Audubon Republican. [volume] (Audubon, Iowa) 1894-1925, 1908-09-03
Cost Of Extra Session.

| S0St VI oCSStOns
Des Moines.-The chief argument
| by opponents Of the extra session is
that it will entail large expense on
| the tax payers.
Section IL 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 Morford VS.. Unger it
was held that the assembly, in extra
session, has full legislative authority,
and "its action Is not confined to the
special purpose for which it 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 vote of the republ-
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 1t 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 that
was paid during the preceding SEES
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 a day, so that Sc
would be the limit on the per diem of
the members serving in the extra SEES
sion. There are 15S n nbers 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
sible that there are others who
would not be present. At Sc day
155 members would draw $3.50.
But, a number of members have
said that they will serve without CON-
| pensation in an extra session. 1t is
assumed if any actually make this
plain and do not take per diem the
others will not.
The mileage expense would be the
same The members in 1907 drew
| s2,15920. 1t comes at the rate of 5
cents mile.
Employees of the assembly of 1907
cost $42,14S05. 1t is supposed that
very few employees would be neces-
sary for the extra session.
Chaplains got $645 in the session of
| 1907. Chaplains for the extra SEES
sion would cost S. a day for each
side.
The cost of the session of 1907
which was always regarded as aver
age, summarized, follows:
| Salary to members. ....... SS6,90O.0O
| Mileage to members. ....... 2,159.20
Wages to employees. ....... 4214S.05
Chaplains ...... ....... $500
Visiting state institutions. 1,215.05
Total ...... ............$1 33, 06I.3
This was an average OF S1,529.5O d
day.
If there were a dead lock in regE
lar session on the election of SEN
ator, for instance, it would cost
therefore about $1,000 day for the
time it lasted, it is argued by those
who urge a special session.