The daily Green Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1861-1865, 1862-01-11
Retrenchment in Congress


In these times retrcnchment, both in public
and private expenditures, is necessity as vel
as L patriotic duty The unavoidable charge
of the war do now and will even more in thu
future, der and all that We have to give Ou
available resources asa nation and, with few
exceptions, as individuals are to be devoted to
the Country How much may be- required ne
man can yet tell, 5000, 100000 of revenue
will be raised in some way by the present Con
gress, and this by a direct and indirect tax upon
the loyal States. direc. tax of seventy five
cents on dollar which would raise "a hundred
millions, may be part Of the financial scheme
---and when that comes we shall begin to realize
the burden Of the war. We shall then be
compelled to limit our ordinary expenses that
we may give 10 TIE Republic Is it not strange
that Congress, in the face of these glaring facts,
should noe apply an unspa4ing hand in cutting
of every unnecessary burden upon the Treasu
~! Yet, strange as it may seem, it is never
thel'ss true. For years attempts have been
made to abolish the ranking privilege which
costs the Government million of dollars q
year Tor transportation Of tons of public and
private documents and it costs as much or
more IN addition in the disposition it cutivates
in Congressman to order public documents
printed and given to members. 1t has never
heen questioned but what this would DO say.
ing 10 the Treasury. But upon one pretext and
another it has been hitherto defeated It i.
now brought forward again, and again it meets
with vigorous opposition. Who demands
that the privilege should be continued None
ou' members OF Congress. The people would
DC content at once to let it 20. But the mem.
bers still cliSg with greedy tenacity to their
perqaiste. Not content with 5000 dollars n
year, they still put their hands into the Treasu.
ry Tor more. While the Government is BENDING
beneath the burden it is carrying they refuse to
hit from it this item of expense.
The privilege was wrong and a grave abuse
at the outset, and was left no ground of reason
TO stand upon Wien the members voted them.
selves the increased compensation of $4,000 a
year. There never was any substantial argu
n'ent IN favor of allowing man, because be
was member Of Congress, to frank mail mat.
Ter lie has his pay, and if he is not satisfied
with that let linn stay at home, and n 1t be am.
bilious 10 write " H. T.. after his name.
Bat tbs IS nos ii, Fly evidence Of the de.
Votion to SELF that 'srns portion of Con-
gress. When the mbcrs pay was increased
TO $4,000 ayear it v 'prcssly provided in the
act that the memba5s Id draw mileage for
put one Session anna -, to he drawn on the
first day of each regular Session. In the face
OF this law, however, the members drew mile.
age at the Extra Session. Not content with
THE, some of them have endeavored to get mile
age again at this Session. Failing to induce
che Treasurer to honor their drafts, they have
attempted, under the lead oil Mr.. Aldrich of
Minnesota, to pass a resolution directing the
Secretary of the Treasury to pay this mileage
For the credit o! Congress, however, the reso
luton was promptly tabled by decisive vote,
where we hope it will be kept till the Country
is in easier crcu mstances.''