S1,000 contin-
gent fund, $500. Total annual approprla-
ton, $4,000. Powers advisory only.
California--Rate- making powers; three
commissioners; salaries, $1,000; secretary,
81 400; assistant secretary, 1920; stenog-
rapher- $500; other funds, $780, Total APP
propriaton, S17. $50.
Connecticut-Three commissioners; sala-
ries, 5000; secretary, $500; all expenses
paid by the state. No rate-making power
Illinois Matchmaking power; three COM
missoners salaries, $500; secretary,
81 800; assistant secretary. 1850; various
funds, $3.50 Total appropriation, $4,000.
Notwithstanding power; three COM
missoners; salaries, 5000 each; secretary,
81. 800; clerk, $1,000; other appropriations,
$500, Total. s17 400.
Kansas-Rate-m making power; three COM
missioners; salaries, $3.50; secretary,
s., 500; clerk, 81, 200; .stenographer $500; con-
tingent fund, $1,000 Total, 81 800.
Kentucky-Three commissioners; no
rate-making powers; salaries, 5000; sec
rotary 81 200. All expenses paid by state
without special appropriation.
South Carolina-Three commissioners,
with rate-making powers; salaries, 81 300;
secretary, 1900.
Texas-Rate- making power; three COM
ana
nine clerks and assistants. Total pay Ct
same, sl2,24O printing. etc. $1,000 besides
other funds. Total appropriation, SOS, $40.
Eermont-No rate-making power; three
commissioners at IS, and secretary. at S.
per day.
Florida-Rate making power; three COM
missioners at $3.50 each; secretary, 81, 300.
Georgia-Three commissioners; rate max
ing power; salaries, 81, 800; secretary, 81. 100;
contingent fund. $500; printing fund. 81 900,
Total 1850.
Judge Spencer Atkinson also gave the
committee a talk, telling something about
the work of the commission and the de-
mands that are made upon the time OF
the members. He was asked by Mr.. Lane
the introducer of the bill, IT, in his opin-
ion, the chairman of the commission
should not receive more pay than the 9TH
er members. This the judge answered in
the negative, saying that the law knows
no chairman of the commission, that the
members simply meet and choose one OF
their number to act as chairman. This
chairman signs the correspondence anc
presides at the meetings, but the RESPONSE
bilities and duties OF all the members are
coordinate. A question as TO the time
spent in the office Of the commission alsC
came mp, il being considered by some
evidently. that as much time as should bt
Is not devoted to the work of the board
Commissioner T. c. Crenshaw invited
the members of the committee to vis
the office of the commission and look owe
the work TO see If II does not entitle thos,
who perform it to the salaries now receiv
ed.
There was only one dissenting vote whei
the committee had the question of an ad
verse report come up.
The board Of directors of the Interstate
Merchants Association Of ST. Louis ha
decided to hold a mercantile and raiiwa,
conference in thai ,affx or, Nov