The Montgomery advertiser., 1904-09-01
THE covrRNoRs SALARY.

THE GOVERNORS SALARY.
 The editorials of Tne Montgomery Times protesting against the payment to Governor Jelks of the salary ap- propriated to him by the last Legfsia- ture, have been so uniformly alike that we have, with one exception, refrained from referring to them. But conttn- ual harping on this one strain may perhaps justify a few words on the subject.
 The Times's sole reply to the wefi- considered opinion of the Attorney General on this subject (by which State officiafs must be guided, render ed long before The Times emitted it's first article. is that it can produce the opinion of many able. distinguished and learned lawyers to the contrary. The authority by which State officials act in such cases is that of the Attor- ney General and no other. He could. no doubt. get the opinion of many able lawyers as to the correctness of his views on the subject.
 When a man assumes the duties of Governor. he must sacrifice those pur- suits upon which he had depended for livelihood. This Is one of the causes which impelled our statute-rnakers to so word the law that the Governor, should he break down while in office, should continue to draw his salary. 1T a clerk at the Capitol. or any one con- nected with the State government. be- comes i'll, his salary continues. When ever A Judge or Solicitor fails to hold a term of court, both he and his sub stitute, receive undiminished compen- sation. There is today a Judge in Alabama who has not held a term of his Circuit Court since March. Special Judges have regularly been appointed to hold his terms. He. in all human probability, will not be able to hold another court during his term of office. Special Judges must, in each instance. be appointed. Both must receive the regular compensation. This has been the custom for years. The Supreme Court has expressly held that this must be done. Why does this principle in re- gard to, a disabled Judge not apply with equal force to disabled Chief And why, may we inquire. has our contemporary singled out the whose i'll health is due so largely to the energy and exertion he has devoted to the States service. for the sole object of its malevolent atten- tions? Why has it not endeavored to expose what it claims is an abuse wherever it has been found.
 And now, in a moment of inspiration. The Times cites the occasion when the Hon. Alex T. London, of Jefferson County, who had not attended the sec ond session of the last Legislature un- til the day of its adjournment declined to draw his per diem for the entire ses- sion. When a man becomes member of the Legislature 1t is not necessary that he should sever those business connections upon which he relies for his support, as is the case when a man. becomes, Governor, and further, we learn that MT. London did draw his mileage of s19.2O, which with the per diem of $4, makes a very respectable sum for one days service as member of the Legislature.
 The balance in the State Treasury at the beginning of business on the 29th uItimo, was s1.sa1,021 S2. This is far moro than 1t has ever been in the his- tory of the State on any other August 0n lu .G ba on the August 29 immediately preced- ing the year Governor Jelks took charge. This. too. notwithstanding that appropriations were vastly in creased by the last Legislature.
 The Convict Department for the present fiscal year will earn about $500, ,0O0. as against $6,253 earned by it during the year immediately pre- ceding the one in which Governor JellSs took charge of the affairs of the State, this enormously increased earning be- ing due to innovations which largely had their conception in the brain of the Governor and the successful exe- cution of which has been due to his untiring toll and constant vigilance. which finally cost him temporarily his health. This much has he done for Alabama.
 It has been said that the ingratitude of commonwealths Is notorious but we do not for one instant believe that the good people of Alabama would endorse a policy which would deprive her faith full servant, who has rendered the State such good service. of the stipend the law allows him. during the period that he Is disabled, owing to his exertions in their behalf. We submit to all fair minded and unprejudiced persons that The Times is neither just nor gener- ous.
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 For refreshing simplicity commend us to that young man Cannon, Speaker Cannon, or Uncle Joe Cannon, if pre- ferred. He is ebulliently positive of Roosevelt's election and tells h.s friends that "our main effort will be to get the vote out" What other ef- fort would be necessary or appropri- ate? If they can get out all the Re- publican voters the election of their man would hardly be doubtful, but that is what they cannot do. Mir. Cannon gives his side away when he