Mass. no. (M^r King ay.) M^r Ghorum wavering. Con^t no.
N. Y. ay. N. J. ay. P^a ay. Del. ay. M^d ay. V^a ay. N. C. no.
S. C. no. Geo. ay.
The words requiring members of y^e 1^{st} branch to be of the age of
---- years were struck out Maryland alone no. The words "_liberal
compensation for members_," being consid^d M^r Madison moves to insert
the words, "_& fixt_." He observed that it would be improper to leave
the members of the Nat^l legislature to be provided for by the State
Legisl^s, because it would create an improper dependence; and to leave
them to regulate their own wages, was an indecent thing, and might in
time prove a dangerous one. He thought wheat or some other article of
which the average price throughout a reasonable period preceding might
be settled in some convenient mode, would form a proper standard.
Col. Mason seconded the motion; adding that it would be improper for
other reasons to leave the wages to be regulated by the States. 1.
the different States would make different provision for their
representatives, and an inequality would be felt among them, whereas he
thought they ought to be in all respects equal. 2. the parsimony of the
States might reduce the provision so low that as had already happened in
choosing delegates to Congress, the question would be not who were most
fit to be chosen, but who were most willing to serve.