The Montgomery advertiser., 1901-06-22
left to the Legislature? Tn west vir- ginia. the salary is s3,7oo. In Missis- sippi, in 1892, s3.500.

SOicuidE-1 ldts 6CHlitHhCHs BlfCs you an idea of what other States are doing in fixing salaries for their Gov ernors. and why should Alabama ordain here that the salary of the Governor should be fixed at S, ,000. Why not leave 1t in the discretion of the Legislature. and let the Legislature increase that salary as the revenues of the State will justify 1t? I have said again and again, that if we adopt this resolution. we will transgress the authority sup posed to be vested in us by the cleo tion of this body. I repeat, it was not discussed before the people, and they have and do expect that we attend to the important duty of the franchise. and they circumscribed us in all other respects as to the limits that we should go. We notice-and l call your atten- tioA to it-the continuous efforts being made to impress this Convention with the idea that the platform and the pledge was unfortunate; that we should not be bound by it. I don't know where gentlemen get authority to disregard a pledge upon which they were elected. I had never heard it asserted by any true Democrat before. Why are we not bound by the pledges? Were they not the express will of the people at that time?
 Mir. Oates-If you won't mind an in- terruption, I can give you a very il- lustrious case: Cleveland was elected on platform which required the repeal of the 10 per cent. tax. and the first man heard speak out and say that he was not bound by it,. was W. J. Bryan. .,.
 MT. Coleman-And where is W. J. Bryan today? Naughter.) And per- haps-and I mean nothing personal hNrx H. rx,he m tioned him here as an example for us has been following his ways most closely himself. -
 Have not you been patterning after Mir. Bryan a little too closely yourself.
 Mir. Oates-I don't know what in.
 Mr. Coleman-The gentleman says T don't know what in" l don't know but I simply apply the old rule that like causes produce like results. Now, MT. President, I trust that every dele gate upon this floor will cast his vote remembering his duty as Democrat and his duty to the State. and that is all that l ask.
 MT. Knox-I had not intended. MT. President, after the discussion on yes- terday to renew 1t this morning. The gentleman from Greene made two ar guments on yesterday, but it seems he was not satisfied with the case then made, and he makes another one this morning. do not understand what he means by gentlemen buttonhofing dele gates. Does he mean that when an im- portant matter is pending before this Convention. that delegates to this Con- vention are not authorized to discuss those questions except upon the floor of the Convention? l remember when an important matter was pending be- Ca,Hfv NP which the gentleman is the distin- suished Chairman. and there was not entire harmony in that committee no gentleman was more active in button holing delegates than the distinguished gentleman from Greene.
 MT. President. the gentleman objects to incres sing the salary of the Cover nor because the question was not sub mitted to the people, but 1 Remember that in the Constitutional Convention of 1875, when the salaries of the Juages of the Supreme Court of this State were reduced to three thousand dols lars, just, the same amount at which the salary of the Governor was placed, that the Legislature increased the sal ary of the Supreme Court Judges of which the distinguished gentleman en- joyed the benefit for quite a number of years, and we never heard, Mr. Presi- dent, that that swas, unlawful because # had not been submitted to vote. of the people. -o.. .
 MT. Coleman (Greene)-I did not un- derstand the remark-I did not catch it.
 MT. Knox--I. said, and I was arguing that it Is competent for Legislature and itis competent for a Constitutional Convention to pass upon questions 1t,ifh ssIYlx mitting them to the people.
 MT Coleman CGreene)-With your permission-I understood you to make some reference to some gentleman not complaining a an increase of the sal ary.
 MT. Knox-I did not individualize any gentleman. brt stated that when the salaries of the Supreme Court Judges of thls St2te we. e increased from three thousand dollars to three thousand five hundred dollars. l never heard 1t ob- jected that it was improper for the in crease be made -heCL)se the question for vote upon the direct issue.
 The gentleman from Greene occupied the office of Solicitor in this State for quite a number of years, in one of the most important districts in the State. It was before the salary sys- tenn went into effect. And it is gen orally understood that the solicitor ship in that territory was worth from five thousand to ten thousand dollars a year. The gentleman. believe, retired from the office after it was reduced, ol just before it was reduced to three thousand dollars
 It seems to me. Mr. President. that the people of Alabama ought to be willing and I am sure they are willing t1 pay the Chief Executive of this State a decent salary. Suppose the sal ary Is increa sed. Why, 1t would raise the taxes per capita less than one cent And where is the patriotic citizen cf Alahama-a delegate suggests ii would hot he that niuCh--I am sure il would not be more, but where is the patriotic citizen of Alabama who is not willing that the Chief Executive of this State should be ahle to hold Cp his head-sh0uld be so equipped as that he can sustain the dignity of the Stale. l argued yesterday, and l re- for the Constitutional Convention and financially eplbs trasseJ to reduce the salaries. l; is competent for the delegates to this Convention to give expression to an opinion that this sal ary should now be increased. You have refused to increase it. 4 number of delegates upon this floor voted against an increase because they thought it va; the proper province of the Legislature. l submit that it i' competent in view of that action which you have taken rather than give color to the idea that you are op' posed to fair and proper compensation