Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1901-06-27
THE STATE SALARY
CONTROVERSY.
Acknowledgement Breeder Complies What
lie Thinks Was the Intention OF the
Trainers OF the Constitution.

thousand dollars Is plenty, untll the
Legislature meets. IL they want 10
they can change it, Page 1854, Proc.
Con. Conv.
Judge Goodwin said among other
things, we are told today that the
legislature can ilX IT, So far we have
been tiNing the constitution so the legis-
lature viii have no say and Il this Is
superior body TO what the ordinary
legislature OF this state la going 10 be,
10 GODS name, let us fix ii 30 they can
not rob the man entirely aud make him
pay bis own expenses Page 1856, i'd.
Abel John Evans, here is another able
lawyer. clear headed legislator and an
old-llne Democrat He said. among
Other THINGS. Speaking ON this same
SnAiecD; ''We provide here. that when
the legislature shall meet, they may
provide some other salaries for these
various officers but now, IN starting
out In the beginning of this new state
Coins before the people with those
larEe salaries 1 say that II will be a
mistake NJ We do that Page 1855, i'd
Nr FAIR, another wheel horse in the
democratic chariot. csaii.
Els those salaries &C reasonably
low figure. This salary can be raised
BY the next legislature, If they want,
that Is what II provides for, but II you
put II too large 20 begin with, then II
Is going to frigliton the people.
No. gentlemen We must pause and con-
slider and start I'm az we can hold out,
and let the legislature fix those matters
as It IS reasonable" Page ll57. ld
Mr. Abel John Evans speaks again
1T seems as though we lose sight Of
the fact that this paragraph az report
ed by the committee provides that tho
legislature may make such changes as
they may deem proper II Ia not helng
hNed. II " not az the laws W the Modes
ana Pertains. but we ARE fixing II now
upon trial which at most II The legis-
latur' shall deem advisable to make ~
change &C VIII only De Tor two years.
Is IL four years2 I understand il is not
10 take effect during their term. |
would ask whether that f. fact,
whether the treasurer ~ elected for
four yeara?' Page 1850 ID.
CONCLUDING COMMENT.
| submit the foregoing extracts. tax.
en- from the proceedings OF the Consti-
tutional convention, simply for the
purpose Of advising the people OF the
sentiment and apparent design Of the
membcig Of the Constitutional con-
ventlon, concerning the power con-
ferrcd upon the legislature, respecting
The liking of salaries OF state officers.
Judge Farlan appears to be the only
member Of the convention who cave
positive expression to any doubts reia-
tive tn The power OF the legislature TO
fix the salaries OF state officers, in ac-
C0rdance with whatever additional du-
ties that the legislature might see 1T
10 impose upon them.
The last legislature passed an act
Increasing the salaries Of the state Of
ficers. The authority Of the legislature
TO do ga, for the present incumbents,
has been questioned, Lawyers differ
upon this question as they do upon
most questions; some holding 10 the
opinion that the legislature is prohibit
ed from increasing the salaries OF the
present incumbents, while others hold
to the contrary, and rely upon the lat
ter clause of section 20 OF article VII
Of the Constitution as expressive OF the
Intention Of the convention and grant
ing this powcr TO the legislature The
clause referred to reads as follows
"rhe compensation of the officers
provided fof by this article until other
wise provided by law is fixed as fol-
lows"
The last legislature attempted to
Otherwise provide by law" and In
creased the state officers salaries and
appropriated funds therefor These are
about the facts as I understand them.
and not wishing nor intending to give
my views as 20 the constitutionality
Of the act Of the legislature, ! present
the foregoing 10 the readers OF your
paper that they may have before them
the whole case. | viii state, however.
In closing, that there Is not state Of
hcer in Utah, who has any intention to
grab salary" unlawfully Truly
NJ. a, BREEDEN.