Year: 1862

Bill firing tie Compensation Of Mem


ders Of tie General assembly.


Ma. President The Bill before III


Senate, the passage of which is recon


mended by the Standing Committee Of


Extraordinarily proposes 10 reduce the com


pensation Of members from four to thre,


dollars per day, and the rate OF mileage il


the same proportion. stated when tba


report was made, that had signed il be


cause was in favor Of reduction in th,


compensation Of mem bers Of the Genera


Assembly, but die not concur with th,
Committee in the mode Of paying by I
per diem compensation. The suhstitut,
now under consideration is offered aDt
advocated by me, as securing not only q
large reduction in the aggregate, 10 III,
amount Of compensation paid to members
but as emboIying that which, to M,
mind, is the only correct principle OF pay
ing for public service.


This substitute provides for the pay
ment OF Fixed amount by salary, for eacl
year in which session Of the Genera


Assembly is held. In my opinion, com
pensation should always, SO far as prac
ticable, be fixed by salary, and not b,
dependent upon any contingency. Es
pecially is this so. where that contingency
may be supposed 10 be in the control O
the party occupying the position. Mos
emphaiically is this the case with the
members of the General Assembly. Nc
matter with what desire for the public
good no matter with what diligence and
faithfulness he may devote himself TO the
discharge Of his duty to bis constituents
and the State ; yet, situated as he is,
upon himself and his fellow members
necessarily depends the length of sessions,
and thus the amount Of money received
by him. Whilo this is so, and while it is
not at all admitted that members do seek
extension OF sessions for this purpose, yet,
it is nevertheless true that The fact that
the member does thus, 10 a certain extent,
control the amount received by himself,
leads to frequent charging upon members
OF Intentionally prolonging sessions, that
thereby they may secure their per diem


At each successive session of the Leg.
islature much time is consumed in the in-
PRODUCTION and discussion OF motions Of ad :
journment 1t may be for adjournment
for few days. TO enable membe TO visit
their homes, or it may be for the closing
OF session. Frequently members wish.
ing TO show their constituents that they
do not desire TO remain in session un-
necessarily long, will introduce motions OF
this kind. which will be discussed for
hours without leading to any practical re.
suit. Thus time is occupied, business re-.
tarded, and the session extended, instead
OF shortened, as the mover may have in.
tended. So with propositions for oc
casional sdjournments. Again, so long
as upon the length of the session depends
the amount OF pay received by the mem.
Der, SO long will those who, from inexpe-
rience, know little Of the various vexa:
tious, hindrances and delays which attend
The carrying out of the measures they
themselves demand at the hands Of the
General Assembly, find fault with and
condemn what is called the unreasonable
length Of sessions. and charge that their
length is increased oy the desire of mem.
bers 10 secure their four dollars day as
long as possible.


There may be instances 10 which indi.
vidual members do use their influence in
way 10 secure extensions OF sessions,
that thus they may secure additional pay,
which is neither charged nor admitted; yet
ii 1t be so, theG a change in the system Of
payment will work change in the system
OF tactics Of such members. Desiring to
secure the amount of money to be received
in the shortest time, their influence will be
for shortening sessions, and this will be
for good.


1t is said we have too much legislation,
and the tendency Of the proposed change
may be TO hinder excess in this direction.
II it be SO, and this excess Of legislation
be an evil, then most certainly would
there be an advantage in making the
change.


The difficulties thus briefly referred to
would all be met and modified by the
adoption Of The substitute under consid
Grafton. And again, If members are paid
a certain amount each year in which there
is session. the amount TO be received by
them not being dependent upon the length
OF the session, they can and will act more
independently, not necessarily because
they might be influenced under other cir
cumstances TO act differently, but from
fear OF imputation Of wrong motives.


II appeared TO him that the mode Of
payment indicated was in every respect
more desirable and that by its adoption
great good would result 10 the State.-
Among its greatest advantages would be
the increased confidence felt in the Gen.
eral Assembly. However much we may
regret it, there is not, and has not been,
for number Of years, that confidence in
this body that there should be in any
people in the law-making power of that
people.


1t may be said, and perhaps with truth
that 10 the body itself is this 10 a oonsid.
cradle extent to be attributed. 1t has be.
come very common and popular soon
after the meeting of the Legislature. to
begin TO talk about speedy ad tournaments.
long and short sessions, which is harped
about by many members, and taken up
and the changes rung upon by the news.
papers, until inevitably it comes to be felt,
that the only object of those who come
here is to spend their time and get their
pay for it,


Another consideration consists In this,
that il in any way sessions are extended,
the amount paid to officers, 10 messenger