Daily American telegraph. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1851-1852, 1852-05-26
Bes- SEE FIRST, THIRD, AND FOURTH
7,
Two Thousand a Year.

We have heretofore expressed our views in
favor Of the substitution of this salary for the
per diem of members of Congress. 1t is OBJ
jected to by some, as we perceive, on the ground
that it will prove an increase of the average pay
of members. This is a shallow view of the sub
ject. We are in favor of the most rigid econo
my, and have ever advocated whatever we have
thought conducive to promote an economical adj
mnistration Of the affairs Of the government:
but Indifferent service at low pay is never so de-
sirable as good and able service at liberal COM
pensation and we shall therefore not permit
trifilng increase in the pay of members-if, in
deed, it really prove such-to oyerrule our pref
crence for an annual salary to per diem COM
pensation.
Two thousand will divide by eight two hun
dred and fifty times. At present our sessions do
not extend to SO many days; but the growing
length of sessions for few years past would soon
lead to that, if, indeed, it does not render them
continuous. Now, it is not alone the pay of
members, but all the attendant expenses of the
session also, that must be taken into the account
An abridgment, therefore, of the period, without
abridgng the pay of the members, will prove an
economical regulation.
With all our regard to economy, however, this
is in reality the least important view of the SUBJ
ject. The motive to conduct the business of
legislation with precision and accuracy does not
exist where full pay can alone be obtained in the
.a4lness Of time; and while the great majority of
the members may be at all times well disposed to
despatch the business as promptly as possible,
half dozen members in each house can prevent
this, and protrac the session to the latest possible
system of compensation? No more than would a
tring, frittering, quibbling advocate be tolerated
as an annoyance before the Supreme Court of
the United States. The public business would
be despatched with promptness and the public
would greatly profit by the improvement.
But there is yet another aspect in which to
view the subject. The proceedings and debates
of Congress are read more extensively by the
people of this country than any other description
of reading. Popular opinion, popular sentiment,
and popular TASTE are fashioned upon the models
they present. Now, these proceedings are vague,
incongruous, and unbusiness-like, while the de-
bates are characterized by excessive wordiness,
diffuseness, loose and uncertain data, illogical
and tricky reasoning, gossamer or gunpowder
defamation, gaudy ornament, and fulsome and
dwelling professions of heroism, patriotism
self devotion and eternal readiness for self-im-
notation. The substitution of the proposed plan
would suppress all this fustian, and bring about
the clear quiet, precise, intelligent, and elevated
style Of elocution that characterizes some of the
legislative and many judicial arenas in this coun-
try. This, per Sc, would be most happy con-
summation; but in its influence upon the popu-
lar mind it would be salutary in the highest de-
gree.
To Mr.. Underwood we are indebted for the in
PRODUCTION Of this measure; and in the event Of
its success, that able statesman and estimable
and accomplished gentleman may desire no
prouder memorial of his public services.