Eagle River review. [volume] (Eagle River, Wis.) 1890-1927, 1920-04-02
FRIDAY, APRIL 2, 1920
The Wisconsin Legislature.

Speaking of underpaid public servants and others, we
reminded that while the members of the Legsla-
ture have been compelled work for low salary in face
of the constantly rising prices they have been expected
to do something for almost every class of employees yet
the lawmakers have been able tie do anything for
themselves because the salary written into the Con-
stitution.
The pay of the Legislature has not kept pace with
the increased cost of living When the Constitution Of
Wisconsin adopted in 1913 Section ~ fixed the
Enumeration So so per day for each days attendance
during the session. and 10 cents mile trip going
and coming The Legislature at that time met once
year
In 1867 Section 2l of Article four of the Constitution
amended by increasing the salary to $3.50 annum
cents per going and coming the being
1896 for the amendment, "a 48 against it. In 1881
this section again amended by fixing the salary at
$500 per session. the being 53532 for the amend
ment and ID 936 against During the the time
of meeting changed to biannal sessions instead OF
annual In 1910 proposal to increase the salary Of leg
isators from $500 900 voted down with a. 153
for the amendment and 278 against it. 1t must be
membered that large number OF Constitutional Amend
ments being voted upon that time and the insnr-
companies WHO vitality interested in defeating
certain amendments carried good campaign through
out the State and their slogan ito defeat every
in order to be and vote down the amend
ment that they deemed detrimental to their business
The salary at present therefore stands at $500 per
having increased for about forty years
spite of the tremendous increase in the cost of living
In this respect Wisconsin is behind the
states in the Union in the payment of fair salary
her legislators The following comparison based upon
the figures of 1918:
Illinois, $500 per session.
Massachusetts,, 1000 per
Minnesota, ST, 900 per session.
Colorado $1,000 per
New York, ST, 500 per annum.
Ohio, 1000 per
Pennsylvania, S., per session
California, $1,000 per term.
SKA 5000 per session.
HusD, $500 per session
IF fpaff 1on -ofo
shall not be increased or diminished during
81 Office. The Legislature Of 1917 proposed an
- 10 the Constitution which provides that
member of the Legislature shall receive for his
such sum-to be paid such time and in such
shall be prescribed by law which amend
if adopted will permit the members one legisla-
ture to fix the salary of the succeeding legislature The
Legislature of 1919 ratified this amendment and Chapter
the laws of 1919 provides submission to the
of Wisconsin in the election be the first
Tuesday in April 1920 The question often asked why
do they have shorter sessions? The Wiscon
provide that any citizen may through representa-
tive introduce bills by request with his signature at
tached at the regular session of the Legislature. 1t
further provides that every pill and resolution shall be
posted with the notice of committee hearing at least
weeks before the question taken up by Com
mittee in each House of The Legislature. 1t further
provided shat every bill be reported the Commit
within certain period, which makes possible for
every bill and resolution to have fair hearing come
before the Legislature in regular order
The question may be asked why do they not prevent
the introduction of many of the unnecessary
bills and resolutions? The question then arises which
the unnecessary ones? The Legislature meets every
years consider the needs of they arise
to make provision for carrying it's functions to
provide the maintenance of all the Institutions de-
parLments They consider all the demands they arise
meet the needs of the progress of coplmercal
ucatOnal and economic interests A may seem
ridiculous untmely but in many it is finally ac-
cepted after having been considered in it's proper light
1t is impossible to draw the line the introduction of
bills and resolutions regardless of the from which
they emanate and to do would break the insti
tuition of free government.
The Legislature cannot adjourn until every bill and
resolution is cleared from the Calendar and finally dis
posed Of The Legislative procedure state is far
superior to that OF any state in the Unon as
it gives every citizen the privilege of introducing bills
and get fair hearing before the committees as no
bill resolution is pidgeon-holed dies in
tees of either house they do in the Legislatures of
other states in Congress- be readily why
the sessions of the Wisconsin Legislature so long
Every voter who believes in living wage and who
wants his representative relieved worry of
having to exc living while he is serving State
and who desires to bring about a condition whereby
give their time their constituents when elected
will vote for this amendment the April election SO
that the Legislature will have the power increase
pay for it's members whenever necessary knowing
the remedy for abuse OF this power always in the hands
of the electorate Constitutional Amendment Bureau.
Mr. Hoover has broken his reserve concerning