New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1856-08-25
MR.. GIDDINGS on THE PAY OF MEM
BFRS OF CONGRESS-
20 Ne Ed.soy If 71sy. 7. Tyi5srs.

am fully aware that it is delicate matter for
man in public life 20 act in favor Of h.s pecuniary
interest yet justice to ourselves is really much
duty as it ia 70 Others, and an explanation Of every
vote may give is due 10 those who question is pro-
prety.
| have been here many years. When came had
four children to educate, ard myself and wife to cup
port lad been accustomed to labor 20 had Mrs.
Giddnss We taught our children TO labor. I could
not bring them with me to educate them here and en-
Joy their society. / had not the means to do i. and
my mileage and per ciem fell tar short OF ceraylng
such expenses.
was therefore, constrained to separate myself from
them and from al the domestic comforts peculiar TO
| humble home during the sessions OF Congress
While here, have sought retired but comortable
boarding | have been careful TO spend nothing
than was actually necessary for man of few wants.
In this way have been able TO get along, but have
| not been able 10 save anything.
Other members have attended TO then professions
in order TO maatain practice that would insure their
| support others have attended to agencies here;
Others have turned their attention to other matters IN
order to accumulate something for future support
DO not blame them. but one thing will say, thai just
so much Of their attention as they have bestowed
other subjects has been taken from the public service.
While have thus been banished from my home and
family have labored many hours any farmer in
my district while they have remained wit their FAM.
lea attended TO their pecuniary affairs, educated
their children, and made more or less addition to their
property
In n y own county there is a Sheriff. Clerk Of the
Court Auditor, Treasurer and Probate Judge elected
tend to their private business well a3their pub
lie duties; and not one OF them probably saves less
than from $500 to 81 900 per year. And Lot OF
these officers come 70 Washington and bang their
families, keep the same horse and carriage they now
90, ana enjoy the same comforts of life under our new
Compensation bill and save as much money as they
now do
make these remarks th,, / may be understood,
uba | hat hqva rrpdr Ia fat h.
fully. have toed TO the extent of my physical and
intellectual ability, and know they are willing that
shall have fair and honest pecuniary compensation.
Such compensation as will enable me to save some
thing if live prudently a. have done, to save up
as much a. an ordinary farmer OF my district or as our
county officers do.
will also state another case. A friend whom |
have long known man Of modest retiring manners,
OF prudent habits, bat accustomed to Domestic COM
forts persuaded to be candidate for Congress.
When elected he had an amiable wife AID two lovely
daughters. Unfortunately, the wife died lie could
not separate himseh from his daughters. They anne
with him. He looked around for suitable loo alton.
Deeming it necessary 10 be economical the daughters
agreed to occupy bu: room. He must have one
to himself, aud they must have parlor in which to
receive company. Now all this would appear neces-
sary for a member of Congress. For three rooms,
board fuel, ami lights for himself and daughters ne
paid 800 per week. being something more than his per
diem under the new bill Of which you complain. Be
side this he had to rrnsh himself ard daughters with
clothing lis constituents with speeches his contrbu
mpOrtuned 10 aid in the purchase of poor slave
about to be sold from home and friends, and to the
extent Of my knowlede the friend alluded to never
failed of giving something for such purposes. The
result Of all his to demonstrate the fact that
can live here with his family and enjoy the comforts of
domestic life while eis'hargng his official duties, upon
the mileage aud salary allowed even by the present
law Of which you complain.
And think if protesting sufficient capacity 20
represent Cstric! IL Congress is willing TO b.ush
himself fiom home and fren9s he should receive such
rsn4fn lla IN m
or old age. But in how does compensation COM
pare with that Of other officers of the Government
Our CeIk has long received - 900 There is not
tie Head Of Bureau in any Department of Govern.
ment who receive, less than 5000 per annum l
regard this fact az disreputabie to Congress They
surely ought not to have placed the Heads of Bureaus
under be ter pay than that slOwed to themselves.
But the CsblIe. officers are paid 5000 per year
more than twice As much receive and the Pre-.
dents salary s25 900, with fine mansion furnished
throughcut with every article necessary to the most
spleLCid Establishment. ttgether with gardens and
laborers 20 cultivate them.
per wear and line thousand dollars outfit more than
tbree times the amount which Members of Congress
receive. But am not aware that you have assaied
their saarie' az extiavsgaLt think they are, snd
believe them far more worthy Of Tie structures you
have made upon tie more humble, aud in my opinion
just compensation Of Members OF Congress It there
be anything beautiful and lovely IN justice, lei !. Dc
deal. ont with al even hand. Let the same measure
be msted 20 officers aud people.
Wa.i,s7,o, Cit, Aug 49, 1856. J. K GIDDINGs.
Remarks.
Mr.. GidGirgs and we have differed ere now on
the Mileage question as We differ on this. But he
mus. allow Us TO insist On fair statement Of the
question We have not insisted that the pay Of
NJ mbers Of Congress already too high, or even
high enough and We have approved the change
from daily to an annual stipend prorided efficient
precautions had been inserted against Absenteeism
The Few Compensation Act, on the contrary, Of
fers positive premium on this vice. Let a
Member conclude that he can make more
money elsewhere than by attending to his public
duties at Washington, and therefore stay away
from the Capitol every day Of his term, aud he will
be entitled 70 receive about "a 900 in cash from
tn T.easury-fcr what Ia Beaumarchaiss
famous pay the noble who finds himself surrounded
with every luxury which lie certainly had never
earned in amusement asks his attendant" What
have done 70 en.itle me to al these palaces,
carriages, sumptuous .sa,.s -" &c.-to which the
obsequious retainer responds" Your Highness
condesceldel to be born.
A bill Increasing the compensation OF Congress
sho1ld have cit Of the shameful Mileage now al
owed: but the Few Act leaves that untouched
|. cot fa. 70 compare the salaries Of Presidents,
Csbne. Ministers and Embassadors-an con
.trairei r give costly entertainments and incur
other heavy expenses which do not devolse on
Member. of Ccrg7sss Members may ais msIn'
.si1 an Oversight. thsir private business winch
Foreign Ministers csnnot. nor car Caoines Omeef'
except 70 limited extent. And il aay suea ACT
AZ W. now have is to stand the fine for Absentee