The Telegraph-courier. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1888-1946, 1924-03-13

KENOSHANS SAY
TO VOTE YES
Kenosha Assemblymen Tell
Voters to Support the
Change in Salary.
HAS BEEN INADEQUATE
Little Ballot Gives Voters
Chance to Increase Inadequate
Pay of State Legislators.

asked at the coming spring election to
vote on proposed change in the state
constitution, which would increase the
salary of members of the state legis-
lature from $500 year to $75V year,
Assemblyman Conrad Shearer and As
semblyman Dow j. Vincent, the repre-
sentatives from Kenosha county IN the
state assembly, both strongly urge
favorable vote on the proposed meas
ure.
Both Vincent and Shearer found 1t
impossible to make ends meet through
out the 1923 session on the salary Of
$500. Assemblyman Vincent recalls a
former session when several members
from Milwaukee became SO financially
embarrassed that they prepared to- leave
for home This was during the time OF
the erection of the new capitol, and the
governor arranged to give the iegls-
Iators Jobs on the building. 1t was a
common sight that year to see as
semblymen descend from the scaffold-
ing, lay off their aprons long enough
to vote on important bills, and then
return to their work. "A dog wagon
on one of Madison's street corners
Mr.. Vincent says, twas one of the
popular lunching places for lawmak-
ers."
Salary Is Mere Joke.
Assemblyman Conrad Shearer,\ from
the first Kenosha district, stated that
the $500 for legislators is joke ex-
cept to them that try to live on it..
~ should never again undertake to
economic as l did during last session."
he said. With one dollar per day for
board, the same for room, what is left
for laundry, railroad fare, etc !? The
local assemblyman believes that if the
electors understand the situation
thoroughly, they will vote strongly in
favor of the salary measure.
This measure was passed in the last
two sessions of the legislature and now
comes before the people.
Lowest in Country.
No other state in the country pays
it's legislators so little as does Wiscon-
sin, where legislators receive $500 a
session and no additional compensa-
ton for extra sessions. The 1928 ses-
sion of the Wisconsin legislature last
ed 1874 days, which meant that at the
$500 salary rate the members received
$2.72 per day, from which they had to
pay their living expenses railroad fare
with the exception of one round trip
postage and incidentals.
In Wisconsin the sessions are longer
than IN nearly every other state and
the pay is smaller. In the case of
special sessions in nearly all other
states, the legislators receive all the
way from So to $12 day, but in Wis
consin they get nothing. Illinois pays
it's legislators $4,000 for each session
besides weekly milage and $50 for
incidentals.
1t is interesting to note that Ari-
iona pays 81 day, Alaska SIS, Colo
RADIO 81, Delaware $40, and many other
states similar amounts. Wisconsin
pays legislators $500 a session, while
Pennsylvania pays $4,000 and $500 for
special session; Michigan pays $500
session and So per day for an extra
session; Mississippi pays $1,000 per
session and $40 a day for extra ses-
sions.
A survey made by the legislative
reference library shows chat the Wis
consin legislators receive q smaller
sum for their services than any other
state in the country, with possibly one
exception. The Wisconsin legislature
has control over the expenditures of all
state departments and institutions. The
total disbursements of the state treas
uVy have for some years exceeded $780,
100000 year, yet the men who vote
on the expenditure of this money re-
ceive only $500 session-not enough
TO cover their expenses and railroad
fare.
Other States Increased.
If the salaries are increased to $3.50
per arnutn, as proposed in the bill re-
ferred TO, the entire salary list for
the legislators would amount to only
$780,
It might be we'll to add that nine
states have increased the salaries of
the members of their legislatures with
in the last five years. The present sal
airy of $500 in Wisconsin was as far
back as 1881. Newspapers, business
men and others believe it is the duty
of the public to vote for the proposed
increase in the salaries of the legis-
lators of Wisconsin.
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y TN-AI