Theodore R. McKeldin, Governor                   1611

JOINT RESOLUTIONS

No. 1
(Senate Joint Resolution 2)

Joint Resolution requesting the President of the Senate of Maryland
and the Speaker of the House of Delegates to name a special non-
partisan commission of persons not directly connected with govern-
mental affairs in Maryland to study and report on the subject of
legislative salaries.

Whereas, during recent years, there has been much interest in the
subject of salaries paid to legislators, not only in Maryland but
throughout the entire country; and

Whereas, this subject was on the agenda of the Committee on
Taxation and Fiscal Matters, which was charged by the Legislative
Council with a complete review of salary and compensation problems
for the executive, judicial and legislative branches of the State Gov-
ernment; and

Whereas, in its report to the Legislative Council, the Committee
on Taxation and Fiscal Matters made the following statement in
support of the appointment of such a special commission:

"The subject of legislative salaries and emoluments is one of broad
concern to the citizens of this and other states to the extent that it
may affect the level and nature of operations at the State capitol.
There has been considerable action among the various States on this
question in recent years despite the general reluctance of legislators
to act on their own salaries and their tendency to await precedents
elsewhere. Legislative pay was discussed in detail at the Legislative
Service Conference held in Seattle in 1956 and the prevailing senti-
ment was that compensation should be adequate for the time put in.
While public office is in an important degree its own reward through
the opportunities it provides for service and public recognition, never-
theless the level of official salaries must be high enough to permit all
qualified citizens to serve under conditions of dignity and inde-
pendence. This committee believes that a review of legislative
salaries would be desirable. Although any recommendations could
not and should not affect the present General Assembly, it is felt that
such a review, with recommendations, would be better assured of
complete objectivity if it were conducted by a group of impartial and
highly respected citizens of the State. The committee therefore
recommends that the President of the Senate and the Speaker of the
House name a special non-partisan commission of persons not directly
connected with governmental affairs but with competence to judge
the factors involved, to conduct a thorough inquiry into legislative

Explanation: Italics indicate new matter added to existing law.

[Brackets] indicate matter stricken from existing law.
CAPITALS indicate amendments to bill.
Strike out indicates matter stricken out of bill.