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

idea, when stated that was opposed to this amend
ment aid in favor OF the proposition il came from Inc
House, OF leading any debate nor do now propose 70
pIoiract the discussion beyond very brief explanation
Of my views II is said by the honorable senator from
North Carolina, lMr. BADGER. that the compensation
OF members ought 10 bear some proportion 10 tner ex-
penses. That is true. am IN fayer OF fair ana proper
rate Of compensation and il senators think that the pres
ent rate is not large enough, LET them bring forward
proposition to increase IT, ButYet be Increased under
its nname-compensaton--not that OF mileage, ana
let il be equal 10 all The object OF this proposition
Of the House. If understand IL is 10 equalize m some
degree the compensation OF members OF winch
il, in well known, made up OF the items OF per
diem and mileage. and grossly unequal The effect OF
the proposition, adopted will be. not 10 eqnalze per
tec,y means bur TO make an
what desirable There reason for ing one men,
Der vastly more than another. The services OF member
who comes from Ohio for example, are worth no more
Than me services Of member VINO comes from MARY yy
great; and arises from the difference OF mileage ny
adopting the limitations OF mileage proposed oy ihe
House. we shall make beginning towards equality
This matter has been discussed too much as il
alone concerned in il. But such is not the fact
The members Of the other House quite as largely con-
Of the country as we are Their opinion is in favor Of
reduction OF the larger amounts OF mileage II is In Ia.
Of fixing limit beyond which, on this side and on
the other side of the Rocky mountains. the amount Of
compensation for mileage shall not be extended, Thai
limitation probably goes lar towards equality as 8
practicable a. things now stand The honorable senator
any proposition which will accomplish this desirable re-
suit mole efficiently than the bill Of the House, shall
very cheeriuly SUPPORT il; but shall oppose all PROPOSE
tions calculated to embarrass the scheme OF reduction
now before us. will prolong this discussion no fur
Mr.. DOUGLAS Mr.. President. have word to say
Mr. BADGER ,Iwant to say only word o. two in
reply 10 The honorable senator IRON Ohio. [Mr CHASE
MI. DOUGLAS accordingly gave way
Mr. BADGER Mr. President, the honorable senator
says he is de-irous OF equazing the compensation 81
members Of Congress Nov, the equalization would be
effected in the same degree the House Of Representa-
tives had sent US proposition providing that no mem,
beers OF either house residing east OF the Rocky noun
tans should receive less than thousand dollars for
west Of them should be less than two thousand dollars
For such proposition that would cheerfully vote
would accomplish the very object contended for by the
Sas oss " s. w
come short distances receive an inadequate compen.
saton and il equalization be the object why should we
what is right instead Of equazing It downwards below
what is already entirely inadequate For proposition
OF the character have suggested should vote without
moments hesitation. t
Again il has been said that the House OF Representa-
tves have adopted this measure, and that they may be
supposed TO have acted in accordance with the wishes
and judgment OF the people Well sir stand here 10
exercise my own judgment and the fact that the House
OF Representatives have passed upon this question Is
nothing 10 me- unless agree in opinion with the House
But do not agree with them, and doubt very much In
deed whether the House OF Repre- senatves would be very
geyousy offended find that the Senate does not concur
with them in passing this provso doubt il very much;
and cannot help thinking that there is not as much
earnest soctude is supposed upon this matter, or the
House OF Representatives would bring forward in some
other form than regularly sending il here every two
years as provision to be attached to the appropriation
bill BY the House and stricken out by the Senate.
Again, sir: the House OF Representatives may be sup
posed TO be more competent Judges Of the value OF Their
own services than we are; but deny that they are
competent judges OF the value oil our services II
the House is DESTROYS OF producing this equalization
downwards let them make provision which VIII be ap.
pcabe TO themselves alone, and l. for will iherpose
obstacle TO prevent them from eectng their patriotic
and economical desires. But, satisfied as am that the
present rate OF compensation for mileage is rght7or at
least that is wrong the direction in winch the
House appears suppose isl shall not suile myself 10
be influenced either to vote TOR their proposition or to
give silent vote against IL, simply because that hap.
pens to be adopted by the House Of Representatives.
have the honor, cir, with my friend Mr. MANGUMl who
sits behind oil representing one OF the States oil this
Union, and do not think that position as representa-
tves OF that State, individual and personal capacity
or Judgment imposes upon any necessity OF yielding TO
the decision OF the House Of Representatives upon this
question. Ii stands upon its merits; and, IN my
iSment, has not sufficient merit to enlie il to my
'aPR ss constitution Of ,hs United State. provide. tia.
ton for their services but they certainly cannot be
considered to be receiving compensation when they
are brought here and e opay their own expenses 1.-The
proposition was to level up the mileage, there would
be reason, propnety, and really think patriotism,
loo. in it. II IL did no good to anybody else, would al
least beDet some very worthv members oil h Dooy ana
Of the House oil Repre- senatves who are entitled to some
considea from the country In my opinion this move
men small business and am sorry TO see that should
be year after year brought forward in this fom tisnot
calculated 10 give very strong conviction oil the earnest
and sincerity oil the efforts that made for redu-
cling the compensation OF members OF Congress hope
the SeHae Will concur in the amendment proposed by my
friend from New York, MIR. DICKINSON
Mr. DOUGLAS. Mr.. President IT so happens that the
proviso this ol Inserted BY the House Of Representa-
tives would vary my own compensation scarcely dol
lar, and do not think one iaTthng can, there
Tore speak upon this question with entire disinleiesled-
II is due 10 my 10 ray that, while was mem
Der Of the House OF Representatives uniformly resisted
this proposition TO reduce the mileage; and voted once,
believe against its insertion 10 the BILL when the ques.
by yeas and nays One Of my reasons for
opposing this reduction is that We pay the clerks IN The
Departments larger salaries than the greater portion oil the
members OF this body receive Tor he services There Is
large portion of the members OF the Senate who do not
Tor their services by several hundred dollars, a
Some Of the menbers OF this body and oil The
House OF Representatives DO not receive, an average,
thirteen bundled dollars year whereas the clerks III the
departments receive Twelve fifteen and eighteen hundred
collars per The CHE. clerks receive - 500. and
those the head oil the bureaus, 5000 and 90 500 per
Annnm, and not word SAID aoout their salaries being
enormous. Now, want 10 know whether the services
valuable 10 the couny those oil clerks the
departments who do nothing but copy records and letters
lie great difficulty ~ thee matter his We nix our own
pay have not moral courage enough 10 give our
selves halt much we give others who are per.
iomlng duties responsible and not onerous, and
II our pay liked by anothe body than our
selves, II would doubt be double what II now Is II
were leg satng 10 TX The salaries Of body oil
To the country IN the very capacity 10 which we