Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1904-08-23
Legislative Salaries.
Lewiston Journal.)

Attbe coming election, law passed
by the last legislature will be submitted
to the voters for confirmation or re-
lection.
The voters of this state at that election
are asked to vote on this issue: Whether
or not the pay of members of the legis-
lature shall be increased? At present,
members of the legislature get the mig
gardly salary of $50 and small amount
of mileage. Why anybody should be
anxious to 90 to Augusta and sit in the
general court when the state pays so lit
tie that one cannot pay his bills ON his
salary, no man can tell unless he places
the love of power ahead of the love of
money. 1t is by no means unlikely that
the underpaid member of the legislature
stays away from his post OF duty, i'm
PEELED by natural desire to make an
equation between what the state pays
him for his services and what he has to
pay for his bed and board. If the action
of a small salary is in this direction, 1t is
contrary to the well-being of the state.
Underpay arrests the progress of work
in committees as we'll as of work in the
legislature. Those who have been at
Augusta in the last week of the Maine
Legislature, must have noted the dangers
of an accumulation of ill-digested law
due to the evident desire to rush things,
in order to get the legislature done with
in the limited period to which small pay
confines it. We do not believe in the
protracted legislature of Massachusetts.
We do not believe in the opposite ex-
IRENE; but we feel sure if a fair salary
were paid members of the Maine legis- |
lature, that one of the pretexts for daily |
ing might be removed, especially II mem
bers were required to be in attendance
and to earn their increased salary. Here
comes in the Real Thing as necessity of
public life-civil service reform, con-
science for the public well-being.
Nor is it unlikely that fair salary for
fair legislative service would tend to
diminish the temptations which service
in the lobby frequently puts before mem
bers of the first and second branches. 1T
a man has to exc out an equation be-
tween his output and his income by odd
Jobs in the lobby, he is thereby untitled
for independent service in house and SEN
ate.
But we here beg to call the attention of
our readers to the fact that voters of
Maine next September are asked to say
'sYea' or "Nay" to the question OF rise
in the salary of members of the iegisia-
ture. Will not fair salary tend TO Sc.
cure better men? Certainly we should
not create a condition IN public service
such that only those who are forehanded
can afford to accept legislative func-
ton. Il
In private enterprise, we are expected
10 pay a fair price for service, the price,
IS rule, increasing according as more
brains and character are necessary TO the J
discharge of the service. When the state
,iolates this law, is it really economic
ng? In an aristOcracy parliaments pay
40 salaries-only the rich can hold office
n such parliaments unless the hat is
passed.
We have called attention to the fact
hat the low salaries formerly paid to
Judges of our supreme court were not
Ilong the lines of economy. We couldn't
possibly ask distinguished lawyers to as
ume public functions at the great sacri-
ice involved in the low salary formerly
,aid. The salaries have been raised, and
ire not dangerously high yet. The
aDOr6r Is worthy VI ITO ihO, "hSe"SA AS
works for the state or the individual.
But the chief issue, which we wish to
aise here to-day, is this: The democratic
tate platform calls for the expansion of
he referendum, notwithstanding the lit
lie interest taken whenever we have the q
Now in the approaching 9
september election let it be noted there /
viii be referendum on the question OF
legislative salaries. And we Shall be t
much interested to see how many voters s
n the State of Maine take enough inter- i
st in the referendum to cast ballot. If
ou want members of the legislature to
ave salary enough to pay for bed and i
,oard and fair amount besides, you C
yill have to vote Eyes" If you wish a
he present niggardly system to be per- a
you will vote ''no." lie
We dislike to forebOde that but small
percentage of the voters who cast their
'allots, will participate in this Septem- S
,er referendum. If, however, the voters C
participate who vote the state
icket, the result will be encouraging to +
he friends of the rcferendum,-among
whom the Lewiston Journal is glad to @
taud. We hope our forebodings will c
lot be realized. A heavy vote on the
amendment will promote what Maine I
low singularly needs,-closer touch be- c
ween officials and people.