Twice-a-week plain dealer. (Cresco, Howard County, Iowa) 1895-1913, 1908-09-08
Cost of Extra Session,

Cost OF Extra session.
Des Moines-The chief argument |
by opponents of the extra session is
that it will entail large expense on
the tax payers.
Section II of article of the con-
stitution provides that the governor
may, ION extraordinary occasions,
convene the general assembly by
proclamation, and shall state to both
houses, when assembled, the purpose
for which they shall have been con-
vened". But in Mofford VS.. Unger 1t
was held that the assembly, in extra
session, has full legislative authority, |
and "its action is not confined to the
special purpose for which 1t is con-
vened, and may enact any law that it
might at regular session..
So that, if convened to amend the
primary law to submit the senatorial
succession to a vote of the republi-
cans, the assembly could elect SEN
ator for the short term or do any
thing else it saw fit which could be
done in regular session.
But the theory is that it would not
be in session to exceed three days
unless it undertook to elect a senator
which might take until the second
Tuesday after converting, meaning ten
days. However, some of the oppo.
nents of the plan say that there might
be filibustering on the passage of the
proposed primary law amendment, all
sorts of propositions made and diff
Guilty of agreement which might lead
to prolonged session.
Section IL of chapter of the code
provides that in extra session Of the
legislature the members shall be paid
the same compensation per day thai
was paid during the preceding ses
sion but in no case may the "com
pensation for any extra session eX
coed Sc day exclusive of mileage.
The average compensation for the
eighty-seven days of the session OF
1907 exceeds Sc day, so that ST
would be the limit on the per diem OF
| the members serving in the extra ses
| sion. There are 1853 members but
| three at least would not be present
| Crossley of Madison Is in Alaska
Hickey of Cherokee is dead and Cot
trell is out Of the state. 1t is pos
able that there are others who
would not be present. At Sc a day
| 1856 members would draw $780,
But, number of members have
| said that they will serve without com
pensation in an extra session. 1t IL
assumed If any actually make thi.
| plain and do not take per diem the
| others will not.
The mileage expense would be the
same The members In 1907 drew
| $2,159.2O. 1t comes at the rate of
| cents mile.
Employees of the assembly of 100.
cost $42.14S.05. 1t is supposed tina
very few employees would be neces
sary for the extra session.
Chaplains got s645 in the session o
1907 Chaplains for the extra ses
sion would cost SIS day for eacl
side.
The cost of the session of 100.
which was always regarded as aver
age, summarized follows:
SdlaFy W meuDelS. ....... Soo,SuU.u'
Mileage to members. ...... 2,1592
Wages TO employees. ....... 42,14SO
Chaplains .... ....... 645O
Visiting state Institutions. 1,2150
Total ...... ........ .$133, 067. 81
| This was an average OF s1,52s.5o
day.
If there were dead lock in regu
lar session on the election of a sen
ator, for instance, it would cos
therefore about $1,000 a day for tn
time it lasted, it is argued by thos
who urge special session