Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1841-1853, 1848-05-18
Volume VII;;;;;;::;;;;#Number As.
Is Congress Mt Sfand---What Blocks
the Wheels

HORACE GREELEY, who is in Washington, commu-
nicates to the Tribune, editorial letter, upon the
above text-the following Is extract:
There must be radical reform in Congress- and the
best members concur in the opinion that a reduction
of the pay is Indispensable l have no hope without
it. Here gathered great number of real men Of
business-lawyers in good practice, merchants, man.
ufacturers extensive planters and thrifty farmers
who earnestly desire that the Nations business shall
be promptly dispatched, so to allow them to go
home and attend theirs But there is another class
NOISY If not numerous, and enabled by the present
Rules of the House to control its proceedings-to
whom Washington is Paradise; who live higher,
drink freer, are of more consequence and get more
money here than they ever did or ever will anywhere
else. Many who here pocket $50 per week and do
the nearest to nothing for it that well be conceiv
ed would have TO look very sharp to pick up S25 per
week elsewhere. Now just so long the people will
tolerate the present exorbtant rates of pay this kind
of members will spin out sessions aud prevent any,
thing being done. And the fault is much in
their necessities, their covetousness their shitess
ness as IE the Sinking Incidence and careessness of
the People who will not enforce the remedy.
The Mileage is still less excusable abomnation.
Texas sends hither two Senators and two Represen-
taives. who receive, in addition to their pay some
81 oOO each every Session for merely coming here and
going away again q would sooner pay them twice
the money TO stay away)-S10.000 in all for travel
ling expenses which are not actually $1,000. Ar
kansas will take $4,000 out of the Treasury this year
merely for the travel of her Senators. When we
to have Senators and Representatives from Ore
gon and California, we shall have to negotiate a loan
expressly to pay the Mileage of their Members.
Nobody preends to justify this, and yet it defes
every effort to reform it. member starts up from
Bangor, Maine and comes here in some two days and
a half, paying some $25 and pocketing $3.50 clear
profit. Coming from Gaena or Chicago, or Natchez,
or Little Rock, he will clear from S75, to $50
per day, lounging on steamboat and living like a
prince, he takes the uburn in the morning.
has capital nights sleep the North River, and
next morning awakes in New York, having in one
day cleared over $3.50. Does anybody imagine that
those who make money like this will carefully watch
the Treasury against the inroads of othersl
There must be Retrenchment in the Pay and Mile
| age of Members. Then the compensation of the
scores employed about the Capitol must be treated in
like manner. The Clerk, sub Clerks, deputy Door
Keepers, Pages, &C., paid much, 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 door-keeper, to
mportune his friends into writing letters for him FOL
any place. Ii would not be if the pay were not ex.
orbitant. Hence the multiplication of places and
placemen far beyond the wants of the public service
Worst of all comes vote. at the close of each ses
sion to pay these paid placemen $3.50 each Extra
which is actually paid to men getting S2l per week
and boys getting S103 per week for very light work
Can the people never be aroused to look into these
mattersi Shall we not have the yeas and nays or
this extra swindle at the close of the session
do believe that some earnest, concerted, eficien
move will be made this week the dispatch
business and that from and after Monday of next week
the House will be recognized as place of business
and genuine devotion to public interests. HEAVIER
| grant it. II. G..