The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1866-07-30

PURSUANT to their resolution Of
Wednesday last, Congress- adjourned
sine die at half past four O'Clock, Satur.
day afternoon. The last hour or two
was attended with some considera.
BILE excitement it seems, owing to the
vote on the Senate bill to increase the
pay of members from three to five
thousand dollars per annum. We pre-
sumo nine-tenths of the members
wanted the increase, yet 81 of them
voted one way and.5O another. Unlike
the Senate, the House sustained a call
for the ayes and noes on the question,
but the progress, ofthe vote developed
the fact that the process was extremely
painful. Several of the members were
not ashamed to change their votes
back and forward according as the
prospect frightened or faded for final
success. A vote on the negative really
meant nothing at the last in the major.
ity Of instances. The problem was
how to 'play it fine" enough; chow to
do It and not do it;' how to be on the
right side for the Increase and still on
the right side before the people.
This whole question was very inge-
Nous mix. The soldiers bounty bill
was made to stand or fall with the in
creased pay for members. A vote in
the negative therefore was a vote
ngainst the soldiers. It was thus made
impossible 70 cast an iron clad vote on
either side. Several OF the members,
eH...,..
down soldiers bounty bill preferred
to vote for the whole proposition, and
take the risk OF any assault in conse-
sequence.
Il Is to be said on behalf of those vo-
ting In the affirmative that five thous-
and dollars now IS no more than three
thousand originally. AS a matter Of
Justice it is no more than a fair COM
pensatIon for those who serve their con-
stituents faithfully in Congress. Very
few members save anything from their
salaries. The Washington city hotels
and shOEs keepers manage to get the
most OF It. II is the mileage OF Con-
gress that Is especially hateful in the
eyes Of the country. Forty cents per
mile, each way. for alleged expenses is
nothing more than robbery. II Is get
ting the money OF the country under
false pretences. The member nom
Oregon, for instance, gets upwards Of
$4,000, while his necessary expenses
are not one thousand. Who can Justify
Congress in allowing him to talke eleven
thousand dollars out of the treasury on
account Of expenses which he did moi
inepr9 Ten cents mile is the allow-
Rncs for officers of the army when
travelling on Government account. And
Il pays their way, and more. Had Con-
gress reduced the mileage while in
creasing their salaries the country
would not have objected. But the peo-
pie always viii object 10 that deceitful
system Of robbing the treasury called
mileage allowance.
The bounty bill, even IN the shape
passed, we regard as a wrong upon the
country. While It gives but very few
dollars % the soldier, It lays seventy
I'VE millions more upon the country.
There i an end to this sort OF expen-
diture, even "a the estimation of those
whom the bin Is intended to please
and benefits And st s only d deceptive
benefit At last. The money mnst ali
come back 70 tho treasury in the shane
OF taxes. Either that Or 4 ,brol.en
down public credit And theso appro-
pfinfions mean simply doenfr 49,
taxes that viii occasion inersasei MI.
col for everything chat the soitIier
buys 10 eat or wear. Therefore ne
blll 8 = wrong upon the country
aUE1hr upon MI Glasses Of elti1enss
HEfeF ii COOKE, Of yVashin gt6n
City 10 u arms an income Of SIS, 90l
tors 81 ldo lnIii1r 81, .Ii1,lISlGL nlonr
about 1850 Being 4 brother Of the lucky
laye be gct = tau. - thin 1i Wash