The daily union., 1852-12-24

to travel think, however upon the whole twill be
Just aud satisfactory 10 the county.
One thing more, and then shall be done. The bill
provides that there shall be compensation allowed
senators Tor meeting IN executive session while the House
OF Representatives not session The receiving
mileage compensation for such sessions subject
which think has received the condemnation of the
counlrythat provision audes TO constructive mileage"
as II IS called This bill cuts that up by the roots, and
hereafter i is not TO be allowed We undertook to get
clear OF the allowance OF constructive mileage by bill
winch was introduced by the senator from Maryland
| MIR PEARcEl year or two since That bill prohibited
the allowance OF constructive mileage at executive
session called upon the coming in OF adminstra-
uon But by thus expressly prohibiting the allowance
OF constructive mileage at an executive session called
upon the coming in Of administration, the impIca
ton was LETT that there was executive session called
at any other Time constructive mileage should then be
allowed; and believe the practice OF the Senate, not
withsandng the passage Of that BILL has been 10 allow
r@nstructive mileage at called executive hap.
penng at time other than the coming in OF new ad-
ministTatlon. Now, II this constructive mileage was
wrong end il II was proper 10 pass the bill introduced
by the senor from Maryland [Mr PEARcEl prohibiting
It's allowance al an executive session called upon the
coming IN OF new administration, then il is equally
proper TO get clear of IL for executive sessions called at
any other lime. This bill makes no discrimination be-
tween called executive session upon the coming in of
a administration and called executive session at
any other time repeals the law entirely that allows
constructive mileage Thus you have the objects which
| had in view in introducing this bill.
| Let me refer TO other operation of the bill and
will take my seat have provided in this bill that hall
of the compensation shall be paid to the member when
he the of government the other half of the
compensation shall be paid him upon the adjournment
OF Congress when he is going home | hardly know
whether not ought TO make the remark, which be-
lieve shall submit-but intend 10 make without de-
signing 10 wound the feelings of any individual upon the
face OF the earth hope, at all events, that il will not
have that effect but allow to say that it prin
cipe OF human nature to feel somewhat tempted to
tinue in a condition. during which continuance our reg
uar compensation is meted out 10 us and II IS posi-
BILE that of Congress may, 10 slight
tent, be tempted proong OF Congress Tor the
sake OF the per diem which is allowed Our State egs-
laures have allowed the existence of temptations OF that
sort and State legislatures and State constiu
tions in instances have provided against that
condition OF things which will allow this principle OF bu
man nature 10 operatehey have found 1t necessary to
put some limitations upon it, do not know that, in the
more exalted stations which occupy, we there
fore any the exempt IRON those common principles
oil our nature than the members OF our Stale legis
laures and what has been found TO be necessary and
proper in reference 10 them, may also be found 10 be
necessary and proper IN reference to have, there
fore, provided for annual salary, hall TO be given
The meeting of Congress, and the other hall at lis ad
ournment; SO that there will be no temptation whatever
to prolong the session unnecessarily, but rather If
there be temptation resulting from this mode OF com
pensating members, il will be to discharge their duties
prompty-to do the business of the people
possible and then go home If there be any temptation
in the case, twill be one that will tend TO counteraet the
one that may now operate,
Now the Senate has the whole object that ] have in
view. have postponed the operation OF this bill time
when | shall have left this Senate have made ii
prospective because il will give the people, through
their representatives, opportunity to upon this
plan in Congress Ii the people should be dis
pscVa caa instruct heif Representatives repeal
il and no doubt, II II should be met by popular con-
demnaiion, the Senate will unite with the popular
branch OF the national legislature ia repeating IT,
oliec perfectly wel-for old enough then to pay
attention 10 public aalfs-when the compensation
bill passed in the year 1916, giving an annual salary as
propose do The effect OF the passage OF that bill was
that ii turned out of office almost every who voted
for H. MIR. Clay | think, was perhaps the only sur
vlvor IN the State OF kenucky perhaps Colonel john
another. At all events, with these exceptions,
all those who voted for it went by the board. 1t
may be SAID that this bull will have the same effect
Not So far as have noticed the public attention
which has been given TO the proposition which have
here submitted II has been uniformly favorable all
the country What is the OF the diherence2 1t is
this the members OF Congress who passed that bl-in-
ereaslng Their compensatonpockeied the money which
they allowed themselves They made il retrospective so
that il went into effect Immediately they benefited by
themselves, and the people received the law with indg
nation by saying, You increased your own salaries;
pocketed the money you helped yourselves by running
your hands into the public treasury you ought 10 have
given an opportunity OF speaking in regard 10 the mat
ter before il finally settled. Now with perfect
recollection OF the effect OF that legislation in sG-or
was then old enough to participate IN public affairs
with recollection OF the manner IN which operated
upon the representatives OF the country who voted for H.
have framed this one so as 10 make il prospective
trelynot 10 take effect during this session OF Congress
and should the Senate and House Of Representatives pass
H. and the people approve IT, IL will remain and be law
il they should be dissatisfied with H. they will instruct
their representatives 10 repeal IL, and the Senate no
doubt will conform 10 the wishes Of the public 10 regard
TO the matter.
Having thus explained the measure which have
thought proper TO in,tadsoe, shall have nothing
10 say unless be attacked IN which think II
does not deserve.
Mr. BADGER desire to say word or two upon
this bill bat before DO | would ask to have the
third section OF the bill read.
Mr.. BAYARD. ! intended TO move 10 amend the bill
by striking that section out OF IT, certainly shall not
vote for the bill with the third section in It,
The third section oil the bill then read, follows
SKo And BE- " further sn5ci6d, That the Secretary
OF the Treasury shall deduct, from the psusadon
PAID aforesaid at tho end o. tho session dollars Tor
each day the member delegate may have been absent
from his tea daring the stung o. the house OF which he Is
member unless such bseuce occssioned ty hs sick
the acsness 10 his wife child Eacb seuhor,
reessve, end delegate shall the end Of each
" hts statement on eah and II any senator, representa-
tive delegate shall refuse furnish such statement
no payment shall then be made to him"
Mr. BADGER. There is no gentleman who il a mem.
Der OF this The other House Of Congress who s more
fully sensible than am that the compensation paid 10 the
members Of both houses is grossly Inadequate And
there is member Of either house who ID more ready
than am to take the responsibility, il Il be one of pass
ng proper law 70 make lst and adequate Temunera-
ton 70 u.s. not upon the principle Of poor and imperfect
payment Of expenses, but upon the principle expressly
stated by the constituon-as a Compensation Tor our
services In every other department OF the government
the compensation is graduated with some view to the
services "a hs rendered and the expenses be incurred
But tue services entirely preermltied, far as
| am able to see, by those who were engaged in
constructing the act for The regulation Of the CON-
peasation Of the members OF the two houses OF Con-
gress NOW iq force In fact, Congress seemed TO have