Alexandria daily advertiser. [volume] (Alexandria [Va.]) 1803-1808, 1804-02-03
CON RE.SS
OF THE
UNITED TATES.
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES.
Monday November21
Debate on the passage Of TIE BIZ, 5fxingg
the Salaries Of the Officers 81 G0ver''-
mens.
GoNTINUEDs
GoNTINUED.

Mr.. Holland saidhe was very tar from
| intending to say that the Lime was near
at hand when all the Offices might be FLIED
| by persons residing in this city. lie only
meant TO say that some choices might be
made from among them; and that the m
ducements would hereafter be greater to
gentlemen to come forward than they were
now. The only inducement that could
now operate was sense Of public duty.
BY coming here, gentlemen are placed in
| state of exile. and cut off from all socie-
ty.
Mr.. Smile. / hope before this bill
shall be recommitted, we shall hear better
T reasons for it than have been yet adduced.
+ am sure if the gentleman from North
Carolina will candidly examine the reason
ing he has used, he will be convinced there
is no force in it. Does he really suppose
that we shall ever see state of society II
which we shall be subjected to less ex-
pences than at present AS society pro-
crosses SO will expenses. But | am against
the recommitment for another reason
This is disagreeable subject to come be-
fore this Hsuse and would wish gen.
tlemen, In favor of making $ temporary
provision, to reflect that we are not now
about giving these salaries a constitutions
al establishment; that is net in orr power;
we are no more making them permanent,
than we have already made perm anent,
the salaries of the President and Vice-Pve-
sident, and our own compensations. If
this bill passes, it will put the salaries of
the officers provided for in it on the same
footing with them. 1t will remain with
tae-legislature, at anyfuture time, to raise
or diminish them, according to the circum-
stances of the country. AS to future d.
,minution of them, have no idea oft; on
the contrary, believe that men Younger
than myself, will live to see the time when
they will be raised.
An opposition to this bill may be consi-
dered by some gentlemen as the road to
popularity. Bat this consideration shall
never influence me. | believe the only
road to popularity is to do what we think
rigat, and what our consclences approve.
1t has always been principle with me 10
have as few officers as possible, and to pay
them well for their services.
NY colleague Mr.. Clay) has dropped
an idea that it is tn wish OF the people that
these salaries should be reduced. If it is
the wish of the people of his district,
cannot say that.lt is the wish of the people
Of mine. voted last year for continuing
these salaries; and vet my constituents
have never blamed me, indeed have not
heard the subject mentioned by them.
have confidence in the good sense OF the
people, and / believe that tnis discomfort
is net with the peopls. Have we not good
reason to expect that they will be satisfied?
Are not the great reductions we have made
in the expences of the government known
to them? Will they not be satisfied with
these, and not regard the trif:ng differ
ences between the amount of the present
salaries, and the proposed reductions -
Mr.. Smile concluded by saying he differed
with gentlemen, on the expenoes of living
betweenthis place and Philadelphia, con-
sidering the expences here gsearer thar
they were there.
Nj. Skinner, IA reply to the remarks OF
his colleague, Mar. Hastings, stated that
he was incorrect in his facts. He had stat
cd the price Of -four in 1899, at 16 dollars
barrel. 1t was net So. 1t was only 9
dollars. From his conversance with the
shipping business, he was also justified in
stating that beef and pork were now higher
than they had been any time heretofore.
Dr.. Eustis. 1t is well known in the
state of Massachusetts, that the salaries of
the governor and judges are not competent
and for the many years have had the
honor of seat in the legislature of that
state, I.have not known one IN which there
has not been temporary grant IN addition