Orleans independent standard. [volume] (Irasburgh, Vt.) 1856-1871, 1869-03-02
Congressional News.

Congressional News.
The House has fixed the pay of all
the messengers in the Executive De-
partment at $40 per annum, and pay
of all the watchmen and laborers at
1920 per annum. Now these persons
are receiving different rates of com
varying from 5000 to $1,000
per annum. Gen. Butler. who moved
the uniform rate of pay, thought that
5000 per annum was enough for the
laborers and watchmen, but was over
ruled. During the debate he said:
"This looks like a small matter,
but let me tell you that it involves
upon thousands of dollars.
| have done my best to cut down the
officers of the army, their numbers
and pay. | did my best to cut down
the number of officers of the marine
corps and their pay, and to cut down
the number and pay of officers Of the
navy. have, wherever | could, struck
at these abuses under the government
that is to say the government pay
NO more for the services of men than
individuals have to pay, and for less
work. All the labOrers for the gov
eminent can be employed Onl y eight
hours a day under the law which we
nave passed. Now,the question wheth
or we propose to give these men, who
cannot be employed more than eight
hours a day under the law, more than
companies right alongside of them pay
heir labOrers quite as good of the
same class Soldiers wounded aud un
wounded) for working fifteen hours a
Jay. The soldiers, wounded aud IN
wounded, are struggling to get those
places. The question is whether we
are to tax the people Of this country
for that purpose? If this goes Oh
one thing is certain, gentlemen the
people of the country will sweep u;
out Of our seats here, as they ought
to do, and send others here who viii
stop these expenditures for declare
here in the language of Burke, that 1T
is not safe for the government to make
the patience of the people the liml'
of taxation. 1t is no more to me thai
it is to the other members here.
might get d very cheap reputation a.
the poor mans friend by agreeing tC
take the taxes from the poor man tC
pay another poor man more than ht
should receive"
Gen. Butler was also voted dowl
in his attempt to prevent the raising
of the salaries of female clerks from
5000 to $1,000 per annum. 1t wa
successfully argued that the femal
clerks ought to receive the same com
pensation as male clerks of the low
est grade. Gen. Butler thus oppose,
the increase:
Mr.. Chairman 1t is sometime
unfortunate in those who have to al
que in favor Of prOpriety of conduct
Here we have a series of female clerk
in the departments who are paid NOR
than the school mistresses in tn
country by one-half. The large sa
aries given here to female clerks hav
created the greatest competition TO
these places, so that there is not
member of Congress who is not press
ed in the day, and perhaps at othe
times, (laughter) to secure appoin
ments to these places which are r,
garded as so desirable. Now, si
we are demoralizing the whole coul
try on the subject of labor. We al
inviting women here as if they wer
to draw prize in the lottery in ge
ting more pay than in any other pal
Of the country. Think of the arg
ment that is pressed upon US by tn
Gentleman from California-that W
are to pay a woman $1,000 year b,
cause she has worthless HUSBAND
Is that the ground upon which W
are to administer this government ?
believe a woman can support herseI
and those dependent upon her at $50
a year, and there is no reason WAY
should be raised. No lady in the d,
partments should desire it herself
Tor, sir, the moment you raise the sa
airy you will create competition t
press them out and replace them
others. All | can say is that ii
gentlemen who are in favor of retain
ing these female clerks make a gre;
mistake in asking for this great il
crease of salary. Pressure will CON
from your district and mine. and OF
constituents finding that these emoI
ments are to be secured here wi
urge forward others for these place
and those in will be turned out
make room for them. If we increa.
these salaries they will become tt
prize of political ambition, and thos
interested in keeping in those wi
are now clerks, male and female, wi
! do well to keep the salaries whe
they are. Let me tell you this is n,
a small amount. We have Lars
number of female clerks, and this w
, increasevery largely the burdens upc
the treasury. Will you 60 home al
tell your sisters and daughters TIL
while at their homes they cannot g
e more than $500 or 5000 we pay /
q male clerks here from $1,000
$l400? | have no more care f
this than any other member. | a
plaud the feeling of gallantry, but {
not let US do what our cooler reasc
would not justify"