Amarillo daily news. [volume] (Amarillo, Tex.) 19??-current, 1921-03-23
STATES CHEAP ruIics.

hteNH e'"AfH'HA - "'tttN NNtf'' ~ Wv
proposed constitution amendment pro.
vldiag Tor the incrcase II nay for the
goverhor from stoo to $1,000 rsr year.
and M Increase Of the daily nay oG the
state legislator nom SEQ To $1,000 pet
day.
II Il astonishing that some normally
fair inlndsd. hruad eaugcd men engaged
In newspaper work. have stated un.
eauivocaily their opposition 10 his In
crcaac a. proposed In the suggested
amendment to the stake constitution,
This D surprising. and reflects un'
thinking Why shoulu a man dinlay
becanss h. b member ~ the state
legislature. CO hnidint state offioe.
Eivt his time more chmply to the state
than h. would to any ether enienirisc
firm er ccrpoEatidns II u absurd ,o
ask q man TO make sacrifice for the
people AZ whole.
No selfrespecting business concern
would allow man to work Tor !, al
iosa 70 hlmself-at a rate insufficient
20 meet his legitimate needs. Nor could
oue find man entitled 10 h. called a
man wte would aoeep, he laboTs az an.
Other for price not representative of
az value. u may b. that there vas
\ tine when one human b,lng would
take advantage of another and secure
hiss labor. time or effurts. without Eiv.
ins OAR Compensation for Il. hut there
was sisc a time in the history of the
wor1d shsn human bsing were deal, In
a. <hsttrls under sanction nf law. bui
no nan xpsiia dare 10 pray. who would
be - cufant an to take the time of an,
Other and not Tay hia living wase In
ressfu-thas would h. worse than roh.
o&Ys t@ ~at'A d. '.- Nl
~ view ~ this change 81 sentiment
IN view - this recognition by men II
the rights q THAR fellows. the present
rate % pay for legislative and other
service 10 the state. h little short u
criminal. n as n matter ~ fact. Il II az
al short 81 Il. Some there are who will
say: ''wcll. these men knew the rate
% nay. before they secured the con.
. nectior. n they conid no, take Il for TIM,
sum. they should no, have asked for
A." That's cue way 20 look at Il. bu,
ihe more sensible way Is to determine
The worth " the class of service d..
rlred and needed. and set adequate
rates 20 cover the same.
To-day. n the offlcc u district judge
were Gu, 10 half the salary. fwr In.
stance. tina, Il carties. there would be-
men offer for the place. n then this
latter price werr shaved half again,
thcre would he others offer for Il. but
O would be impossible TO receive the
Enme dsgree of satisfactory rvice az is
being received all over Texas now.
n Il n wrong for corporation. firm
Or individual TO have the services q q
man without paying Tor them. then Il Il
equally unfair. discruditAhle Goa a state
10 h. served The difference n there h
one At all. n In fasor q the first class
The state In oil the people. lncIudini
the man renderins the services. and q
should pay fairly.
Fer years many q the state offices
and particularly those az a Legislative
character. have been lool;e,i upon u
q measure AZ least. ~ poke. Their
have been many accusations u srafi
81 croakcdness. az corruption. and viii
small wonder The psopls know tina
ths legislative positions do not carr.
Sufficient pes diem Cot n man To IA,
his legitimate expenses Of living at III
state capl,ai. hence the lnsinua,ion an
tke accusation IL graft. subsidy. bod
ling. In many instances. In perhap
ninety.nine per cent II the eases thcr
h nothing In the charges, OF the inslr
natIhns. but the question comes, II
pecially u the legislator II a man q
snaaii means: "where does he get nj
good clothes. whtre does he get N
money 10 afford this. or that
Texas will have better reprcseniatio
IN it, offices. including Legislative VA
tions. when its conscience II arouss
10 the point where /, declines longer :
rob the men serving u. Of their legii
mate returns Cor such svrvicc. In N
ionr ago the Master Governor dictais
decree that the OK was not 10 :
muEzisd while treading out the corl
The same Voice through another m
dunn later. declared that those pa
claim Tire words Of ilfe. should IN
thereby.
I, n time fer the state u Texas
take tumble 10 l,self--to be- falr vii
its servants.