New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1862-01-09
CONFIRMATION OF CONGRESS.

The act Of Congress Of 1856, which increased
and still governs the Compensation of Members
passed in the presence of many Members Of
the present Honses-prescrbes that
"The compensation of each Senator, Representative and
Delegate In Congress shall DO $1,000 for each Congress- and
mileage provided by law for two sessions only to be
paid manner following to wit; the frs, day Of each
regular session. each Senator Representative ard Delegate
shall his Desse session and on the first day Of
each month thereafter during such session. compensation
the Of 5000 per during the continuance Of
such session. and the end Of such session he shall
ceiye the residue Of his 'asy due to him at such time
the aforesaid still unpsidi and at the beginning
Of the second regular session Of the Congress. each sens
tor Repreensye aud Delegate shall receive bis mileage for
such second session. and monthly during such sersion CON
pen,aon at the rate Of $4,000 ef TIL the 'lh day OF
March, terminating tie Congress, snd that day each sena
tor Representative sd Delegate shall be entitled 20 receive
any bsauce the 5000 10. heretofore paid in the ad
monthly in.iaInenis a. above directed"
la defiance Of the express terms Of this act,
nearly or quite all the Members claimed and
received Mileage at the Extra or Called SEES
sion; and noH some Of them want another haul,
in fragrant defiance of the law. But Elisha
Whittlesy is Auditor. aad Francis +. Spinner
Treasurer and they cannot let any more money
be paid for Mileage Save to Members now in
their seats for the first time) without conniv-
ing at fragrant robbery. And this they are
the very men not 10 do.
We no.e an ntimation in some Journal that
" legislation will be necessary" TO enable the
Members TO draw Mirage at this Session.
There 10 not a doubt OF il. But such legi.la-
ton will be fraud on the Treasury which, in
view of its pre.ent condition and that of
the country, will be little less than treason.
For the Members saw lit to be elected with
the law open aud public: if they were not sat
sfcd with the compensation. they should have
given their constituents n chance to elect men
who were. Ii they now increase their own
pay, in view Of the National perils and dis
'tresses, We trust not one OF them who votes
for or takes the plumber will ever be re-
elected.
When Members were paid by the day, there
was I show of reason in their charging Mile
age for each Session. But now they paid
b, the year--paid $1,000 for each years ser
vices-paid for their full time. II they can do
one objects ~ their deyoting the resldue OF
their time to their own private affairs; but to
charge the people more for serving part Of than
Tor serving all the lime il plain, simple, naked.
audacious swinde. Yet that is just what they
VIII do il they vote themselves third Mileage
for the present Congress- The law expressly
ssy- that they shall have hut two Milesges tor
each Congress, and the reason oi the law cen
ours with il terms. To vote themselves an
other Mileage is to discbey that very grave
commandment which reads. a. Thou shalt rot
- steal.
We do not intend to intimate that any cob
siderable proportion oi the Members have ever
contemplated such robbery as We are de-
nourciug We trust very ir" oi them nave
done 40. This however, is time Tor plain
tnk, and we speak in such season tina. none
can pretend to give Il personal bearing TO Our
structures n 10 one is hit, rome need tlutter.