AFTERNOON SESSION.
The LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR directed the Secretary t resume the reading of the bill [S. 325] concerning offices and officers, commencing at Section 100.
On motion by Mr. KRAMER, a substitute section was adopted requiring the Secretary of State to send the acts and journals hereafter by express to the persons and Counties entitled to copies thereof.
Mr. BROWN called up the resolution pending at the time of the noon recess.
Mr. SPANN desired to know why the author offered such a resolution at this stage of the reading of the bill.
page: 62[View Page 62]Mr. LANGDON, as a member of the Revision Committee, was not present when this bill was considered in the Committee, and understood it did not receive the attention of a full Committee. Then the bill has not yet been read in the Senate. More matter is incorporated in this bill than relates to the compensation of officers, and a Committee can more quickly and carefully consider the bill than it can be done in the Senate.
Mr. RISTINE offered a substitute for the resolution, that the sections of the bill referring to fees and salaries be referred to the Committee on that subject.
Mr. CHAPMAN opposed the substitute and favored the original resolution. There was an hour when he was willing to bow down before the Board of Codifiers, but that hour has long since passed. He did not think the Board of Codifiers has done any work worthy the consideration of the Senate. If they have done any work worth $4,000 a year, as is proposed in a bill before this General Assembly, he would like to see it, or any portion of it. The work of the codifiers of this bill is a recommendation that we re-enact the Constitution of the State. We sit here like solemn owls, and delibrate on the question whether or not we shall adopt, for instance, Section 82 (relating to the Governor). If it were not adopted, would we have to send out a discoverer to find out where the executive power of the Government is lodged?
Mr. GRAHAM favored the committal of that part of this bill relating to fees and salaries, for the purpose of taking away an infamy that is now before the Senate. He saw no necessity for referring the other portions of the bill.
Mr. GRUBBS opposed recommittal of the bill. If it is intended to kill the bill, kill it right here and now. He would not oppose the substitute; but the Senate should proceed with the consideration of this bill section by section, get it out of the way, and then take up other necessary legislation.
Mr. SPANN saw no necessity for referring this bill to a Committee, except that part referring to fees and salaries. He thought an unwarranted attack has been made on the Codification Committee, believing that Committee has done its work well, and in a creditable manner.
Mr. COMSTOCK opposed the reference of the bill. About four out of five of the remaining sections of the bill are old matter. If this reference was desired, it should have been made earlier. Considering the length of the bill, if it is referred that would be the end of it, because of the length of time required to be given to the reconsideration ofsuch a large amount of matter.
The substitute was adopted by yeas, 20; nays, 19.
Mr. CHAPMAN opposed the amendment. There is a gross injustice in regard to fees and salaries, many officers being paid ten times more than they deserve, and some officers are being paid by way of perquisites far beyond what any persons but these officers themselves may know. He believed in paying liberal salaries. He did not believe the 8heriff or Clerk of this County should be paid as much as the five Judges on the Bench, or three of them for that matter, and looked forward to the time when men in office shall be paid according to that they deserve. Unless we incorporate a change of fees and salaries in this bill, he feared the necessary legislation in that direction would fail.
Mr. BELL favored the reference of the question, of fees and salaries in order that the Committee might arrange a bill in accordance with the recently adopted Constitutional Amendments.
On motion by Mr. LANGODON, the substitute was amended by directing the Committee to report a bill covering the subject of fees and salaries within five days.
The substitute as amended was adopted.
