The Bellefontaine Republican. [volume] (Bellefontaine, Logan County, Ohio) 1855-1905, 1904-01-08
Salary is Raised From $500
to 81 500.
The Members ECOnOmized on
Lieutenant Governor to Other
wise Increase Pay Roll.

ernors private secretary TO the Gov
ernor's secretary. The bill providing
for an increase in salary for the
Lieutenant Governor from $500 to
-, 500 was also passed by both houses,
after it had been amended in the
House to read 81, 800.
THE INCONSISTENCY OF IT ALL.
The latter bill, even when amend
ed, nearly perished in the House after
a hard fight, opposition to it being
mainly due to an expressed desire for
economy in State affairs, but short
time later the House inconsistenily
and unanimously voted for resolu-
tions which permitted Clerk Doty to
appoint five additional assistant
clerks at the same pay as the regu-
lar clerks; the Speaker TO appoint
twelve stenographers, seven more
than the last Legislature had; and
Sergeant alarms Jackson TO appoint
thirty porters at $3.50 day, five
more than were employed in the
House two years ago.
The same members who thought it
an outrage to pay the Lieutenant
Governor of the great State of Ohio
O., 500 a year, or even $500, cheer
fully and unhesitatingly voted for a
big. g..increase of porters, stenograph-
ers, and clerks, an increase that
many members candidly admit is not
necessary, and whose combined pay
for the session viii figure several
times over the asked for increased
salary for the Lieutenant Governor.
The proposed attempt at salary
grab of the Democratic minority,
aided and abetted by some Republi-
cans, came to naught, for after ad-
journment conservative Repub-
blican leaders labored with
their party brethren who
were in sympathy with the move,
ment, and successfully pointed out
the error of their way. The minor.
lity could do nothing alone, so the
proposed increasing of members sal
aries from $500 to 81, 200 or 81 500 was
dropped for the present, and the
Lieutenant Governor salary bill was
discussed and passed on it's merits.
When the bill came up for passage
in the House, it was quickly develop
ed that a nights consideration of II
had not done away with strong
Opposition. The discussion provoke q
a lot of spread-eagle oratory and
also some sensible remarks, and no.
q little humor and exchange of left
handed party compliments between
Republichns and Democrats.
| A Democrat, Mr.. Stewart, of Pick
away county. jumped to the aid Of
the opposition. 1t was his maider
Ispeech, and was as vigorous one a:
lever emanated from the South Car
olina" corner of the House He de
clared that he represented the agri
cultural classes and that they woulG
be opposed to the increase. The az
ricultural classes, he said, "are th'
foundation of all wealth. All othel
industries are but so many para
Sites
This remark aroused laughter, anG
another laugh came when Mr. Stew
ard declared that If the Republican
could not find a man to fill the Lieu
tenant Governorship at $500 year
his party would furnish the State :
man who would take the Office 70
nothing.
Mr.. Williams, of Mahoning, ant
Mr.. Buckley, who introduced th'
bill, made good speeches in favor o
it, in which they denounced wha
they termed "narrowminded and lit
tie patriotism" Mr.. Williams wa
one of the best speeches of the day
nd he aroused much laughter when
referring to Mr.. Stewards offer o
the Democrats to furnish Demo
cratic Lieutenant Governor whit
would serve without salary, he de
clared that the people of Ohio hat
found Democratic officials cheap a
any price. Both Mr.. Williams ant
Mr.. Buckley argued that the pro
posed increase was a just and ap
pr opriate one for such an exalte'
Office.
The opposition claimed that tn
salary of the Lieutenant Governor a
$500 a year compared favorably will
that of the Governor, the former re
ceiving practically 800 month 70
such a time as he is required to pre-
side over the deliberations of tn,
Senate, while the Governors salary i
but 1865 month.
IDAfter considerable aebate Represen
tative Thomas, of Trumbull county
offered an amendment reducing tht
pr opposed salary from $500 to 81 500
Representative Fisher offered al
amendment making the salary 81 800
which was lost when put to a vote
The Thomas amendment was adopted
and the bill passed by a vote o.
SO to AZ. The Cuyahoga members al
voted for 1t.
The bill was then sent over to the
Senate for its concurrence, and that
body passed it by strict party vote
without amendment.
At IL a. m, in joint session in the
House, with Lieutenant Governor