The Evansville daily journal. [volume] (Evansville, Ia. [i.e. Ind.]) 1848-1862, 1848-05-16

CONGRESS AT A STAND-WHAr Blocks THE
WHEELS. GREEDY, who is in Wash
ington, communicates to the Tribune, an edi-
torial letter, upon the above text-the follow
ing Is an extract:
There muot be radical reform in Congress, and
the best members concur in the opinion that
reduction OF the pay is indispensable. have
no hope without it. Here are gathered great
number Of realmen Of husiness--lawyers in good
practice, merchants, manufacturers, extensive
planters and thrifty farmers, who earnestly de-
sire that the Nations business shall be promptly
despatched, so as TO allow them to go home and
attend TO theirs. But there is another class
noisy if not numerous, and enabled by the pre-
sent rules OF the House to control its proceed
ings-to whom Washington is paradise; who
live higher, drink fTeer, are of more conse-
quence and get more money here than they
ever did or eyer will anywhere else. Many
VINO here pocket 500 per week, and do the
nearest to nothing for it that can well be con-
ceived, would have to look very sharp to pick
up S25 per week elsewhere, Now Just so long
as the people will tolerate the present exorbi-
tant rates of pay, this kind of members will
spin out sessions and prevent anything being
done. And the fault is not so much in their
necessities, the covetousness of their shiftless-
ness, as in the sinking incidence and careless
ness of the People who will not enforce the
remedy.
The Mileage is still less excusable aboni-
nation. Texas sends hither two Senators and
TWO Representatives,, who receive, in addition
10 their pay, some $500 each every session
Tor merely coming here and going away again
Il would sooner pay them twice the money to
stay away)-sl0. 900 in all for travelling ex-
penses which are not actually 81 900. Ar.
kansas will take $4,000 out of the Treasury
this year merely for the travel of her Senators
When we come to have Senators and Repre-
sentaryes from Oregon and California, we shall
1 have to negotiate loan expressly to pay the
! Mileage OF their Members
Nobody pretends TO justify this, and yet il
defies every effort to reform it. A regbe,
starts up from Bangor, Maine, and comes here
in some two days and half. paying some 49,
and pocketing $3.50 clear profit. Coming from
Galena or Chicago. or Natchez, or Little Rocl
he will clear fr ON SIS to Sl55 per day, loupg
ling on steamboat and living like a Prince
or he takes the Cars at Auburn in the morning
awakes in New York, having in one day clear
ed over Sl2O. Does anybody imagine tina
those who make money like this, will careful
lily watch the Treasury against the inroads o
Others.
There must be Retrenchment in the Pay ant
Mileage of Members. Then the compensa ton
|of the Scores employed about the Capitol must
be treated in like manner. The Clerk, sub
CLERKS, deputy Door Keepers. Pages, &c, are
|paid too much. or there would not be such
Fierce competition for the places. 1t never
should be worth any good mans while to come
from Illinois here to be a door-keeper, nor to
Iimporiune his friends into writing letters for
Thin for any place. 1t would not be if the pay
were not exorbitant. Hence the multiplica-
ton Of places and placemen far beyond the
wants Of the public service. Worst of all
comes vote. ct he close Of each session TO pay
these oreTpaid plscemen $3.50 each ertra,
. which is actually paid TO nen getting eSl per
week, and boys getting Sl0l per geek for very
Hight work. Can the people n6yeS Re aroused
to look INTO these ma:ters2 sail we not IA We
the yeas and payson this extra swindIe ct the
close of the seSSion.
| 1 do believe that some earnest, concerted.
Efficient move be made this week to secure
The dispatch of business, and that from and
latter Monday Of next week, the House will be
Recognized as place of business and genuine
devotion to public interests. Heaven grant II.