Eagle River review. [volume] (Eagle River, Wis.) 1890-1927, 1924-02-21

people of Wisconsin will vote upon
an amendment to the state constitu-
ton to increase the salary Of mem
bers of the legislature to $3.50 per
year. This amendment has passed
two successive legislatures unani-
mously being supported by every
party and every faction.
How Amendment Differs
IN 1920 the people of Wisconsin by
the small majority of 5000 rejected
an amendment to the constitution CIV
ing the legislature the power to fix
the salary of it's own members. Thi-
amendment was defeated because
many voters were fearful that it
would lead to an unreasonably high
salary. The amendment now propos-
ed, however, is not subject to any
such objection. If adopted, the sal
airy Of $3.50 per year cannot there
after be increased except by ma
jority vote Of the people.
Present Salary
The present salary of members of
the Wisconsin legislature is $500 pei
term, without any other perQuisite,
except mileage at the rate of 10 cents
per mile going and coming once each
session. This salary was fixed by a
constitutional amendment adopted in
1881
If the proposed increase should be
rejected, the present salary will be
continued for at least four more years
sine two successive legislatures must
act favorably upon any amendment
to the constitution before it can go
to a vote of the people.
Present Salary Inadequate
That members of recent legisla
lures who have actually attended SEES
sions have not been able to pay even
their expenses in Madison from their
salary of $500 per term is notorious
The cheapest rooms that members
can get cost $500 per week, and
board $40 per week. No regular SEES
sion of the Wisconsin legislature of
the last 20 years has lasted less than
months and s of these last 10 SEES
sions have lasted months, and 3,
seven months. Since 1912, moreover,
there have been no-less than-7 spec
ial' sessions, in addition to regular
sessions. Room rent and board alone,
thus, take up the entire salaries of
members of the legislature, leaving
nothing at all for other living expen-
ses, nor for campaign expenses, not
to speak of any pay for the time
spent in the service of the state.
Pay Compared With Others
Each of the last two regular SEES
sions lasted 1874 days (the sessions
Immediately preceding were even
Ionger) This means that the mem
bers were paid at a rate of $2.72 per
day, making no allowance for special
sessions. Every employee Of the legis
lature receives higher pay. Pages
(boys) receive $500 per day, police
men, $500; stenographers, $500, and
clerks, $500 Similarly, all other pub
lie officers are paid at a higher rate.
Even jurors are paid $500 per day.
Is is fair that the members of the leg.
islature should be paid less than all
of the legislature employees, or the
most unimportant local officers?
Comparison of Salaries
Wisconsin's salary of $500 per term
is lower than that of any of the neigh
boring states. Nine states have in
creased the salaries of the members
of their legislatures in the last five
years
Salary Fixed in 1881
When the people in 1881 fixed the
salary Of members of the legislature
at $500 per term, this was a reason
able salary Since 1881, however, the
value of the dollar has shrunk to 40
cents or less as measured in terms