Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1838-06-08


ence Of the Bank Of the United States when
engaged in the disc harge Of their high con.
stltutional duties p And when these foul
ISLANDERS are howled from the throat of the
" sturdy mastff," at the door of the Treasury
do not the whole kennel. Tray. Blanche,
and Sweetheart, lutte dogs and all" even TO
the " most Storytelling turnspit that banks on
the farthest verge Of our frontier" re.echo
the sound The Jackson reformrr, Mr.
Floyd, spoke of the ISLANDERS on members Of
Congress and on other men elsewhere
Why, sir we daily experience that and
more The President and his press have
gone on from time TO time eliminating
members of Congress and others, individu-
ally, and at length b I'VE got TO slandering
the People in body-a kind Of wholesale
Islander business. liza Congressional dis
trici, in the free exercise Of its constitutional
right elect a member who will not bow
and do obeisance to the party" he is at once
proc claimed 10 be the fed attorney ofthe bank,
and the people ofthe district are sligmatized
as repreved debtors"
When the retrenchment resolutions which
produced the famous report already mention.
ed, were under considerations, the friends
of the then Administration denied the exist
ence ofany abuse, but invited investigation,
and the resolution passed almost unanimous
ly. Now, however, when the reformers are
in power, and an investigation is proposed
they admit the existence OF the evils referred
10 in the resolution, but resist the inquiry
because, as they allege, the abuse cannot BE-
corrected
But, sir, we have been greatly disappoin,.
ed in the failure of this promised reform in
many other respects besides that which re-
garded the public printing and the Execu-
tive patronage Of the press. And, TO esab-
lish this. will briefly state a few items,
contrasting the PTeccpt with the practice Of
the reformers.
The prolonged sessions OF Congress form
ed conspicuous chapter in the book Of re-
form. The committee denounced the usage
as one Of the most serious evils attending
the national Legislation of the country" and,
by way Of correcting it. recommended that
the compensation OF the members, during
the first session Of each Congress, be reduc.
ed 10 two dollars per day from and after the
J first Monday in April il Congress should sill
beyond that time This was the precept
now Tor practice. The sessions of Congress
so far from being shortened, have been pro
onged, no remedy applied, and the People
OF the country ought TO know that the gen
, tleman from New York, (Mr Cambreleng,
so early as March, 1880. when an attempt
was made 10 carry into effect the remed 5
; proposed in the report of The committee O
, which he was member by reducing III,
pay Of members, did himself actually resis
and vote against the measure.
1 The report alleged that abuses had "ta
/ ken place from the various and arbitrary
manner in which members estimated thei
e mileage" This abuse was ascenained Il
I have been practised by the reformers them
D. selves; and they have continued the prac
n lice without any restraint. will give you
n sir an illustration, which may not be though
e inappropriate In the days OF promised re
v form, the two Senators from the State O
J. Missouri differed in politics; one OF them
s the great reiormer, Mr.. Benton the other
!. Mr.. Barton, who thought the promised re
g form was mere humbug. The first SEES
- sion OF the twentieth Congress commence
s the Sd of December, 1927, and ended on III
!. Goth of May, 1928. These gentlemen sev
# orally attended the whole session; their pc
If diem allowance was 81 400 each, being IL
d days, at 50 per day; but for mileage, reck
o oning SO for every twenty miles. MIR. Bal
IF ton charged 1899 20, whilst Mr.. Beno
n charged Sl,344 &C. Mr.. Barton charge
J. his mileage by the great mail route, owe
q land but Mr.. Benton, who was railing OF
g and condemning all abuses, counted hi
!. miles by all the crooks and turns and toru
A. rous windings of the Mississippi and Obi
% rivers Mr. Barton was left at home b.
D, cause he did not believe in the propriety
j. protesting one thing and practising another
and Mr.. Benton was retained TO corret
D. abuses and carry out the great principles {
le his report on Executive patronage. TIE
p. years have interviewed since the session
it Congress just referred TO the report sleep
,r unheeded and, in the meantime, Mr.. Benlo
IS continues to count his miles every year
:. the way OF the river which has given hil
o. upwards of $4,000 more than Mr.. Baro
+. felt authorized TO charge under the sam
oil law
lie Another Precept-The committee repor
rs ed that the privilege of newspapers to III
n members ought to be abrogated u and "thi
at the practice too often INDUCED in by III
id House of voting to themselves copies
~ books" ought TO be discontinued. Th
b. privilege and practice continue, and wihol
d restraint.
PREoEPT-The contingent expenses
he this House were reported to be extravagan
IS, During the year 1928, the last of Mr.. Al
IN amss Administration, they amounted
!" $4,000
ne PRAcTIcE.-Duringt the year 1886, tn