Brownsville herald. [volume] (Brownsville, Tex.) 1910-current, 1915-02-24
"PUNCH-SALAD"
TANGLE GROWS
IN IMPORTANCE
Question Involved is Not Small Item of
Chicken Salad" But whether Consti-
tuition Permits Payment Of Governors
Grocery Bills"

Nii' AAh sAihh htNi ~ nv "
ficiency appropriation bill J. not the ">mall
item of the chicken salad. bE, whether the
constitution of this state permits either
directly or indirectly the Cove rnor of this
state to take money from the state rca~ury
To pay hi grocery bills" according Ia Rep
rcsentative h. y. Maddox. who. together
with Representative Middleton. was one of
the prime movers IN the agitation on this
subject. Nh. Maddox made the following
statement:
From numerous statements and articles
appearing in some of the daily papers over
the state it is apparent that 'hcrc j. a
studied effort To confuse the public mind
IN regard to the fight that ha~ been made
on the now famous punch and salad item
IN the deficiency appropriation bill. This
matter i referred 10 a. parties engaged
IN nm attempt f. eliminate this small item
from the deficiency appropriation bill,
thereby attempting 10 leave the impression
that the only fight made was 10 save Just
a little pocket change. But the question
involved l. NOT the small item of the
chicken salad. but whether the consiitu-
tion Of this state permits either directly or
indirectly the governor of this state 10 take
money from the state treasury 10 paw his
grocery bill.
"Some men ia the legislature now who
are attempting to belittle this fight are the
l"ude~t ones to defend the sacred consti-
tuition when any attempt j. made 10 better
the condition of the toiling masses. To
them. nj these times. the constitution l. n
sacred document. on which no unholy
hands should he laid. but when il comes To
the question of the appropriation Of money
to pay grocery bills for the governor. even
though the constitution specifically pro-
videS that the governor shall h. paid $4,000
and NO more. the constitution which they
- loudly defend on other occasions seems
t. be nothing hut 4 dirty rag IN their est
nation.
"The very fact that tho v%-riters of the
constitution expressly provided that the
salary Of the governor shall Nc $1,000 and
no more l. evidence that no such expansion
Of the expense If the governor n this
-At''AtA' ~ ltFi'l'. Hf IINftH anu -Nlil
item j. a small matter. being only S22S. hut
this j. only a small part of the large appro-
priaton made for the governor the last two
wears. The appropriation for this depart
ment during the last two years far exceeds
the appropriation made for This depart-
mcnt for any other term of two years. and
II this continued invasion Of what the con
S%tltuiion prohibits keeps up. there is no
telling where the appropriation will stop.
The people Of this state nave repeatedly
voted down the proposition 10 increase the
governors salary. and in this connection I
wish 10 call attention 10 the fact that the
salary Of the executive officer of this state
was at one time $4,000. Afterwards il was
reduced 10 $4,000. and the last conStitu-
tional convention reduced il to $1,000 and
no more. showing that the sentiment of the
people was To the effect that this position
should be one. not . much for the money
that was attached IL the office. but a.posi-
tlon of honor and dignity; and bearing
these facts IN mind, II seems perfectly ap-
propriatc that the people Of this state con-
~ h'f'A AfifA w @ONflUhT Ol lfA1% SD.ll
receive $1,000 and no more.
Il feel that to allow appropriations like
the punch and salad items md groceries
for the governor i such n fragrant viola
tIon Of the constitution and opens up the
way for = still greater enlargement Of an
propriation~ for this department. A. well rs
To the departments of this state. that now If
i high time we should call a halt and learn
iust whittier We are drifting.
"ln this connection. I wish Ia saw that
4 i now common knowledge that the at
torney generals department ~ this state
has upheld our position in this matter. and
the matter j. now in the hands Of the
courts Of this state and VIC ore perfectly
willing 70 abide BY the decision of the
court.
"lf the governors salary is too small.
then lct the friends of that department sub
init q constitutional amendmcn, IA the peo-
pile of this state and let them pass ON the
matter again. and ] for one will vote 10
submit the matter and Let the people pass
on II. But while the constitution stands
" = ""' ""' N"l' TOT >H'h items rs
above referred To unless the courts Of this
state say they are constitutional. and not
then until this state i restored 10 n normal
financial condition, for now the burden on
the average tax payer j. heavier than per-
hapS IT has ever been in this state. and for
that reason we have invoked the constitu-
iion OF tins state to prevent the imposi-
iion Of any heavier burdens on the people.
III the constitution Of this state i
wrong. let Us get rid Of IL. IL II j. rich,