Cincinnati daily press. [volume] (Cincinnati [Ohio]) 1860-1862, 1861-11-30
OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES of aaInrIes,


The New York Tribune leads off in calling
fer retrenchment in National expenditures,
ard reduction in salaries of servants-s mo-
ton which we most heartily second. When
Congress took the liberty few years since
of raising the pay of its own members-a
questionable measure to say the least of it
we were decidedly opposed to it, because we
believed it to be, and still believe it, both un-
necessary and wrong. Instead Of raising the
pay Of Congressmen from eight dollars per
day, as it then was, to three thousand per
annum, as it now is, it should have been re-
ductd. The pay has always been too high.
We are opposed to high salaries attached to
Offices of honor. Barely enough to cover ex-
penses is sufficient. But now, in the great
financial strait of our Countrywide enormous
expenses of the Government, the derange-
nent and partial suspension of commerce
snd trade, the great lack of employment for
the mechanic and laborer, and consequent
low price of wages, as well as of produce
ard the high taxes of the people-an of
which must necessarily continue, more or
less, for several years, not only combine to
recommend general and decided reduction
in the salaries of public offices, and the cur
failing of all public expenses possible, but
actually to demand it.
And Congress is the place to begin it. We
know it is difficult thing to get men to vote
for reducing their own salaries. 1t will take
hard coaxing and persuading. But it can be
Dro1rr oo, do
AS commencement in this necessary re.
form, let the pay of members Of Congress be
changed back again to the per diem compen-
sation, but not to eight dollars per day. Four
dollars, we believe, is as high as the mem-
bers of any of our State Legislatures receive,
unless it be in California. They get nothing
for "milesge.' Iflegislstors can live on four
dollars per day at Columbus and Albany,
they ought to be able TO do so at Washing
ton. Four dollars, we believe, would be
sufficient but if not, let it be five dollars, or
even six dollars per day, and only for the
tine of actual attendance, with ten cents per
mile for travelling expenses. We are salts
fled, however, that four dollars per day,
which would be twenty four dollars per
week Tor, if Sunday iscounted, twenty. eight
would be amply sufficient, and as much as it
ought to be. This would take away from
the position all idea Of profit, and render it
what it ought to be-a position of honor.
1t would, for that very reason, soon give US a
Letter grade of Congressmen-a result of
itself well worth the experiment.
There is no good reason in the world why
the men we send to Washington to attend
to our national affairs-a position the honors
of which are worth all it costs-shoud re
ceive $4,000 per year for services rendered
in four to six months in each year, and
mileage" which more than doubly covers all
expenses of going and returning, while all
ordinary salaries and wages are being re-
duced, the products of labor cut down to
scarcely remunerating prices, and the taxes
of the people doubled, both as to the num-
her of articles taxed and the amount of tax
alton. Let the people therefore Cvmsnd
that retrenchment shall begin at the right
place; and let them keep on demanding until
it is done. Let the pay of our Congressman
and United States Senators be reduced; and
if the members of the present Congress
would immortalize themselves, let them at
once reduce their own salaries. Next let
salaries of the Departments at Washington
be reduced from the heads down. Then let
the reformation extend, as no doubt it would,
to the State Legislatures and State offices,
and thence downward to our county, town
and city Offices. Let salaries of public Of
fees, as well as the wages and prices of every
thing else, be at once put upon war foot
ing, or at "war prices" Let the people
look to this matter.