The San Francisco call., 1908-10-26
CURTIN SHOWS SIZE
OF ATTACHE GRAFT
Urges Voters to Pass COnstitu-
tional Amendment No. 10
and Clip Plum
Fixed Salary for Legislators and
Reduction of Time for Bills
Also Features

In order that voters may not neglect
the opportunity to correct great Iegis-
lative abuse. State Senator John B.
Curtin calls attention to the Importance
of voting for senate constitutional
amendment No. 16.
This amendment, among other things,
limits the daily expenditure of either
branch of the Legislature to $500. thus
doing away with much of the attache
evil which has brought disgrace on so
many legislatures. 1t also provides for
a fixed salary for each member of the
legislature. Further, it reduces the
time during which bills may be intro
duced from so to 40 days. thus allowing
more time for the consideration of leg
islation
Senator Curtin reduces to figures the
saving to the state which will be eff
fected by the passage of this amend
ment Here is his letter.
To the voters of San Francisco: In the com
Ing election there several constitutional
amendments to be voted upon, some Of which
ought TO be defeated and others carried. One
that ought to carry is senate constitutional
amendment No. 16 which provides for a fxed
salary for each member Of the legislature and
limits the daily expenditure to $500 1t also
limits the time for the Introduction Of bills
from 60 days to 40 days. thereby giving more
time for the consideration of legislation and
thus providing for less laws and better laws.
The measure also limits the number Of days to
30 for which period only can members receive
compensation during extra session.
A similar amendment submitted in 1905.
but was defeated by small margin In order
that the people might understand that this
amendment is aimed to cure an evil that
brings the legislature into disfavor each session
and Is in. the interest of economy, / herewith
give the cost of the sessions OF the legislature
in 1905 and in 1907 as furnished me by the
state controller over his signature. thereby
concentrating the saving to the people by the
adoption OF this amendment.
col Inc e. total cost OF the session Of 1905 was
S253,54l.IS If the amendment referred to had
been In force the cost would have been S195.-
oVflO, or a net saving of $57 964 6S. In addi-
tlOn 10 those figures the printing OF legislative
work during that session cost 500. 800.
The session OF 1907 cost $265. s.52. IL the
amendment referred to had been in force the
cost would have been S1So 7s1. so. or net saw
ing OF sto,5l6l2 In addition to those figures
session cost $S5,300. Half Of the cost of print
ing could be saved by the adoption OF this
amendment This would result from the limit
Ing or the time for Introduction of bills from 80
days, as 1t now is. to 40 days, and would pre-
vent the duplicating of biIls-an evil that costs
the state much money each session.
Not only will that result be accomplished. but
consideration will be given to important legis-
latton After the per diem ceases members be-
come reckless and pass bills without the atten-
ton merited Last session, after the sixtieth
day, on different days. bills were passed at the
rate or nye bills in four minutes. Such reck-
iessness is deplorable- By limiting the daily
expediture to $500 the evil that attends every
session of the legislature viii be eradieated
and the army OF employees will be limited as
the power to expend more than $500 per day
VIII be denied. When a stated salary Is given.
no longer time than necessary TO earn It will
be consumed, but every measure that merits
debate will be considered and opportunity to
discuss 1t given. a condition that does not now
exist; and legislatures viii hereafter lind better
favor In public sight than heretofore
To repeat it: Let the voter bear in mind that
If this amendment had been i'm force in f9o5
$57, .6S would have been saved and in 1907
S7J,516-I2 would have been saved or total
in two sessions OF $133 40; and if one-haIf
of the money expended for printing could have
been saved it would be SIS, 900 more saved but
IL only one-fourth of the printing could have
been saved it would have been S44.45O 1t
ought. therefore. to be appreciated that this
amendment is also in the interest Of economy
Respectfully, J. B. CURTIN
Senator Twelfth District