The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1859-02-09
Specimen or Congregational Re-

The bill introduced into the House, few days
ago, 20 abolish the ranking privilege, proposes to
depriys Congressman of the privilege, giving each
member 800 per annum in stamps as an Offset
but Il retains the privilege for the President, ex'
Presidents. Presidents widows, Postmaster Gone
raj and Deputies Auditor and Chief Clerk, and for
shose pestmasters whose annual pay is less than
$500. The bill also deprives newspapers of the
privilege they now enjoy, of having exchanges
and their county circulation free.
Here 10 q characteristic specimen OF Congress
.,opsI retrenchment! 1t Is In entire keeping with
the master stroke of economy by which they
changed their own pay from eight dollars dag to
three Thousand dollars per annuui, an operation
Nv which the cost OF these invaluable public SER
want, IL about eight hundred Thousand dollars
more this year than it would have been under the
old rate. Having involved the nation enormously
IN debt, and squandered millions upon millions Ct
the hard earned money Of an Industrious people
IN such complete reck lessness that treasury yes-
terdsy full almost to bursting, is now worse than
.npty. they proceed with burning zsa! to retrench
and reform by = measure which puts money in
thar own pockets aud takes it out of other PEG
ppes, which 10 the only idea Of economy that evs'
entered the brains OF a modern Congress. They
propose TO give up their ranking privilege and
bsssow upon themselves a hundred dollars pei
snnum In lieu thereof, which will no doubt be a
great relief 10 the mails aud TO their constituents
who will not often hear from them when they
have their own postage to pay. Very likely mos;
of them will make ninety dollars by the new spe
eies Of rstrenchment, whilst all the hardships q
shsir newborn scheme are thrown upon the
newspapers, which are to be deprived OF having
free communication with each other and with their
county subscribers, but which not to have, lik
she Immaculate members Of Congress, hundred
dollars or any other number Of dollars Offset
II the Soons Of the House Of Representatives
will entitIe this bill, "a Bill to abolish Free
Press, and to add to the perquisites Lf members
Of Congress-" they will describe its true charao.
ter, and enable the country to appreciate at the
rsal value their economy and public spirit. The
city newspapers, which necessarily have a large
number ofexchaugcs from all parts of the United
States. would DO burtheneI with a tax of highly
opprsssiye charac ter, and most Of the country
papers would be crushed out Of existence. The
public Journals of the country ought to mark the
men Who are making war upon popular intslli.
rsnce aud seeking to strike down the great "PaI-
ladium Of Liberty" If Congress wants to refor m
let il cut down its pay to 81 800, relinquish
the frankne privilege without any offset" make
II . peniteutiary offence to pluuder the public
cheat Of money for expenses Of "mileage" which
have never been incurred, and stop the sapping
and mining Of the treasury which Is continually
carried on for the benefit Of spectators. adven-
turers, and Bwiudlers and rogues In general
That Augean stable at Washington needs q
thorough cleansing, and the Press, which they are
seeking to destroy, ought to exert its entire ener-
giles, ~ yet powerful and uncrippled, Ia awakins
an abused people to the necessity Of a reform IL
the character of their public servants, as we'll "a
Tetrenchmeut of the public expenses.