The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1850-09-24

on the aher side OF the mounains would be sufficient
The bill gives bat 1000 mileage There is this TO be
considered IN respect TO IL; II is said that member re-
siding ia Maryland or Virginia. near here does not
much compensation one residing at greater
distance. because compensation Is made up partly q mile
age Surprising that mileage to be fairly and truly es
mated do not think there any force in that objection
The member from Maryland, Virginia. or Pennsy wanna
never than days reach iron home-can visit his
home when business requires, or when he may wish 10
do 10. matter what his business may be he can 60
home today and return and he has his per diem when he
attending TO his business Those OF us VINO reside al
great disiance-or even in Ohio. which is al moderate
distance 20 home to their business They must
leave their business and their families, unless they Incur
the expense Of bringing their families with them those
who live great distance must necessarily surrender
all their business, and leave II until they cease 10 Dc
members or senator's, uaess they can attend to 4 10 part
during the vacations, upon Their return home thlnk,
therefore, that those who reside the seat OF govern
men have great advantage over those who reside al
distance for they within the reach OF their business
and situation where they can return 10 and visit Their
families
With respect to the provision that member shall re-
ceve mileage for any session that may be called within
thirty days after the adjournment 81 both houses OF Con
gress which is connected with the other have lew
words 10 say upon IT, and may as well say it now as at
The PRESIDING OFFICER. lMr BrlL> That part
oil the bill IL not under consideration.
Mr. BUTLER Although stand in position Of in
difference upon this bill so far regards my residence,
agree with The senator from Illinois that the compensa
lion OF members oil Congress is entirely inadequate and
paradoxical il may appear do believe The most dem
ocratc view that be taken OF the subject 10 give
high salaries 10 members OF Congress, and all other fnHc
tonafies for in that way you can command the talents
oil the country whether they belong 10 the poor man or 70
the rich According TO my conviction, no man, I'M
less he is man Of wealth ought 70 come to Congress
with the present compensation he ought not to come
here to make the sacrifice he would be Obliged to make
II you to raise the salary, you could command pro-
fessional men q high talentyoung men o. Aspiration
men from office take different view Of this subject
altogether Il might not appear anything Ike moral
coure 70 sustain ~ because Pe,eue ~o oSn wy w
the best Of it. think il woud be bees to give regn-
lar salary, and equal for each session. long o.
enough compensation. This plan, think, would destroy
The temptation OF continuing the sessions for the purpose
Of making greater per diem allowance would vote
without hesitation to give $4,000 for each session. and
aud not going and coming would have distinct and
arbitrary distance calculated with mathematical precision
Capitol, to equalize il. Then they would fare
equally; and venture to say the result would be
desirable II would give TO those that live in The dis
who live near what they ought to have. would give
all enough 10 pay fo- the sacrifices they make These
are my views but suppose we have not time TO carry
them out, ii were 10 propose it, The mode OF making
the calculation by which members receive constructive
mileage" it termed, have indicated; and believe
il is protected by the very able opinion given by the Sec
and that of MIR. Dallas is the safe and Let me
repeat before sit down, that however paradoxical may
appear the best thing we can do IN republican govern
meat you wish TO command talents as well as wealth.
is to give high salaries 10 public officers.
Mr.. HALE. was at first inclined TO vote Tor this
amendment but hope the Senate will take into consld-
Grafton that this matter now stands il you take the
short session, will turn out from the time senators come
here the time they 60 back, members will re-
ceve thirty dollars day and some members not over
nine Yet think we ought to pay members OF Congress
higher. arm perfectly willing that they shouldb paid
higher They are the poorest paid OF any class OF offces
that you empoy-yasly poorer paid than The officers Of
And If the amendment suggested by the senator from
South Carolina INT BUTLERl would have the tendency
that the honorable senator thinks il would, certainly
should go Tor it, remember that there discussion
time ago in the State Of Hew Hampshire about re-
visng the constitution. One member OF the Legislature
said thai i ought to De amended 50 az to increase The
capacity of the justice Of peace, laughter and the sug
gestion favorably received with all. Now, sir II
we could introduce provision Into this bill 10 increase
the capacity q members o. Song.ess think .ne county
honorable senator from North Carolina, it is dwelling
down, instead OF dwelling up and confess am rather
eaei up lido link that he fact as stated applies 10
members of Congress at all, il certainly applies with
vastly greater force those who live al hand than
hat The amendment viii have the tendency which
the senator from South Carolina thinks il will, because
the conviction i not fastened upon my mind that the
i Mr.. BUTLER UT i did moi -ay that
Mr.. HALE. VI course, not. do not accuse him oil
saying that am looking al the thing little in detail
ala willing to et the thing 60 as II is until the time
Mr.. BUTLER. My friend did not understand what
proposed. 1t this 10 give fifty dollars mileage, in
stead OF eighty, as il now is.
Mr.. CASS. Can that proposition be dividedl II con-
tains two distinct propositions. am in favor OF
but opposed to The other
Mr.. HALE Gin his sea,) Which are you in favor Of
Mr. CASS. am against making a difference in the
mileage OF members OF Congress. We should all be
upon the same principle. have no idea OF providing
that shall draw thousand dollars If he lives
thousand miles from the capital hui II he lives beyond it,
not giving him any more. am opposed TO it, The other
proposition am ia favor OF. am in favor OF taking
II my friend will allow me- therefore, wish the propo
Tie PRESIDING OFFICER, cMr. BELLY. The Chair
is Of onion that the proposition il susceptible OF di
vision.
Mr. BADGER. have no doubt about the correctness
Of that decision. but wish TO call the attention OF the
Senate moment to what the original law is. II is
f" shall be entitled to eight dollars for every day wherein
he shall attend the Senate and shall also be allowed eight
dollars for every twenty miles OF estimated distance, by
the usual route ifom his place OF residence 10 The
seat OF government at each session Of Congress" Now
sir, am not prepared myself, for the reasons have
given, to repeal that provision This provso does repeal
his place residence TO the seal OF government ref
efence TO post routes none at a and Tor my part,
cannot conceive what conDexion there is between the
route by which you 10 10 this OF government, and
the route by which the mails transported II they
identical, then II Is matter Of no importance.
Another thing: my trend from Connecticut L Mr..
SMITH suggests TO me-whai was not aware of--that
The same at all seasons of the year Sometimes the mail
route winter aud summer ~ another,