American union. [volume] (Morgantown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1855-1859, 1859-03-25
Pay Of C0ngreSsmen.

Fay OF congressman.
We are glad to see that this subject
is beginning to elicit the attention its
Importance deserves. In some sections
the candidates are announcing their
determination to go in for reducing the
compensation of members to something
like fair rate. We are also glad to
observe that the more independent De-
mocratic journals are speaking out in
reference to the great outrage by which
members Of Congress increased their
own pay from eight to forty dollars a
day, exclusive Of the franking priv
legc, which cost the government, for
the last fiscal year, $1,5OO,OoO and
their mileage, which cost, probably, as
much moro, besides the enormous a.
mounts of stationery and hundreds of
valuable books of which Congressman
possess themselves at the expense of
the Government. 1t is not to be sup
posed, says the Richmond Examiner.
should the financial cmbarrassments of
the country continue, that the people
will look up contentedly and patiently
from tho depth of individual distress 4
national bankruptcy at their public
servants receiving forty dollars per day
besides their constructive travelling
expenses, their free postage privileges,
the libraries of costly books and Sta,
tionery. Immediately after the war
OF 1872, the pay of members of Con-
gress was advanced to fifteen hundred
dollars per annum, and the storm of
popular Indignation which that change
produced swept nine,t cnths of those
who voted for it from public life, and
even Henry Clay, with all his talents
and popularity, could only secure his
reelection by humbly confossing his
error, and begging the forgiveness of
his constituents. .
The expenses Of Congress, exclusive
of mileage, as stated be the .Examiner.
are now upwards of $3,580,OOO por
annum. Allowing to members of Con-
gross eight dollars per day, and double
the mileage paid by the State of Vir-
GINA to the members of her Lcgisla-
ture. the account might be thus stated.
Taking the fiscal year of 1858 we have:
Pay, mileage and contingencies
Of Congress, So 59s 52s
Cost OF Thanking privilege, 1900, 600
Congress now costs per annum, s5,os3 ,523
At eigh, dollars per day, with dou-
DE the Virginia mileage, the ex. ...
Psnscs o! Congress would be 438.eO0
SA''"g Uncle Sam, 1915 523
We here have, by reducing the mile
age of members of Congress to thor
actual travelling expenses, and return
ing to the former per diem of Congress
men, -savtng to tie Government of
four million .fve Aundred thousand
dollars IN the expenses Of Congress-,
Mr.. Lctchor was in Congress when
this bill for the increase of the pay of
members was passed, butfailed to open
his mouth against it, Il that too when
ne could easily have defeated it by
calling for the ayes and noes upon it's
passage! And after it was passed. he
got some thirty'ninc members Of the
Tenth Legion Democracy to sign a
petition asking him to accept the mo-
ney which he had thus been instrument
tai in voting to himself! We are glad
to sec that Mr.. Goggin has arraigned
Letchcr on this ground, and is holding
him to a fearful accountability before
tho people.
Several weeks since, series of ques,
tons were propounded to Hon. Sher-
rard Clemens, and among others was
one making the specifc'inquiry, care
you in favor Of reducing the present
compensation Of members of Congrcss?'
Thus far he has not responded, but we
hope he will do so in a few days. The
people feel some interest in this ques.
ton, and he will not be permitted to
cvado it. Let him speak out.
.. Wheeling Times.