Las Vegas daily optic. [volume] (Las Vegas, N.M.) 1880-1908, 1900-10-31

being appointed district attorney in
that district. ~ ~
Later on the district clerks had a
bill largely increasing their emoiu-
ments and even the district judges
were to get $1,000 per annum extra.
The governors private secretary,
5000 extra.
One thousand dollars extra to the
governor for incidentals, if you know
what that is.
The adiutant general from 5000 to
$1,000, in time of peace, and 81, 800 in
time of war-it is easy to imagine
what that meant and SO on without
end.
Bills were also introduced creating
new offices-traveling auditors, insur-
ance commissioners, and our genial
friend, Tom Hughes, did actually in
troduce one bill, (not printing bill.)
to create the office OF registrar Of vot-
ers in each county OF the Territory, one
man who was to furnish list of
voters in each county. and say who
could vote and who could not.
How many of these bills became
laws the session acts show. That every
one originating in the lower house
passed that body is well know fact;
few OF these that originated in the
council and some that passed the
house. were held up by one member
of the council, who happened to get
them in his possession-being mem
Der of the committee to which they
were beforehand. when called for
in the council. had misplaced them
and could not find them. Later In the
session enough other members Joined
him to prevent their passage, and a
few failed to pass among them Broth
er Spiess' fee and salary bill, known
as the district attorney bill. So close
ly were both branches organized for
virtual plunder of the people. Of tvSen-
ty-twc republicans of the lower house
only three voted against the notorious
coal oil blli' In that body, and OF the
ten republicans In the council only
two voted against 1t, land, by the way,
as there were two coal oil bills pas
sed by that assembly, which one does
the Republican Territorial platform
propose to repeal?) But to return to
the salary legislation Here Il will
give what was common gossip at the
time the salary bill was pending, and
after its passage. and | only give i'll
for what it is worth. as rkhow nothing
as to whether it is true or not but, in
my experience in connection with leg
lative bodies, where there is So
much outside talk there is some rea-
son for it. 1t was noised around that
certain county school superintende dents
had been asked to send up their con-
tributions to certain members If they
desired their salaries raised. If this
was so, it seems to have been satis-
factory except in two cases, the sup
erintendents in Grant and Socorro
counties. In fact. as the talk had it,
one wrote back to the effect that he
considered the then salary $4,000 sum
cient remuneration for his services.
But, in the mean time, the bill had
been passed and their salaries hitch
ed up with the rest of that class, and,
as the talk went, when the informa-
tion from these two gentlemen was
received. some of the members were
very indignant Whether. as above
stated. there was any truth in the
talk or not. don't know. But It is
matter OF record that bill was In
troduced and passed in the council re-
ducing the salaries of these two sup
erintendents to $400 per annunl; 5000
less than when they were elected It
was. however, amended in the lower
house and placed at 5000. while some.
Of the other counties, with scarcely
one-third the wealth or school interest
remain at $500 per annum. And what
surprised every one Mt the time was.
that the governor would lend his aid
BY approving measure Ike this,
which was passed solely to yet re-
venge. vii now refer briefly te an
other class Of legislation
When the assembly convened there
was law On the statute book. Sec
26Iz Conn. Laws which, allowed fha