The Green Forest tribune., 1902-03-22
THE FIFTH AMENDMENT. A
Sound Reasons Why It Should be Adopted by the People.

some candidates against the pro- posed amendment to the state cons titution, that the legislature cannot be trusted to fix the sal ary of it's members is unworthy of a man of ordinary sense.
 The legislators, by this amend ment, could not effect their own pay,,in the least. They must come back to the people for another indorsement before they'could be permitted to draw the salary they might fix, while as the law now stands they can draw S6.G0 day for the regular session and a sim- liar amount for each day they see proper to extend the session as we'll as for the time employed in any extra sessions. It is a well known fact that there is great waste of public money at each session of the legislature on ac- count of the extension of the ses- sion for apparently no other reason than to permit the mem- bers to draw their pay.
 Hon. John P. Stafford of Wash ington county, the author of the resolution to amend the constitu- tion, has issued a circular to his constituency, and among other things he says:
 "The constitution provides that the regular biennial session of the general assembly shall be 60 days duration, but may be ex- tended by a two thirds vote of all members. Of late years this has always been done, the last gen. eral assembly being no exception. During the temporary absence of Speaker Humphries from the chair a resolution was sent to the clerks desk providing for an ex- tension of the session. The reS- olution was hurriedly read and instantly number of gentlemen were on their feet demanding a roll call, knowing full we'll that if the members were put on record they would not vote for the reso- lution. They were ignored by the temporary presiding officer who put the question to a viva voce vote, declaring the resolu- tion adopted by the necessary two- thirds.
 "The belief was prevalent that the work of the general assembly had been purposely delayed by some members who desired to see the session extended as long as possible, and the methods resort ed to in order to secure this eX- tension convinced me that some thing should be done to check this growing evil. Under our constitution the members of the general assembly are paid by the day, and it occurred to me that if they were placed on a salary the problem would be solved. To do this it would, of course, be necessary to amend the constitu- ton, and this I sought to do. In order to make the matter per fectly plain I reproduce section IS from article , of the conStitu- ton relating to this subject which reads as follows:
 'The members of the general assembly shall receive such pA. diem pay and mileage for thec services as shall be fixed by law. No member of either house shall :, during the term for which he has been elected, receive any increase of pay for his services under any law passed during such term. The term of all members of the general assembly shall begin on the day of their election
 q introduced in the house a joint resolution to amend this section by striking out the two words per diem. After consider able effort I got the bill through the house. Invent to the senate, was there adopted and went to the governor who approved it. Before a constitutional amend ment can be adopted it must not only be approved by the general