tion was referred this morning, I ask to be
excused from voting.
The gentleman was accordingly excused.
Mr. HARWOOD. I have no objection to
voting additional compensation to any em-
ployee of this house who has faithfully dis-
charged his duties. But I am not willing to
pay any member of this house an additional
hundred dollars. I vote. " no."
Mr. HOLLYDAY. Being perfectly satisfied,
from the arguments I have heard here, that
we are justly entitled to this money, and be-
ing of the opinion that the convention has
the right to fix their own per diem, I vote
"aye."
Mr. JONES, of Somerset. I shall vote for
this amendment solely upon the ground that
it is in accordance with what I believe to be
the standing law of the State. And I shall
vote for the original order, if it is amended
in this way, to give the president six dollars
a day, because I consider that the compen-
sation of the president, be being an officer of
this house, is within the control of the house
by the act under which we are called to-
gether.
Mr. DANIEL. I call the gentleman to order.
We are not voting upon the compensation of
the president.
Mr. Jones, of Somerset. When my name
is called, I have a right to assign my reasons
for the vote I give. I should have done so
in fewer words, if the gentleman from Balti-
more city (Mr. Daniel) had not interrupted
me. I am in favor of the original proposi-
tion. The president being an officer of the
house, appointed by the house, and compelled
to be here at the exact time for the meeting
of the house, to a minute, I think it but fair
to give him the additional compensation
which it is customary for every deliberative
body to give its presiding officer. I shall
vote for this hundred dollars, because I think
it is the law of the land, I vote "aye."
Mr. KENNARD. I am of the opinion that
this matter is wrong in law, equity and mor-
als. As the question was tied up in such a
legal net-work, I think it was the province
of this body to cut the gordian knot, and de-
termine not to take this money. I shall
therefore vote "no."
Mr. MULLIKIN. I believe that the naked
letter of the law would give us this money.
But I do not believe the legislature ever in-
tended it for us. I therefore vote "no."
Mr. NEGLEY. Under the unanswerable ex-
position of the law which we have had here
to-day, I believe this to be entirely legal. I
further believe that it is entirely right, and
that it is not against morals, or law, or vir-
tue, or anything else that is proper and good.
I therefore vote "aye."
Mr. RIDGELY. I regret that the original
proposition which I offered has been some-
what embarrassed by this amendment. Nev-
ertheless, as I am in favor of both proposi- |
tions, I shall vote for the amendment. 1
would have done so with much greater pleas-
ure, after voting for the original proposi-
tion, as an independent proposition, I vote
"aye."
Mr. SCOTT, I have views somewhat differ-
ent from any I have heard yet expressed upon
this subject. I believe that if the president
were in his place, be would reject the offer to
give him this hundred dollars additional com-
pensation. And as I claim to be. hi., particu-
lar personal] friend, in his name I protest
against it. Nevertheless, I believe that he
has just the same right, and no more, to this
extra compensation than any other member of
this house. I shall vole "aye" on this prop-
osition, and then when the question comes up
on the amended order, I shall vote against
the whole proposition.
Mr. STIRLING, As I said before, I have no
doubt as to the legality of this matter, as a
question of law. But I know that I did not
expect to receive this money when I came
down here, I know it can do no harm not to
take it. I am satisfied it may do some public
harm if the convention does take it. And as
the question is submitted to me whether I will
take it or not, I shall vote " no."
Mr. WOODEN. Being a member of the com-
mittee on accounts, I ask to be excused from
voting.
The gentleman was not excused; upon a
division—ayes 25, noes 30—and voted "no."
After the call of the roll had been com-
pleted, but before the result of the vote was
announced, several members changed their
votes, as follows:
Mr. CHAMBERS changed his vote to "aye."
Mr. SCOTT. I have come to the conclusion
to change my vote to " no."
Mr. PARRAN, who had not voted, now voted
"aye."
Mr. NYMAN, who bad not voted, now voted
"no."
Mr. BELT. I think the course pursued by
my learned friend from Baltimore city (Mr.
Stirling) is a very safe one, to advocate a
proposition and then vote against it.
Mr. STIRLING. I call the gentleman to order.
If he wants any explanation of my vote I will
give it to him here or elsewhere. I am not
afraid of taking the consequences of any vote
1 may give.
Mr. BELT. I will change my vote to " no."
Mr. JONES, of Somerset. Although I am
perfectly clear that the mileage is fixed by
law, yet I will follow the good example set by
gentleman on the other side. I will change
my vote to " no."
Mr. BROWN changed his vote to "no."
Mr. MAYHUGH changed his vote to "no."
Mr. NEGLEY changed his vote to " no."
Mr. STOCKBRIDGE. Is it in order to exam-
ine the vote before it is announced, and then
change your vote, if you see it is sure to go
against you ? |
