Evening star., 1908-01-17
WANTS STATE TO PAY
SENATOR LEE FAvoRs $500, 600
APPROPRIATION FOR WORKERS

STATEHOOSE, Annapolis. MO-. january
17.-Senator Blair Lee of Montgomery
county is seeking information. Here Is
what he wants to know. and he calls upon
the newspapers which have been criticis-
ing the proposed appropriation of 100000
for legislative expenses to make reply:
First. Is $3.50 an excessive cost for
the salary and expenses of each legisla-
tor?
Second. Is the general assembly wrong
in allotting to each member $500 for sala-
ry out of this fund and applying the re-
mainder to necessary expenses and to a
fund for encouraging political activity in
the democratic party?
Third. Is the President of the United
States wrong in recommending in his mes
sage to Congress that a fund be created
to encourage and pay for political work
in the two great parties?
Fourth. Whether, in view of the ma
tional government being in the hands OF
the republican party, with large amount
OF patronage. Is there any unfafrneSs IN
the democratic party receiving fund
from state sources to encourage political
activity?
Adverse Criticism in the Press.
The Montgomery senator was led to ask
these questions during the debate follow
Ing the second reading of the bill making
the appropriation in view of the adverse
criticisms in the NEWSPAPERS. The bill had
come from the committee on finance yes
terday morning with favorable report.
and being on its second reading. was open
to amendment.
Senator Baker Of Hartford offered one
reducing the amount from 100000 to
$1JO.OOO. Addressing the senate. he re-
ferred to the charge of extravaganza with
which. he said. the senator's are familiar.
and declared that with proper economy
there should be ample funds In the sum
he named. He said there is no use ap-
propriating 100000 on the theory that 1t
might be needed and a stream should not
be crossed until one arrived at It.
Senator Lancaster thought 1t remark
able that 100000 should be asked when
no effort had been made to explain the
expenditure Of $4,000 by the last legis-
lature.
Wants Newspapers to Reply.
Senator. Lee then said that the subject
was one that causes pause for thought
and that the newspapers seem to be
united in going for the legislature on the
subject. He proposed to read some ques-
tions which he wished the newspapers to
whole Of the expenditure was graft. which
was a violent assumption.
Senator Lancaster-"Who has assumed
this?'
Senator Lee-''The newspapers"
Senator Lee then read the list of ques-
tions at the head Of this column. and to
give the newspapers time to reply he
moved the bill be made the order Of the
day for next Tuesday at l o'clock
Senator German said that he had no
objection to making the amendment a
special order next week, but he wished
it to be as early as possible. He did
not believe that the questions asked were :,
a sufficient cause for postponement II, .
said he warmly. I'VE are not capable Oh
attending to the affairs of the state our
selves we should have constitutional
amendment passed giving over the con-
troll of government to the newspapers.
We are prepared to show that any allie
cation that graft exists In the legislature
is unjust and unfounded. and we are
ready to stand on the record Of the demo-
cratic party"
No Use for Mugwumps.
Senator Lee said that it would be un-
fortunate to go ahead and disregard the
sentiment Of the newspapers. Editors
and reporters are in the habit Of dealing
in public sentiment and they get close to
the people. Newspapers may deviate from
true public sentiment in the direction OF
dividends. but they represent, on ahe
whole, the best public sentiment. Inc
progress OF civil service reform strikes At
the root of political activity and removes
Inducements held out to men to be polit-
ically active. The political worker snouid
have some reward, and while the repuo,
lican has the resources of the natlonai
administration. the democrat has none
except that which he may get py appoint
To off state
The mugwump is kind of Pharisee anu
mugwumpery that would remove p GU
mary motives for political activity would
bring about condition of dry rot IN pc,
iitical affairs .tnn, MT seems tHnas 20 expenditures.
though they may be termed fund for the
encouragement of political activity, are
Iegitimate and / would like to see them
discussed in the newspapers, not from the
standpoint of a mugwump. put from the
standpoint of practical citizens.
He cited the proposed corrupt practices
act as another factor which would re-
move an incentive to political activity, ana
declared that political power seemed TO De
concentrating in the press, which man
ages to get control of public sentiment.
II it goes too far it will drive the people
to establish public newspapers-one Tor
each party.
Roosevelt Plan Not Analogous.
Senator France said the theory ad-
vanced by Senator Lee was unconstitu-
tional and revolutionary. The recommen-
dation Of the President of the United
States is not analogous. He has made no
recommendations to have the payrolls OF
the government padded and political ac-
tiyity rewarded in that way. II the sys-
tenn OF government were to furnish fund
to reward POLITICAL workers directly 1t
would be different.
Senator Baker interrupted to ask Sena-
tor Lee if by reward of political ac-
tivity he meant a reward of democratic