Weekly national intelligencer. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1841-1869, 1850-08-31

the sum in gross that there should b NO re..on q,
posing they receiving by indirect means higher salary
than intended and do not believe the salary which hey
receive would have been attacked if had not been for
the fact that part Of the in the shape of
aton of forage for three horses and known why
professor should have three horses believe the reduction
made with the idea of striking what seemed to be an
abuse But Think, with due Difference that in doing so The
House did consider what proper and for the
support and compensation Of professor engaged in this in
stuon So far the professors concerned the whole
amount received hardly adequate salaries and the
mode in which paid far from being matter Of just
reproach to hem rather entitled them sympathy for
doubtless must have been sageeable them to
receive much by ndrecon, when in fact their allow
Of all sorts did not compensate them fully for their
services
Mr. DICKINSON. fully concur with my colleague up
the Committee of Finance, (Mr. HUsrER,) who
chairman Of that committee in what he has said with regard
to this BILL My experience has taught that the cavls
which raised against the ncease Of the salaries Of clerks
and public officers most frequent with regard to small
amounts such the rng increase Of from eight
hundred to thousand dollars In such great deal
said about economy and that persons be procured for
less Sir in such matters not poetica than true
that ffoo rush in where angels fear to tread You
supply the public service with incompetent for salary
Of few hundred dollars but will it be wise such
mistaken economy too am economist but am not
willing to economist to the destruction Of efficiency We
have many large OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES OF them amounting to
hundreds Of thousands Of dollars Such appropriations pos
high degree of interest," and in them the extravagance
Of the Government ID most conspicuous. To them would
apply rigid economy favor drectness and simplicity in
the payment of salaries am in favor Of amendment
which will show how much our officers receive am not
willing to continue the system Of paying through aons and
combinations. Let the Senate, and the country, and the
officers themselves know how many dollars and cents
signed to each do not think these salaries high the
Government have its employees but e, have no more
than are necessary, and let them be competent and fairly
paid.
Mr.. BRADBURY. am perfectly aware that any sug-
gestion which tends to economy any effort that may be
made to keep either the salaries of officers the expenses of
the Government down to the point at which they have been
kept will be perfectly unavang; but still intend to call
the attention Of the Senate the tendency extravaganza
in things great and SMALL and to repeat the effort
whether avaing unavaling. This is said to be small
affair; but here we find without any complaint the part Of
the officers that have heard; without any allegation Of
ty for the increase of these salaries and when the House
has sought to economists proposition to increase the saa
ries of the officers of this institution an amount of some
eight per cent We all know that the expense Of sup
porting their families is less there than in large Cities
and that the services of Of rsae capacity be OBJ
tanned for the salaries that these gentlemen have heretofore
enjoyed.
But we are told that 900 per annum is necessary in or
der procure the services of little tutor teach French
some other language, which competent gentlemen be
found to do for smaller salaries If the committee had pro-
posed, when they changed the mode Of payment from
mutations direct sum- keep these salaries where they
have been might not have objected to it. because should
not be increasing the amount But here proposition to
increase the sum, which in perfect keeping with every p
preparation bill which we have had before u.s. The constant
tendency to enlarge the expenditures of the Government
We are constantly called upon to raise the compensation
OF employees in appropriation bils and we have this
startling fact before That while in 1880 the expenses Of
the Government about SI4 900 900, being about
little than dollar for each inhabtant the appro
pratons asked for at the present session amount to
being more than double the to be paid by
each nhabtant in $780, And yet the appropriations will fall
short of the estimates If do begin somewhere, is
of
within any reasonable limits. We know that have State
whose proper province is to discharge most Of
the ordinary duties Of government; but notwithstanding
that have in this collateral Government instituted for
few specific Objects the expenses going and increasing
such rate that to it is at least worth while to call
attention to the matter, in order to that do not
enter into any unnecessary increase of expenditures
with the Senator from New York that it upon large
do not choose, whatever others do to on voluntarily
increasing expenses in smaller matters; wish, at any
rate, to keep witha present limits, if
Mr.. DAVIS, of Mississippi. think the Senator from
Maine has made very good Speech he had appended it
to something to which had useful applications but
think is out of place here, because the whole increase Of
expenses proposed only something $780, is d.
mnuon Of the salary Of Of the professors his salary
having been accidentally higher than that of the professor of
the senior chair Of the academy The object is to put all
the salaries Of the principal professors upon the scale
The Senator from Maine has not inquired, sure, he
would have given the which he has offered against
be obtain competent to fill these chairs any where
and for less Of money His remarks remind Of
saying of William Goblet He said he could obtain an
able bodied perform the duties Of king for fifty pounds
year. have doubt he get abebodied to take
these chairs for such salaries he supposs but think he
is mistaken he supposes he get competent to do it
who will not require salary high is proposed to give
The instruction this institution is peculiar. In mathema
tics it is extensive and thorough than esewhere and
the science Of and Of military engineering taught in
other institution Of the country Therefore these chairs
must necessarily be filled by officers drawn from the army
and be of the highest attainment in their profess
sion. On being appointed professors, they surrender the
right of promotion in the army and all prospects Of profess
sona distinction only those Of the highest aainments
in SCIENCE and Of the best capacity who selected for
these duties. The Senator from Maine mis-
taken than in the suppoon that the salaries higher than
those given to Of similar occupation and standing ia
other institutions Of the country. They below what
received in many below that which they
could elsewhere obtain but the professors have pride in
the progress and of the institution, Of them hav
ing been connected with it than twenty years. Having
grown up with the institution, they feel that attachment
which binds them it, and is superior pecunary tempI
taon, but may not be to depreciation and neglect by the
country whom they have long and advanageously
served.
Again, the Senator from Maine Is mistaken in supposng
there has been complaint the part of professors ana
that the position favorable to low salaries The place
where the living expensive and they have to enter
tain much company their salaries barely support them nere
many places where they could be supported for
and where they could obtain higher salaries The institution
has borne good fruit and think is poor economy 10
strike at the Of the amys glorious reputation by par
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