Harrisburg telegraph. [volume] (Harrisburg, Pa.) 1879-1948, 1919-06-25

LIKE OTHERS, TO
HAVE MORE PAY
Governor Says Members Must
Be Able to Meet Expenses
From Salaries; Signs


Governor Sproul to-day approved
the bill increasing salaries of men,
bers of the Legislature from s1,500
to $4,000. with a statement in which
he declared that. considering the
difference in cost of living between
1888, when the salary was last
fixed, and to-day, the increase is
justified
The Governors statement fol-
| lows
In approving this bill I consid-
er 1T desirable that express my
reasons for so doing, in view of the
fact that similar measures have met
executive disapproval heretofore,
and that In another and a much
smaller Commonwealth, where ses-
sions of the Legislature are held
annually, the Governor has recently
vetoed a measure providing for an
increase in the compensation of the
i members of the Legislature.
Reasons For Approval
I'm Pennsylvania the salary pro-
Vlded by law for the members of
the General Assembly has re-
mained at $1,000, the amount fixed
In 1885. Previous to that time 1t
was 1000, with an allowance of $40
Tor each day in excess of 100, MAX
Ing the compensation for an lordi-
nary session more than at present
provided. Since that time the i'm
portance of the duties as measured
by the increase in the general activ-
tiles of the State government and
the magnitude of the public busi-
ness has multiplied several times.
For instance, the total receipts of
the Commonwealth in 1886 were
only slightly in excess of SS,000,00O,
while this year the ordinary re-
ceipts of the Treasury, exclusive of
the funds derived from the road
loan, will be between five and six
times that figure.
In 1885 the salary of $1.500 was
generous allowance, based upon
It's purchasing power, and repre-
sented far more than the present
equivalent of $4,000, the amount es-
| tablished as the legislative salary
by this act. Railroad fares, living
costs in Harrisburg and the general
expense necessarily incumbent upon
the office have been increased in
such proportions that am con-
Vinced that the present allowances
for salaries are entirely inadequate
to enable the citizens selected for
places in the Senate and House of
| Representatives to maintain their
positions and to perform the hon.
! orable and essential duties connect
ed Herewith except at much per-
sonal sacrifice.
Must Be Open to All
"Of course, it was never contem-
plated that a place in our legisIa-
tive bodies should be a post of
profit-the honor and the oppor-
tunity for public service which is
given here is a proper recompense
for the time and trouble involved
But it surely was never intended
that in a Commonwealth so great
and so favored as Pennsylvania
those called to vital public service
must suffer such serious personal
loss that only those with ample pri-
vate means may afford to aspire to
the positions. The doors of our
lawmaking bodies must be open to
all of our people and citizens of
ambition and vision must not be de-
TERED from trying for the election
because the compensation is insult
ficient to at least reimburse them
for the expense incurred in per-
forming these public duties.
1T is my opinion that the in
crease in the salaries of our legis-
lators as provided in this measure
is thoroughly justified and is in ac-
cord with public policy. and l am
glad to approve this bill"