GENERAL APPROPRIATION BILL.
The reading of the general appropriation bill [H. R. 422] was resumed, the question being on a motion to increase the pay of the Secretary of State's Clerk. It was rejected.
Mr. FULLER moved to reduce the salary of the Governor's Secretary from $2,000 to $1,495.
Mr. NEFF thought it due to the chief Executive of the State that he be allowed a sufficient sum to pay his Private Secretary, who has to be and necessarily is the confidential agent of the Governor. He said most any body in a business capacity can get at least from $1,300 to $1,400 a year. The office of Private Secretary requires a man of high character, one in whom the Governor can coefide, so that when the Governor goes home and reposes in his room, he knows the secret is safe. It was not doing justice to the chief Executive of the State of Indiana to allow but $1,500 for that position.
Mr. FRAZIER--If the Governor's Private Secretary is worth $2,000 a year, it is necessary to change the fee bill. There is a law, passed two years ago, now a law of the land, prescribing what this Private Secretary shall receive. If the Governor's Private Secretary is worth $2,000 I should not say "Nay," but I should say we ought to change the fee bill.
Mr. KENNER--The amount as specified in this bill was agreed upon by the Committee, thinking it was right. So far as the present law is concerned, the gentleman can take his book and read: "All laws and parts of laws coming in conflict with the provisins of this act are hereby repealed." As a matter of course, if you put the item in here, it repeals the present law. I hope the House will change this amount to $2,000.
Mr. FULLER-I am not willing, Mr. Speaker to go before my constituents with any raise upon the amounts allowed two year ago. As has been said here, the salary of Governor Williams' Private Secretary was $2,200. That matters nothing to me. The record shows that it was $1,500; that is the sum the fee and salary bill appropriates for that purpose. If there was some underground railroad by which he was paid more, or Governor Williams paid him out of his own pocket, that matters not to me, and I do not intend to go before my constitusnts and show the increase of this salary. I will vote against the appropration bill before I will do it. I believe in paying a liberal compensation and I will be the last man to vote in contradiction to that. This gentleman expects to do this work for $1,500.
The amendment was adopted--yeas, 45; nays, 37.
Mr. HARGROVE moved to amend by striking out $1200, the salary of the Deputy Attorney General, and inserting $600 in lieu. The amendment was adopted--years, 45; nays, 37.
