New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1853-03-07

against Appropriations indispensable to carry
on the Governmsnt-and so tie increase OF
burthens is fastened on the People, and no
man can ssy by whom. The mischief is done
BY Nobody, who is not responsible to any body.
This work of raising salaries or otherwise
increasing the public burthens for objects IS
vet unauthorized by law is at war with al Re-
publican principle, condemned BY Psrliamen-
tary law, and an outrage on the spirit and IN
tent Of the Constitution.
But in the present instance, the job was
performed even more indecently than usual.
1t was begun in the Senate, where jobbing and
squandering habitualy run riot, and through
which man may any time drive his wagon into
the Treasury and load up if he only under
stands the way (The Senate is forbidden BY
the Constitution 20 originate a money-bill-
that is. fresh burthen on the People, This
Salary Job was started there, and went through
Of course. Going thence to the House, it was
there promptly and emphatically put down
only Airyhree voting for it in House of 234
Members So the bill went back to the Sem
ate. which insisted, and told the House, You
shall submit, or we will defeat the Appropri-
ton Civil and DiplOmatic) altogether, and
compel an Extra Session The House dehed
this threat and said, Let the Appropriations
90. if they must But finally, leading friends
of the new Administration said, To begin
with an Extra Session is ruinOus--that broke
down Van Buren's Administration-then
Harrison's'-So at last the House caved in,
and the Job was accomplished. VIII honor
able and biqh.minded men, in the face and eyes
of the Country consent to receive money that
was thus screwed out Of the Treasury-the
House conserving to the sack as if with q
pistol at its head
2. Tie Usual Extra Compensation. Con
gress employs twice as many sub-Clerks, sub
Doorkeepers, Messengers, Fire makers, Sweep
ere, Pages, &c, &c, as there is any need Of.
and peys them most e1orbitanty. The least
efficient men get SO per day for very short and
light days work. The Pages (mere lads Of II
to IL years. receive $40! per week And in
addition to this, it has become a habit to vote
them all $3.50 each at the close of each Ses-
sion, as the USUAL extra compensation IL
began with vote of that sum at the close of a
very long and rather arduous Session, when it
was pleaded that the underlings had been
worked very hard and had fairly earned some
thing more than ordinary. Then il was urged
and passed as extra compensation; ever since
il has been the usual extra compensation.
Many of the boys could not earn 81 per week
any where else in the world yet they are paid
$lOJ per week for attending on Congress few
hours each day in the dullest part of the year,
and then $50 additional per week at the close
of the Session as the usual extra cOmpensa-
ton In return for this, they pay in some s.
each for liberal spread Of cold fowl, ham,
brandy, wine &c, which is set out in some
sly Committee room Of the Capitol on the
last night Of each Session for the Mem
bers TO get drunk and quarrelsome upon.
That is TO say-the Members take out of
the Treasury some $4,000 or $40, 600 to give
to their messengers, pages, &c, who gratefully
contribute some 81 600 or so out Of it to make
the Members Jolly over night and sayagely
sick next day. OF course, all the Members do
not vote for the swinde, nor do all partake Of
the tipple but the BUSINESSES so managed that
the people cannot know who does or does not. In
the present case we regret to see that Member
from our City. and Wing at that, Hon. Geo
Briggs, was put forward 10 move this most un.
justifable Galphinism, though all the profit Of il
enures to the adverse party. George is a good
fellow, but he does allow his fingers to be used
to rake other folks chestnuts out of the fire
rather freely.
We had intended to 90 on, and walk into
various other plupder;jobs, but time and
space fail us for TO dny-and besides, We do not
yet know, (ncr does anybody what was really
passed and what has been defeated. Not ever
half the Members could tell to-day what con
tested items foisted into (or ai) the Appropri
alton bills have failed and what have passed
Hear The National Ia,oiiingeaeer of Saturday
the day after Congress adjourned
While many things Of importance failed, these mea
sure Necessary 10 cary the Government were anaI
passed for putting o. the resl business Of the ssssoI
to the last week We several Appropriation bills ans
even that Tor the Civil Serce OF the Government wer,
IN great danger as late yesterday norning AT clock
0. han. lest Tie fnslly go. through however but il
! Whist precbe :Aspe 70 one can tel.
The numerous bills which were par aly considered
smerded and lost taken Up II alto ssy nothing
Of the scores Of reports prepared by COMMITTEES an
net permitted 20 the lght-he IN - the Ct
nces Of the House on the Speakers tatls aud ow
ing 70 the late hour O. yesterday which the stngs
the two Houses ext nded Il impossible 70 collect
from The exhausted clerks the TILES Of the sti
which were passed lt : eySent from illusions In de
bate, that the members svare Of tie grievance Of
this great Ddrnce 10 the pubic business bat he prop
/ eT remedy seemed less obvious or acta-nsble"
/ u This EreHing, Mrs. BLoovER with
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