Daily national Republican. (Washington City [D.C.]) 1870-1872, 1870-02-11

tanee oil tho Government, Mr.. Dawes said
the dignity and respect Of the Government
did not depend upon the appearance Of
thlngs, but upon the manner In which mem
bers conducted themselves, He did not
think this police force was necessary 10
guard the bronze door, as had been init.
mated by his other colleague, tMr. Banks,
or to prevent the dome Of the Capitol from
being carried OF. When he (Mr. Dawos)
spoke Of economy and retrenohment the
other day, he raised q storm Of thunder
about his head, because no did not COM
mence TO Tetreuch In tho House, and now,
when he had commenced In the House,
those who raised the storm before were
loudest In donounclng the attempt TO reduce
expenses. He hoped the House would sus-
tain the committee In It's efforts toward
economy. The place to commence was
right here, and with these small matters.
The question was then taken. and Mr..
Negley's amendment TO Increase the COM
pensatlon was rejected.
Mr.. BENJAMIN moved TO amend by striking
out the entire paragraph, claiming that the
force was put on in consequence OF the eK-
Istenco Of the rebellion, and now that peace
was restored It could DO dispensed with.
The motion was not agreed to.
A number Of other amendments woro Of
fered, but all were yc.ed down, and the
paragraph remains as reported by the COM
mittec.
Mr.. Butler moved to strike out s5OO, 900
for mileage OF members. In support Of his
amendment he said members grew eloquent
over the cutting down OF the pay Of police
men, but here was an opportunity 10 show
their sincerity. He also referred to the un.
equal manner In which the mileage money
was distributed, those coming from great
distance getting much more than II cost
them, and those living near by receiving
comparatively nothing.
Mr.. Fitch said that tho members from the
Pacific coast, against whom the amendment
was leyelled, had no opportunity TO transact
any other business. His friend from Massa-
ehusetts Mr.. Butlerl could DO awaya couple
Of weeks, and 60 to D ston and try law
suit. [Laughter.1
Mr.. Ingersoll, OF ILL.,, advocated Mr.. But
ler's resolution, aud thought the House
should set an example Of economy by reduc-
ing It's own income. He was not only in
favor Of reducing mileage, but also OF the
salaries Of members. Let us reduce II to
what II was before the increase, and then we
could go 10 the country with q clear and
proper demand for economy on all hands.
He was willing to live little cheaper and
more economically In order to reduce eI-
penses.
Mr.. Kelley, Of Pa, said these periodical
attempts to reduce the salaries Of members
was mere buncombe. II you call the yeas
and nays on the motion to reduce the pay,
tho true sense Of members would not be
ascertalned, because all those who voted for
II would do so because they dared not do
otherwise. When the bill Increasing the
pay was passed member from West Vlr-
ginla returned his increased pay. His con-
ttltuents allowed him to stay at home on the
ground that II was expensive buncombe. He
(Kelley) had voted for the bill increasing
tho pay, and he did not believe there was
one OF his constituents who would vote
against him for that act.
Mr. Farnsworth, Of ILL.,, agreed with the
Views expressed by Mr.. Kelley, and in the
course Of his remarks no said that Mr.. But.
Ter could well afford to dispense with his
mileage, as he made q good deal Of money
outside, (alludlng to his professional en-.
gagemeuts.)
Mr.. LaHln, of New York, said that when
the bill Increasing the pay was passed there
was one majority In lie favor. By reference
to the GLOBE he found that the gentleman
from Illinois Mr.. lngersolll voted Ia the
affirmative. Tho gentleman Is therefore re.
sponslble for the passage Of the bill. [qreai
lRughterl
Mr.. lngersoll replied that times had now
changed. Were circumstances now as they
were when the bill passed, he should moi
vote for decrease. At that time times
were better, and there was more money Ia
the country. This remark produced roarI
of laughter on the floor and In the gal
lerlos.
Mr.. Cox, Of n. Y, thought this was the
largest debate on the smallest matter be
had ever seen In the House. It was saw.
Ing Of candle ends and cheese parings,
while more welghty matters were passed
over. lie yesterday introduced resolution
calling upon the Secretary OF the Navy fol
information, which would have demon.
strated to tho House where the large ex.
pendltures occurred; this was objected Il
by gentlemen on the other side Of the House
and by the friends Of the gentleman from
Massachusetts,, [Mr. Butler, who had CAME
over To honor him (Mr. Cory with his Rtten
tlon and presence, and he assured the gen
Ilemuu lie was seusiDio Ur tho bOnOT sou'
ferred. (Mr. Butler was at this time stand
ing on the Democratic side within q few feel
of Mr.. Cox.)
Mr.. Cox, continuing his remarks, said the
gentleman from Nevada Mr.. Fitch had
accused the gentleman from Massachusetts
Of leaving his seat and place In the Houst
and going home TO attend to his professional
duties. lie proposed to defend the gentle
man from Massachusetts. He Mr., But.
/ Nbulu hOb kO AWhyg bhh Hhh AAWhy
here when there'was any trouble. Laugh
ter. The gentleman wanted to save the
mileage TO the country while he had voted
against an inquiry which would save large
amount to the Government. He wanted tc
defend the gentleman also against the as.
slduous assaults OF the gentleman from I'LL
nols, [Mr. FarnEworth,l who stated that
the gentleman made money outside OF his
Congressional duties. He (CoI) did not
believe that charge could be substantlated,
and he would not stand 1t were he Mr.. But.
Ter, and he was glad that as Democrat he
was privileged to stand here and defend his
old colleague Of the Democratic party. II,
did not believe the gentleman would rur
away from any duty. His whole military
career from Dutch Gap canal onward wal
proof to the contrary. Laughter.
Mr.. Banks related the circumstances con
nected with tho passage OF the bill lncreas
ing the compensation Of members, and said
had II came up In q legitimate way II WOULD
not have passed. In 1865 the House, by I
large majority, refused to increase the com
pensatlon. In 1867 the Senate coupled the
increase with bounty bill for soldiers. Th
Senate opposed the bounty act, and th,
| House opposed the clause increasing com
pensatlon, and 1t was only BY the Housl
| agreeing to the report OF the committee o
| conference that the bounty act was passed
He had voted for 1t and other members hal
voted for It to save the bounty bill, and h
therefore did not consider the House re
sponsible for the passage Of the bill.
Mr.. Butler said the amendment proposes
by him did not touch the question OF com
pensatlon at all. 1t had reference only Il
mileage. In his opinion any man who wa
at to be u representative In Congress wa
worth 5000 year. The fact that h
(Butler) was able to earn something by hi
profession, ought not to be used as an Grgu
ment why anything should be paid by tn
people TO gentlemen who have no ability
earn anything. [Laughter.l He had no de
sire to curtail the compensation Of any mem
Der Of the House, no matter what his abil
ties, bnt the mileage law operated unjustly
aud by abolishlng II half million dollar
could DO saved. Il was no argument againI
1t that the gentleman from Illinois mi
Farnsworthl to institute what neither he Q
any other gentleman dare ayow openly. A
to the gentlemen from New York Nj
CoIl he had his answer from every DO
whlstling along the streets, and from ever
organ grinder on tho street corners, "Sho