Amador ledger., 1908-10-23
SHOULD BE ADOPTED.

10 the Voters of Amador county:
In the coming election there are
several constitutional amendments to
be voted upon, some of which ought
TO be defeated and others carried, and
one that ought to carry is Senate
Constitutional Amendment No. is,
which provides for fixed salary for
each member of the legislature and
limits the daily expenditure to five
hundred dollars, and it also limits
the time for the introduction of bills
from sixty days to forty days, thereby
giving more time for tbs considera-
tion Of legislation and thus providing
tot less laws aud better laws " and
also limiting the number OF days to
thirty for which period only can
members receive compensation during
an extra session.
4 similar amendment was submitted
in l9O5 but was defeated by small
marlgn. In order that the people
might understand that this amend
mont is aimed to cure au 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 dem onstrating the saving to
the people by the adoption of this
amendment.
The total cost of the session ofalD05
was S253, Stills. If the amendment
referred to had been in force the cost
would have been S195, co., 10 or a net
saving of So7, 96l. GS. In addition to
those figures the printing of legisla
tive work during that session, cost
S92 500
The session of 1907 cost $3.50, 299. So.
If the amendment referred to had
been in force the cost would have
teen Sl89. 7Sl. 80 or net saving of
$40, ,5l6 y. In addition to those
figures the printing of legislative
work during that session, cost $50,
300. Fifty per cent of the cost of
printing could be saved by the adop-
tion of this amendment. This would
result from the limiting of the time
for Introduction of bills from sixty
days as it now is to forty days and
would prevent the duplicating OF bills
which is an evil that costs the state
much money each session.
Not only will that result be accom-
pllshed but consideration to import
ant legislation will Ee given. After
the per diem ceases members become
reckless and pass bills without the
attention merited. Last session,
after the siXtieth day on different
days, bills were passed at the rate of
five bills in four minutes. Such
recklessness is deplorable. By limit
ing the daily expenditure TO five hun
dred dollars the evil that attends
every session of the legislature will
be eradlcated and the army sof en-
ployees will be limited, as the power
to expend more than five hundred
dollars per day will be denied. When
stated salary is given, no longer
time than necessary to earn will be
consumed but every measure that
merits debate will be considered and
opportunity to discuss it gwen. a
condition that does not now SeXist
and legislatures will hereafter find
better favor in public sight than
heretofore.
10 repeat it: Let the voter bear in
mind that if this amendment had
been in force in 1903, S57 1854. 68 would
have been saved and in 1907, SO,
SIG. Y would have been saved, or a
total in two sessions of Sl33 49l. Az,
and If one-half of the money eXpend-
ed for printing could have been
saved it would be S89, 800 more saved.
but il only efourth of the print
ing could have been saved it would
have been S44. 450. 1t ought, there
fore, Eto be appreciated that this
amendment is also in the interest of
economy. Respectfully,
j. b. CURTIN.