Compensation of Public Officials

The following constitutional provisions were proposed by individual delegates or committees and after consideration by the Convention were rejected.

(f) COMPENSATION OF PUBLIC OFFICALS.

1.Compensation of State Officers. - The following officers of government shall be allowed as their annual salaries not less than the following sums, viz.:

The Governor one thousand five hundred dollars.

The Secretary, Auditor, and Treasure of State, one thousand dollars each, with such perquisites as the legislature shall from time to time allow.

The Judges of the Supreme Court, one thousand five hundred dollars each.

The Judges of the Circuit Courts, one thousand two hundred dollars each.

The members of the General Assembly three dollars per day each, and three dollars for every twenty-five miles travel on the most direct route in going to and returning from the seat of government. No law shall be passed to increase the pay of members of the General Assembly until after the close of the session at which such law shall be passed (p. 751). Reported by the Committee of Salaries on January 23. Laid on the table by a vote of 48-73 (p. 850). A subsequent attempt to take this article from the table failed by a vote of 48-68 (p. 859).

2. Compensation and Mileage of Members of General Assembly. - The members of the first session of the General Assembly under this Constitution, shall receive three dollars each, per day for their services, and three dollars for every twenty miles travel (p. 891).

3. Compensation of Members of General Assembly. - Sec. 40. The members of the General Assembly shall receive for their services a compensation not exceeding three dollars per day, to be fixed by law, and paid out of the public treasury; but no increase of compensation shall take effect during the session at which such increase may be made (p. 496). Laid on the table (p. 506).

4. Legislative Authority to Fix Salaries. - The Legislature shall have power to fix the salaries of all State and judicial officers, and the pay of members of the General Assembly (p. 851).

5. Compensation of Public Officials. - Sec. 2. All officers, other than county and township officers and members of the General Assembly, shall receive for their services such compensation as shall be prescribed by law, but no increase or diminution of such compensation shall take effect during the term for which they shall have been severally elected: Provided, however, That this restriction shall not apply to the compensation of the first General Assembly which may convene after the adoption of this Constitution (p. 883). Laid on the table by a vote of 61-50.

6. Salary of Governor and Supreme Court Judges. The annual salary of the Governor of this State shall never be less than fifteen hundred dollars, nor that of the Supreme and Circuit Judges less than one thousand dollars each (p. 863).