i Z mikiz x knowledge, peo 0 lS Mi: B was in favor of repealing the law of lastsession raising the wages ofl mem-x bers. Not said he, because Ithink them toos high. Add one dollar to the present wages, 3 confessed was sa- oid a scat in this house is pot an object toa v 4 Fhad as much respect for the voica of his ran who leaves kis home, apd his business. Isut as it apears to be the volte of the coas- try that four dollars is too shuch Lwillyote to repeal the law. etl Lt Mr Weaver would saya few words ha- ving introduced the present motion With grespect to the wages of the members he had spoken yesterday. He thought four dollars a day 160 much, and had been against the law raising the wages last year. De- ducting a, dollar a day trom each member during the session might appear a smail sum, byt he would object to any more, thau three dollars a day, considering the pressure upon the circumstances olthe country. Whilst the war lasted the mu ney thus saved anisit be applied to uses more beneficial. Mv. W. then took a comparative view of the pay allowed, at different periods, to members of the legislature---to the differ- ent officers necessarily at the seat of gover nment to the associate judges, and to the county commissioners. In 1791 the pay of members was two doliarsa day, In 1793 they were raised to three dollars, Could the rise of property or provisions have c“e- ated this difference in so short a time; the office ofthe land office, and of the accoun- tant department had their salaries raised a- bout the same proportion at different pe- riods. So also it was with the associate udgzs and county Commissioners. oe pay of the members was raised last year To what cause would gentlemen atiribute the rise in the price of living, which it was said required a rise in the pay o: members. Was itthe rise of proper ty ? or would they dare to attribute it to iis real cause, an increase eof bank paper, and a depreciation of the value of money. Mr Frailey was opposed to the law of last session, now, as he then had been, rais- ing the wages of the members. He al- w.vs regarded the voice of the people, and 1f members would look around in the Jdegisiatuey they would see upwards of six- tv new members. This shewed that the people were dissatisfied with the rise of wages. For his part, in his district they were much dissatisfied, and for that, if for no other rcason, he would vote for redu- cing the pay of members to their old stand- avd. Mer. Jarvett moved to amend the blil so that the pay of members should be two dol- lars a day. He had introduced the bill to raise the wages last year. He did not think 4 dollars a day too much, but since tlemen were for serving the public from patriotic motives, he would like that they should shew their patriotism. For his part he would serve for ene dollar a day, if the legislature would so direct it For, as to the pay being an object, that was all a mere song. ' a On this motion of Mr. Jarrett consid- erable warmth of words, between him and Mr. Fratey eusued. The reporter does not coneider personal recrimination within ihe plan of his debates. Mr Jarrett’s mo- tion prevailed finally, as will appear by the proceedings of the next day. DEBEMHRER 13. The Senate had before them as passed in committee yesterday, the bill regulatingthe pay of members. Mr. Beale said he was for reducing the pay of members to their old standard but couid not vote for the bill as it now stood. Ile was opposed to it on constitutional | grounds, as a law impairing contracts. He fconstituents as any other memben—but «en a constitutional objection existed, if 2.1 his constituents were present he should Lo the dictates of his own reason ;—tHe v as against the bill becauseit operated re- “tiospeetively. There was a contract to pay members § 4 a day for thelr services and untilthat contract was annulled, by repea- ling the law of last session, the members were entitled to that § 4.---- if one of the members were to die, his executor could recover that B 4a day until the repeal of the law. Mr. Burnside could see nothing move unconstitutional ii. this law reducing the pay of the members from the begining of the session, than there was inthe law of last session giving them § 4 a day from the be- gining of the session. There was then a Qa contract with the members to serve at 83 a day, as there was now at $ 4.---= My Beale replied that additional compen, ation was often giving for additional ser- 74 : # 3 & ae Za oe iad lo veo