New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1904-01-03
PAY OF LEGISLATORS.
Cost to 4U the States about 81 900 :
900 a Week During Sessions.

WIRE 10 NeW-Hampshire's unequalled body of near
~ lo9r hundred members In both branches. Legis-
la'ures Ike some other American institutions,
vary with the States. For instance, New-Hamp-
sife mas representative every 1.140 of popula-
uoh' DUt the ratio in New-YorS is only one mem
% " every 1870 of population. Altogether. In
me various legislatures session, between five
thousand and ten thousand new lawmakers will
DC at work. 1t is often argued that Congress is a
large body, but when its number is compared with
the total of State Solons it will be that the
national lawmakers do not number so many after
| all.
Inc variety is not confined to the ratio of rep
resentation Each State to have its own
luea OF proper pay probably it would be better
expressed to say that each legislature gets as
n1uch as the people viii allow il to have OF the
lorty-tve States in the Union. thirty-three pay
legislators per diem and the rest fixed salary.
Inc average per diem is s4 S.. and the average
IehSih OF the sessions in those States that pay
per diem is siXty-three days and fraction. The
highest per diem is s., and is paid by California
ana Nevada. The lowest is 81 day. and is paid to
its legislators by the State of Rhode Island. The
longest session held by legislature whose mem
Ders receive per diem is $50 DAVIS. which is the
average length of the session in Michigan. The
shortest is forty days. Oregon. South Carolina
and Wyoming
The highest salary is 81. 500 year which is paid
IN New-Hork. Pennsylvania s1.5oO session,
out the sessions biennial. while New-York's
are annual Furthermore. the New-York Legis-
Iature Is in session not 10 exceed l25 days, while
the session in Pennsylvania lasts five months. The
lowest salary is $50 session. which is paid in
| Maine Where fixed salary is paid the sessions
are not limited. The longest sessions of salaried
legislatures are In Connecticut where the sessions
last from five to six months, and in Illinois. where
| they last from three TO six months The shortest
| session is ten weeks. in New Hampshire
Massachusetts. Illinois. Ohio. Pennsylvania and
New-York pay legislators sa'sries OF from $50 10
| 1880 Iowa has biennial legislative sessions. and
pays members OF the legislature $3.50 term. The
average length Of the session is ninety days The
session in 1901 The average length OF the session
is three months. and the salary OF members Is sipo
In 1906 the body will meet in quadrennial special
session which shall not continue longer than thirty
days unless the Governor extends the session for
the legislators receive per diem of S.. New-Jer-
steNen TO niteen weeks although during Ihe lIst
sly or eight weeks the weekly sessions usually com
term Wisconsin has biennta legislative sessions
$500 for the term. Arkansas pays per diem Of S.
ana the sessions last from 20 to 40 days,
their legislators mileage or all the States in The
Union; only o9e Aa6ama under its new cGnstitn.
regular sessions are quadrennla but special SEES
biennaiiy. Ali the other states hold biennial
sions. except Georgia. MASSACHUSETTS,. New-Jersey
| the sessions held annually.
In Michisa9 the saaTy OF members :, OF the ,eeiS-
| that OF the members from the Upper ieninsu!a
day In Missouri the egs nf receive $
day, for the first seventy days of each session
and 81 day for every day thereafter. except dur
ing sessions for revision Of the statute at When
81 for each daS Of service tot thereater In Teas the
per diem is s. Tor the FIRST sixty days and after
a short time after the sixty day limit but no com
i is PSd after the SIXTY day nd M Ma
| Of the House higher compensation than is paid
| The vary as widely in the salaries OF the
GoyernGrs Miehigan New Hampshire RHODE 3, lei
! a year Oregon pays it's Governor $500 while In
ware and Maine. Nebraska and South Dakota pay
| 500 while the Indian Territory. Montana. New
s iHaf 1ee@t f@o recsi@os Fey annual
| ArKansss Georgia, Idaho. Iowa. Kansas North
Carolina and North Dakota. The States OF Alabama
ousana Mass%sha asa 0G MisssP P ohio Ten
nessee: Texas and Washington remnnerate thei.
| goes as high as $500; The 5000 Governors are
| Missouri, Nevada. Virginia and Wisconsin,. and
California and Illinois pay s. o9o The highest paid
PENNSYLVANIA and New-Jersey. who each receive an
A few of our legislatures cost as much as some OF
the large parsments OF Europe. The annual charge
FOR their local legislation is something like 9 10000
OF the Congress The proportion of persons living
in cities in this country during the present period
hundred OF population. In some OF the States the
city reputation IS larger than the rural POPULATION
city. OF course should have representation in
keeping with its population. but it is one Of the
anomalies Of American legislative growth that rural
districts have been able keep control of every
representati9n equal to Its population There is
rural members are prompt 10 resent and defeat
such efforts In State legislation the from the
country or the man from the county town seems
Regarding the veto power OF the Governors r, Of
power TO veto bills passed by the legislature Is
granted the Governor by the constitutions Of the
cS oSrad6 connecteGt Pcrda Georgia limos
Msine MARYLAND, MSssSehusetts, MIc6isan Mime
sofa, Mississippi, Missouri Nebraska Nevada.
New Hampshire, New Jersey. New-York Oregon,
Pennsylvania South Carolina. Tennessee, Texas,
Vermont. Virginia: West NirSinia ana Wisconsin;
The constitutions of the following States do not
North Carolina. Ohio and Rhode Island ma
each mouse of the legislature can repass a bill
vetoed BY the Governor IN the following States:
sa% T~nnessee and West Virginia. A majority
vote Of the members Of each house present can re-
Connecticut and Vermont whereas two-thirds
renass a bin vetoed by the Governor IN California,
colorado. Kansas. Louisiana. Illinois. Michigan.
two-thirds vote of the members of each house
present can repsss p caferHia Florida Georgia
Tnwn Louisiana Maine. Massachusetts Minnesota,
Mississippi ds VTgina and wisco sin Also IN all
the Territories twotnirds n0s OF the me bii S
majority Of the ether hS5ss Gan EeP ah4ss
bin BY The me5ers e P to each house
mn Tenass bill vetoed by the Governor in Mary
land and n 6e spprdpraiion Bills and hey shall
be void unless repassed according to The rules Pre-
veto in Florida Georgia. Nebraska New-Jersey
Ien r of time by the Governor without returning
i il Will become er me iegisare as follows If it be
kept three days in Connecticut th9ana io wa
Mileonsin il i've days AEkaasas
Georgia; Flor Tebraska Nevada New-Hampshire