The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1873-05-03
LIVING ON ONES INCOME.

LIVING ON ONES INCOME.
Remarks of senator Chandler and His Skin
mish with senator Logan on the Bili to In
1 crease Congressional salary
From the Congressional Record.
Mr.. Chandlcr-Thc Senator from WiScon
sin says this is a practical question, and 1t is
sir, a very practical question. 1t means bus
mess. Ii is not for me, Mr.. President, to crit
icise the action of brother Senator's, or Of
members of the other House. 1t is not fOl
me to say what the services of individual,
here are worth. | have no doubt that in the
estimation of the most of the members of this
body the pay they receive is inadequate; but
| have never known vacancy in this body
that had not at least one man willing TO fill i,
for the pay. In my own State | think there
must be at least fifty men today who would
be willing to sacrifice themselves to take my
place; and | presume there is not another
State in the Union but could furnish large
number ofmcn ready and anxious to take
the place of every member of this body upon
the compensation we now receive.
Mr. President, when you come to the cost
Of living, it is mere matter of taste. There
was Quaker living in Philadelphia a few
years ago a halter, and one day rather
rough man came in TO purchase hat, and in
quired of the Quaker if he could not take n
dollar less than he asked for it, Said the
Quaker: "As live, friend, | cannot" With
a large sized adjective the man turned and
said; "Thcn live cheaper" That was his
response. Said the Friend: "Thee can take
a hat; thou art the first man who has under
stood my secret" If man live within his
means he can, in all probability, on whatever
he gets and whether you pay $4,000, or $1,000,
Z a. ,,,tn of oil tth Ia.
expense of living A man who will not live
upon $4,000 will not live upon $1,000 He
will not live within his means if he does not
live on $1,000 And what is to-day the com
pcnsation that we receive? Why, Mr. Presi-
dent, our duties here occupy about four and
Il half months in the year, certainly not more
than five months at the outside. For that we
receive $4,000 year, or little over 81 600 a
month. Ii would be very hard to satisfy my
constituents that $1,000 month was not as
much as | could earn | think | could earn
more, for do not believe there is a man in
this body, or in the other House, who has
made one-half of the pccuniary sacrifice that
have made in occupying seat in this body,
and yet | was perfectly willing, and have
been continuously willing, to occupy the seat
for the pay.
Mr. Logan-Will the Senator allow me to
ask him a question?
Mr. Chandlcr-Cerainly
Mr. Logan--PlcaSc state to the Senate what
your annual expenses are for living in Wash
ington City.
Mr. Chandler do not think it any of the
Senator's business. Laughter.
Mr.. Logan do not think it is either: but
will you state them approximately?
Mr.. Chandler live within my means, and
it is nobody's business how much spend
Mr.. Logan-That is true; but you spoke
about men living within their means.
Mr.. Chandler cannot tell how much |
spend.
Mr.. Logan-Do you the think it costs you
$200 year live to here?
Mr.. Chandler am not here to be Ques.
toned, | spend what please at home or in
Washington, and it is nObody's business.
Mr.. Logan know that: but if you had no
income but the $4,000 salary how would you
get along?
Mr.. Chandlcr-Then | should live within
the $4,000 most certainly, and would in all
probability lay by "A little. Laughter
Mr.. Logan-Thc point | wish to make is,
that inasmuch as you are not dependent on
that, you want to require poor men to live
within their means, -within the S5OO0,-and
you to have an opportunity of living on 500,
OOO or $4,000 if you desire. That is about
the difference is it not?
MIR. Chandlcr-l have always lived within
my means and always expect to do so.
Mr., Logan-ltch men generally do
MIR. Chandler was very willing to come
here and occupy seat on this floor at the
salary which was then prescribed by law, and
| am willing to do so yet
Mr., Logan-Would you not have been will
ing To come if the salary had not been any
thing at ALL Laughter.
MIR. Chandler might, and | might not
Laughter But consider that the average
Congressman is well paid There could he
here and there II man who could earn more
money than he receives rs Il member of Con.
grcss. have no doubt that my distinguish.
ed friend from Illinois could earn S2OOOO or
so, 900 ut his profession: but the AVERAGE
Congressman and the average Senator is maid |
all that is he worth for services that he renders
and if II large moiety of both bodies should |
conclude they could not possibly afford To re.
main with the salary, and should therefore
resign, | do not think the country would suf
fer. Laughterl