The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1866-07-26
A Senatorial Society for Mutual AEgran-
diZement.

ulLCHOh0
The Senators are tired of living on $3O60 The
expenses of Washington are too much of drain
on their purses. Fame is a glorious stImulant
to office, but fame without funds is rather poor
diet. If a session of Congress had lasted three
months, it might be possible, with mileage OF
forty cents per mile, TO exc out scanty sub
sistence A thousand dollars a month would
carry even Senator through Washington, but
when the session is protracted until 1t ap-
proaches the heated season, the funds run low
and an increase is demanded. Now we have
always favored proper and liberal compensa-
ton being given to members of Congress-; we
desire to see such sum paid that, while it
should be sufficient to enable poor but able
man to accept the position, yet it should not be
sufficient to induce contest for the position,
because of the cupidity of the competitors.
But, at the same time, we have favored an
equalization of mileage, and not have travelling
expenses used as a cloak to secure a small
fortune.
We therefore were pleased to see that an effort
at an increase had been made, but upon reading
the various propositions we became startled with
surprise. We VIII briefly quote the various
propositiors:-
Mr.. RIDDLE moved to increase the salary to
$4,000, and allow the mileage to remain at 40
cents.
Mr.. HENDERSON moved to make the pay $4,000,
commencing with December last, and decrease
the mileage to 20 cents per mile, to commence
with the succeeding Congress.
Mr.. WILSON favored $4,000, and mileage 10
cents, except for Pacific members; dates the
same as Mr.. HENDERsoN's.
,oIz,
the pay $4,000 and mileage 20 cents, to date back
to the Let OF last December.
MIR. HENDRICKS favored $4,000 and a reduction
of mileage, not 10 take effect until March 4th,
1867.
In all of their magnanlmous efforts at reform
peculiar looking after number one was visible.
For instance, the modest suggestion of Mr.. HEN.
DERsoN to make the increase come into the
pockets of the present members, while the re-
form was carefully prepared for operation on
their successors. Now in regard to the increase
to $4,000, we emphatically are on the affirmative
side No man fitted to represent constituency
but can make more than $4,000 year did he re-
main at home and attend to his legitimate
business. They sacrifice their personal interests
to attend the sessions, and the least that can be
done is that they have their expenses paid.
The question of mileage still remains. OF its
origin there can be but little doubt. 1t was
species of bribery to induce the Western mem
bers to avoid any complaint IN regard to the
distance they had to travel, and was to act as a
means of silencing all opposition to having the
capital located in the extreme east. The nation
is so vast, extending from ocean to ocean, that
the location of the capital at or near the geo.
graphical centre is a matter of little significance
to anybody. The astonishing improvement in
the means of transportation and travel, and In
means of postal and telegraphic communication
eouaize all places which possess the facilities of
railroad connections. The exceptional case is
that of our Pacific States, and they must remain
exceptional until the railroad now projected
shall have brought them closer TO their sisters;
but even now our admirable ocean steamersibring
them reasonably near the Atlantic cities.
When, some forty years ago, the system was
revived and set in full operation, some such
nroyisien was necessary. The members many
of them, were compelled to travel in.carriages or
stages, and a proper compensation was due
them for the time they lost Speaking on this
tonic. the Baltimore Sun, IN a recent article,
thus puts the case:-
"When the system was first esta blished, many
of the members OF Congress from distance
travelled to the seat oflgoveTnment IN their own
carriages, or on horseback, and the allowance OF
SS tor every twenty miles OF travel was lair
representation of the extra time and expense
which the distant members bestowed upon the
public service. But the case Is entirely altered
now The member from Oregon or California
requires no more time and is not subject to q
tithe of the hardship and exposure which a
member from the backwoods of Kentucky OF
Tennessee encountered forty years ago. At tha
time the member received about fifteen hundred
dollars Tor his four trips, one to and another
from Congress, at each session, and every triI
consuming from three to four weeks. Now, fol
the same amount of service, the California anC
Oregon members receive each about clever
thousand dollars which, added to their pay o
ak thousand dollars, gives them the nice little
salary of nine thousand dollars year. Tel
cents mile, or So tor twenty miles, IN place 0
So would be a tair and liberal allowance for Ch
travelling expenses OF members. This IL Wha
Jurors and witnesses get when summoned by tn
public from their homes. THIS IS about VIVA
officers OF the army and navy ana other publ
servants get when sent from one part OF th
country 10 another. Either let the compensat
be fixed in this way, or let every member be n
ouired 10 present an account current oil h
actual travelling expenses, verified by MS sign
ture, at the beginning OF end oil every session.
This is a plain, common sense view of th
subject, and one at once reasonable and prac'
cal The Washington correspondent of I'll
Newark EUening Courier, in a letter treating
this subject also expresses what must be IL
sentiments of all rightthnking people. Tn
Is evidently agsross injustice, and one to whit
attention should be called, and remet
secured-
t.It is Dronosed To euuallze the nav of membe