hibit some traits of generosity, it is rendered doubly mean in the eye of the careful observer, who sees in the whole transaction a base object to a selfish end. They will cavil for hours with the halt, the lame and the poverty stricken wretch, for a few shillings of fare, but will stow their cars full of governors, representatives, delegates and other dignitaries, as free luggage, though paid by the State at the same time for traveling. They are as obsequeous as a liveried footman to those they think command influence; but those who are so unfortunate as not to possess any, must expect to meet with the coarsest kind of incivility. They have obstructed the navigation of our river and monopolized all access to the lake from our village, and have made their charges such for pierage, as to amount to prohibition, especially as to wood and lumber, our only articles of commerce. Not satisfied with working evil to our town, but the State generally, by extending the road to Michigan City, and other exactions and extortions, we learn that they are about to erect a place for the accommodation of the traveling public upon their pier, thereby working death to the prosperity of our village. We would therefore most earnestly request and command you, our servants and representatives, to keep an eye watchful to the machinations of this company, and recommend to your honorable body the propriety of giving notice to the said company to desist from importuning the Legislature for favors, and of spending their money in giving free rides to influentials tending legislative sessions with their minions, to work corruption with our honorable representatives, giving oyster suppers and champagne parties to those in high places, which your petitioners consider tantamount to bribery, an insult to your honorable body, and tends to confirm in the minds of the people the gossip of the day, that "the Hon. the Legislature are no better than they should be." That the said company be enjoined to faithfully and truthfully fulfill the conditions of their charter, by improving their pier, making it safe for landing at all times, as they can do very easily, or move Tell them that their machiavelian policy has a tendency to injure those to whom the people have entrusted their affairs. Tell them to show a disposition to honorably fulfill their present obligations to the State, before they seek for favors at your hands. Tell them this, and you will retrieve in part what you have almost entirely lost, viz: the respect and confidence of the people. NEW BUFFALO, 1851. R. W. Smith, E. B. Pressy, Simeon Pierce, No. . 1. > 1851. [ No. 1.] REPORT of the Committee of Ways and Means, relative to the compensation of Members and Officers of the Legislature. The committee of ways and means, to whom was referred Senate amendment to House bill to provide for the payment of members and officers of the Legislature, have had the same under consideration, and instructed me to report the same to the House, and recommend the following action of the House thereon: 1st. Concur in the 1st, 3d and 4th sections of said Senate amend. ment. 2d. Strike out section 2 of said Senate amendment, and insert : "The compensation of the President and members of the Senate, and of the Speaker and other members of the House of Representatives, shall be three dollars per day for actual attendance, and when absent on account of sickness, for the first sixty days of the session, (and nothing thereafter;) and ten cents for every mile actually traveled in going to and returning from the place of meeting. Each member of the Senate and of the House of Representatives shall also be entitled to receive five dollars for newspapers and stationery. "The compensation of the Secretary, Engrossing and Enrolling Clerks and Sergeant-at-arms of the Senate, and of the Clerk, Engrossing and Enrolling Clerks and Sergeant-at-arms of the House of Representatives, and of the Clerks employed, with the consent of either Senate or House of Representatives, by any of the standing or special committees of either of said Houses, shall be three dollars per day for actual attendance during the session. "The compensation of the Fireman of the Senate and of the House of Representatives, shall be two dollars per day for actual attendance during the session. "The compensation of the Messengers of the Senate and of the House of Representatives, shall be one dollar per day for actual attendance during the session." In presenting to the House the above amendment for its adoption, your committee have endeavored to adhere strictly to the provisions of the revised constitution. The 15th section of the 4th article so explicitly defines the compensation of members of the Legislature, as to leave no room for a difference of opinion on that subject. Your committee, therefore, thought it advisable to state the per diem, mileage and stationery allowance definitely. The 17th section of the 4th article of the revised constitution, provides that "the President of the Senate and the Speaker of the House of Representatives, shall be entitled to the same per diem compensation and mileage as members of the Legislature, and no more." This provision, in the opinion of the committee, fixes the compensation of the Speaker of the House of Representatives as clearly as the 15th section does that of members of the Legislature; aud would also fix the compensation of the President of the Senate with equal clearness, were it not for its possible, though accidental, modification by the 20th section of the schedule, which provides that "the salary or compensation of all persons holding office under the present (old) constitution, shall continue to be the same as now (August 15th, 1850) provided by law, until superceded by their suc cessors, elected or appointed under this constitution; and it shall not be lawful hereafter for the Legislature to increase or diminish the compensation of any officer during the term for which he is elected or appointed." The Legislatures of 1847, '43, '49 and '50, each of them, provided by law for the payment of their respective officers and members. The laws enacted for that purpose, contain no provision repealing preceding laws, nor, in fact, do they contain any allusion to preceding laws; but seem to have been considered as merely providing for the payment of the officers and members of the Legislature passing them. Nor do they, in fact, contain any provision for the payment of the President of the Senate; but permit him to seek his compensation under the provisions of the 19th section of the 5th article of the constitution of 1835, which provides, "the Lieutenant Govern or, except when acting as Governor, and the President of the Senate pro tempore, shall each receive the same compensation as shall be allowed to the Speaker of the House of Representatives." It should here be borne in mind that the constitution of 1835 makes no provision for the extra compensation of the Speaker of the House; but permits him to receive such extra compensation as the respective Legislatures, may allow; or as the same Legislatures might allow at their respective sessions, should they hold more than one; and provides that "the President of the Senate shall receive the same compensation as shall be allowed the Speaker of the House," evidently meaning, in the opinion of your committee, such compensation as shall, for the time being, be allowed by the respective Legislatures, or by any one Legislature at its respective sessions. Your committee are of opinion that this 19th section of the constitution of 1835, was all the law in force, at the time of signing the revised constitution, which in any way provided for the compensation of the President of the Senate. That the 20th section of the schedule continues said 19th section of constitution of 1835 in force until the President of the Senate shall be superceded by a successor, elected under this constitution. That, as said 19th section provides that the Lieutenant Governor shall, except when acting as Governor, receive the same compensation as shall be allowed the Speaker of the House; that, as the 17th scction of the 4th article of the revised constitution provides that the Speaker of the House of Representatives shall be entitled to the same per diem compensation and mileage as members of the Legislature, and no more; and, as the 15th section of the 4th article of the revised constitution provides that the compensation of members of the Legislature shall be three dollars per day for actual attendance, and ten cents for every mile actually travelled in going to and returning from the place of meeting, more than three dollars per day and ten cents per mile, could not be paid the President of the Senate, without a violation of the constitution; and that, therefore, it is the duty of the Legislature to state the com pensation of the President of the Senate specifically in this bill, and thereby discourage any attempt, by a "clined" construction of the |