Staunton spectator, and general advertiser. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 183?-1849, 1838-05-31

nents I'D so'oipS Up 10 sh0r view, and espa-
siaily 10 the gentleman from New York.
Mr.. Cambreleog,) Who was an active mem.
Der Of that committee, mirror, in which the
practical reform may be seen. If IN. cen.
tieman, or the party, shalt find the object a
h'deeus one, San only say the picture re.
hected Is the work OF their hands.
For the six years ending on Both Septem.
Der, 1887. tho several Executive Depart.
ments, Inclusive of the General Post Office.
paid cut S34O. ll6 81 Tor their printing. In
order 10 get three years, a. as TO COMPARE il
with the term and amount before stated nv
! the committee, let us take half OF the $40,
1is 81. say Sl70,057 Is
COMMITTEES, 1850 81
Amount of increase every three
| years by the Retormers, S9S 227 OF
also lind that, in six years, ending on the
3Oih day Of September, 1897, the printing ol
Congress, (Senate aud House, } and inclusive
OF certain land documents. books, and enyra.
| wings, amounted to S76l .5S4 g. Let us de-
! duct The amount reported by the committee
| as paid for the same object ia eight wears bv
| the Administration which was Condemned
Tor IT'S extravaganCe-thatw was S27l $3.50 81.
That operation will show :hai tho Reiormers
have paid. in the legislative patronage of the
tho Whig party paid in eight years!!
In the attempt which the resolution unde,
consideration proposes, no danger awaits US.
out great civil triumph may be obtained by
H.. Invite the gentleman from New Hamp.
shire 10 adopt the words Of his gallant states
man, and, instead Of thinking il "impracti.
cable" let him say ''Ill try
But. sir, we have been greatly disappoint-
ed in the failure of this promised reform in
many other respects besides tina, which re-
garded the public printing and tho Execu,
i've patronage Of the press. And, 10 estsb>
i'sh this, will state briefly few items con
liasting The PREcEPr with the PRACTICE
OF the reformers. Initiating the examine
found in the report already alluded to. I NAV
he best understood by division of the sub
!ect into prominent heads. But, in the
language Of the report, am GEAR from think
ing l shall now exhaust the subject !" I
shall shave only opened it," pretend 10
nothing more cot this time than 10 Law the
foundation OF system, to be followed up and
completed hereafter" by the People.
The prolonged sessions Of Congress ferm>
ed conspcuous chapter in the book of re,
form. The committee denounced the usage
as lone OF the most serious evils ATTENDING
the national Legislation Of the country !" and
by way ofcorreet:ng il, recommended Chat
the compensation OF the members, during
the first session of each Congress, be reduce
| ca 10 Two dollars per day from and after the
hrst Monday in April, il Congress should sir
beyond that time. This was the precen,
now for the practice. The sessions of Con-
gress, so Tar from being shortened. have been
prolonged, no remedy applied, and the PEG.
pie OF the country ought to know tina, the
gentleman from New York, (Mr. C.mbre-
Icing so early as March, 1880, when an at.
n m Ia In
edy proposed 10 the report of the COMMITTEES
OF which he was member, by reducing the
pay of members, did himself actually Resist
aud vote against The measure.
The report alleged that abuses l. ad ",aken
place from the various and arbitrary manner
IN which members estimated their mileage
This abuse was asceriained 10 have been
praetised by the reformers Themselves; and
they have continued the practice without any
restraint. will give you, SIR, an iliustra-
non W Inch may not be thought inappropriate.
10 the days OF promised reform, the tive Sen
aters from the State OF Missouri differed in
politics; one Of them, the great retormer. Mr..
Benton The other, MIR. Barton, who thought
The promised reform was a mere humbug--|
The hrst session Of the twentieth Coneress
! commenced the Sd of December. 1897 and
ended on the 26lh Of May, 1928. These gen.
tiemen severally attended The whole session:
their per diem allowance was 81. 400 each
beisg IT'S days, at So per day; but for mile.
age, reckoning So fer every twenty miles
Mr.. Barton charged 1899 20, whilst Mr..
Benton charged 1884 &c. MIR. Barton
Charged his mileage by the grea, mail route,
over land but Mr.. Benton, who was rail-
ing out and condemning all abuses, counted
his miles by all the crooks and turns and
iortueus windings OF the Mississippi and o.
hio rivers. MIR. Barton vas left al home be-
cause he did not believe in the propriety of
protesting one thing and practising another,
| ana MIR. Benton was retained 10 cor,
| rect abuses and carry oct the great princi-
FILES OF his report on Executive patronage
len years have interviewed since The session
OF Congress just referred to-; the repor, sleeps
unheeded, and, in the meantime, Mr. Benton
continues TO count his miles every year by
the way OF the river, which has given him
| upwards OF 81, 900 more than MIR. Barton
ielt authorized 10 charge under the same
! law.
AhOfher precspt The committee report
ed that "the privilege of newspapers 20 the
members ought to be abrog ated;" end cha,
The practice Too often INDUCED in by the
House ofvoting 10 themselves copies ofbook $"
ought TO be discontinued. The privilege
and practice continue. and without restraint.
Precept.-The contingent expenses of this
House were reported to be exirsvagant.-
During the year 1928, the last of Mr.. AID.
ams's Administration, they amounted 1885,
600
Practice During the year 1886, the LAST
year OF the Jackson reform Administration,
this item was 100000. And, during the
al e