Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1904-09-19
Names legislative Salaries.

The people of Maine voted at thelt
election in favor of raising the pay OF
the members of the Maine Senate anu
House of Representatives. A bill
passed the Legislature during its last
session, raising the salaries OF the
members from $3.50 TO $500. and that Oh
the presiding officers from S3OO 10 S3o'
provided that the people approve. Inc
LEGISLATORS are now allowed 20 cents
mile for travelling expenses. but TINS IL
to remain unchanged, and VIII De pau
as usual. provided the members 90 not
accept railroad passes. 1t seems JUST
that this increase should be Sraiiteu'
as the compensation is small, as COM
rarcd with the $3.50 salaries 81 Massa-
chusctts lators.-Springheld re
publican.
Our usually accurate contemporary
is much mistaken in the above Item
and gives it's readers the idea that tile
PEOPLE of Maine are much more iiperai
with their lawmakers til IN they are
disposed to be. TIL. proposed increase
in legislative salaries was not approved.
AT last Mondays election, but on the
contrary was buried under an ava
lanchc of adverse votes. AS usual III
th,. cas,. of !, referendum. Il great part
Of tn. voters neglected to vote either
,yay On the proposition, but Of those
who did rxprcss an opinion ther" WIS
III overwhelming majority against the
,ro,ns.i Increase. 1t is said that i'll
only ou,. town out OF the 81 Ill the
State WAS there Il majority III favor 81
The Increase. and this majority was OF
;, singh. vote. The exact figures Of The
vote have not Vet been given out Tor III
The c;..,. Of many towns 10 mention Of
il v1s made in the reports of the news
papcrs, and the vtiiciLl figures are not
yet complete.
In all the newspapers OF the
State which took interest enough
in the matter to mention it at
all the. proposed increase WAS cordially
approved ana the voters We're urged to
endorse it, 1t WAS pointed out that the
Maine legislators are the poorest paid
III the whole country and that the in
creased salary would still be small i'll
| comparison with the time spent and
the expenses incurred by the legislator
| and the service rendered by him to the
State. Iiut those opposed to the idea
@; AN incn case w"rc probably more &C
| tive ana earnest in their opposition
| than those who favored it We're in their
support. ANA 50 Will" Il majority of the
| voters failed to mark their ballots at
all on this question Il large ma jurity
Of thoS. VINO did mark them put thcir
cross i'll til" NO" square. Even il
Augusta. the State capital which the
out sid" press often speaks Of us profit
ing from its biennial entertainment oi
the lawmakers, the vote was $40 t.
lI3 against tn" increase, only abou
opinion on the subject. ON the face OF
tn" returns, the city of Augusta does
not think THAT the IN, mb"rs Of The I."g-
iEldtur" ought to u" given any NOR,
money +" spcl.d here.
Perhaps the emphatic refusal to in
crease thrs,. silalics may he accepted
as Il compliment to the past L"Eisla
lures of Maine. The voters may HAY,
argued thac even with the present low
salaries there. has been no lack of goot
men since 1920 to serve in the L"gisla-
turc and render satisfactory service
and that the supply of such patriot:
will continue in the future Anyway
this is 4 comfortable way to look at tn
result.