Mr. ELLSWORTH was not unwilling himself to trust the legislature with authority to regulate their own wages, but well knew that an unlimited discretion for that purpose would produce strong, though, perhaps, not insuperable objections. He thought changes in the value of money provided for by his motion in the words "or the present value thereof."
Mr. L. MARTIN. As the Senate is to represent the states, the members of it ought to be paid by the states.
Mr. CARROLL. The Senate was to represent and manage the affairs of the whole, and not to be the advocates of state interests. They ought, then, not to be dependent on, nor paid by, the states.
On the question for paying the members of the legislature out of the national treasury,—
New Hampshire, Connecticut, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Delaware, Maryland, Virginia, North Carolina, Georgia, ay, 9; Massachusetts, South Carolina, no, 2.
Mr. ELLSWORTH moved that the pay be fixed at five dollars, or the present value thereof, per day, during their attendance, and for every thirty miles in travelling to and from Congress.
Mr. STRONG preferred four dollars, leaving the states at liberty to make additions.
On the question for fixing the pay at five dollars,—
Connecticut, Virginia, ay, 2; New Hampshire, Massachusetts, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Delaware, Maryland, North Carolina, South Carolina, Georgia, no, 9.
Mr. DICKINSON proposed that the wages of the members of both Houses should be required to be the same.
Mr. BROOM seconded him.
Mr. GORHAM. This would be unreasonable. The Senate will be detained longer from home, will be obliged to remove their families, and, in time of war, perhaps, to sit constantly. Their allowance should certainly be higher. The members of the senates in the states are allowed more than those of the other house.
Mr. DICKINSON withdrew his motion.
It was moved and agreed to amend the section, by adding, "to be ascertained by law."
The section, (article 6, sect. 10,) as amended, was then agreed to, nem. con.208
Adjourned.
In Convention.—Article 6, sect. 11, was agreed to, nem. con.
Article 6, sect. 12, was then taken up.
Mr. STRONG moved to amend the article, so as to read,—
"Each House shall possess the right of originating all bills, except bills for raising money for the purposes of revenue, or for appropriating the same, and for fixing the salaries of the officers of the government, which shall originate in the House of Representatives; but the Senate may propose or concur with amendments, as in other cases."
Col. MASON seconds the motion. He was extremely earnest to take this power from the Senate, who, he said, could already sell the whole country by means of treaties.
