Washington sentinel. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1853-1855, 1855-01-28
INCREASE OF THE COMPENSATION
OF OFFICERS OF THE GOVERN
MEMT

M HNTs
The New Orleans Bulletin, of January 18th,
has very sensible aud wellconsidered article
on the bill introduced by Senator Badger of
North Carolina, for the increase Of the com
pensation of Judges Of the Supreme Court Of
the United States and Of the members of Con
gress. After complimenting Senator Badger
on the ability of his speech, the Bulletin pro
ceeds to say GAS Senator Badger is about
retiring from public life, this move to benefit
those who will succeed him, ms well as his
brother members, is as graceful as it is well
timed We fully agree with the distinguished
Senator, that the salaries Of judges, as well as
the per diem of Congressman, should be in.
creased. Indeed, we regret he did not make
his bill more comprehensive, and include in it
most of the officers Of the government, from
President down. The salary of the President
should be at least doubled The members of
the cabinet should be paid twice as much as
they now receive and sixteen dollars day is
not too much for Representatives and Senators.
We are as strongly in favor of economy as
any of our contemporaries, but we are wholly
opposed to starvation salaries on grounds both
of principle and expediency. This country is
amply able to pay its employees sufficient sala
ries, not only to support them, but to enable
them to lay up something for rainy day, and
to provide for the exigences and infrmities of
age. We would not wish that they should
make fortunes out of the public treasury, but
they should be paid such liberal sums as would
suffice TO prevent the necessity Of drawing up.
on their private resources. Eight dollars a
day will not pay the expenses Of member of
Congress and his family. Washington is a
dear place to live in.''
The Bulletin continues "Then, again, we
maintain that low salaries are anti-republican-
that they are calculated to build up the pal
trest and meanest order Of aristocracy thatexists
in any enlightened nation upon earth-an arts
tocracy of dollars and dimes exclusively No
strictly scrupulous poor man can support him
self and family in Washington on eight dollars
day."
The Bulletin is correct in the view it takes
What is the use of saying to the people, you
have the right to be chosen Representatives,
Senators, Presidents and Judges, if you deny
them the actual power and possibility Of hold
ing these Offices by reason of the inadequacy of
the compensation. 1t may amuse the vulgar
mind with the idea and the semblance of free.
dom, while actual and odious checks are i'm
posed on freedom
Again says the Bulletta "But to return to
Senator Badgers bill. There is little doubt
the salaries he proposes to increase were amply
sufficient in those good, old patriotic days, when
wants were few, and when the indispensables
of life were plentiful and prices low. But, it
should be remembered, times have changed,
and two dollars will hardly buy what one dollar
would then. Rents have quadrupled, and
everything else has doubled in Washington.
These are stubborn facts; and we are firmly
persuaded that, as soon as the people reflect
over them, they will applaud the movement Of
the Senator from North Carolina, and justify
their Representatives and Senators in sanction,
inc II