Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1868-1875, 1873-12-10
THE SALARY REPEAL.
Points ef the Bill Reported by the
Special Committee of the House.


From the Cincinnati Commercial
WASHINGTON, Dec. THE discussion
of the bill agreed upon by the Salaries Gem
nittee has been quite general to-day, anC
those who oppose it feel encouraged at tn,
prospect of its defeat. One member O.
Congress, who has kept account of tbe
money paid oGt by him TOR postage since
the third of last March, saws that il
has cost him over eight hundred
dollars, and he, With many Others
similarly situated, and for the same reason.
Will vote against the bill. People write to
Congressman requesting that certain docu-
mentS be sent them, almost ALWAYS adding
that 1t must be at the expense Of the Con-
gresham, and this has proved 4 source OF
such expense that the present salary will
pct net as much, it is claimed, as the cid
one with the Thanking privilege. Congress
men who have hitherto not opposed the re-
duction, begin to declsim against the clam
or OF the people as unjust, and based upon
actual ignorance of the facts in the case.
From the Cincinnati Times.
WASHINGTON, Dec. S.-Mr. Hale, from
Che special committee to consider bills re-
pealing the salary bill, reported a bill to
the House this afternoon. Upon his mo-
morrow, in the House, as in committee of
the whole, the debate to be limited to five
minutes TO each member. The bill pro-
vldes first, for the repeal Of the re-
cent law; second, re-epacts the old law.
making the salary $1,000 per annum:
third, it provides that the back pay turned
into the Treasury shall not be subject to be
drawn out 10y those who turned it in; fourth.
X M T.nfr .Ei s,l-, ,f3.,
only after its passage: fifth, there is nothing
in the bin about back pay or money drawn
under the present law since the 4th of
March last. The bill further provides that
the Presidents salary shall be $4,000 per
annum after the expiration of Grants
present tenn Of Office.
From the Louisville. Courirr-Journal.
WASHINGTON, Dec. S.-The long ex-
pected salary bill was reported to-day by
Mr.. Hale, Of Maine, from the House special
committee, and, Of course, created the live
hest interest all over the House. The bill
repeats the salary provision in the appropri-
alton bill of March, 1873, so far as relates
20 Senators, members and delegates, but
leaves the Presidents salary fiXedat $4,000
per annum. The effect of this bill is to
pay the members hereafter at the cid rates,
and to leave the mileage inequality unre-
dressed. There is no retroactive provision
in the bill.
For this bill, substitute was reported by
MeSsrs. KAISER, Of Iowa, and Jewett, of
Ohio, which repeats all Of the act of 1873 re-
lating 10 Congressman; also, all giving an
increase to clerks and employees, and fixes
the Presidents salary after the present
term at $4,000 per annum. In addition
10 this, the appropriations for the eX-
penses of the Presidents house are TO
he discontinued, except only the sal
AIRY of the Private Secretary, the
steward and laborers on the grounds. The
hill is also retroactive, and says that each
member is to have deducted from the
future payments to be made him at the rate
of s., 900 per annum all sums received by
him during this Congress in excess of that
sum. The effect of this large reduction
upon members who have drawn their sala-
~ at the rate of $500 per annum for nine
months and spent it can readily be inn
agned.
The opponents ofthese bills, if there are
any, did not disclose themselves to-day.
There seems to he a contest as to who
should 20 furthest and quickest for the re
form. Judge Poland proposes to charge
tue excess received Over ND-'DD per dllluln
to all members Of the last Congress, and to
notify those who are no longer members Of
Congress that they are expected to refund.
Mr.. Hale was willing to give time TO de-
bate, and opportunity for amendments; but
Mr.. WoOdford, Of New York, a new mem
Der, who appears anxious to signalize him
self, insisted on moving the previous ques-
ton on the bill. This would have cut of
all amendments and brought the House to
a direct vote on Hales bill without debate;
but the protest Of Mr.. Dawes arrested this
move, and the previous question was
voted down. After a scene Of unusual con-
fusion and disorde-, growing out, of Hale'S
inability to take charge Of bill, an under
standing was arrived at to have the meas
me considered tomorrow, and debated in
twenty-minute speeches.
The precise action Of the House can not
be predicted, but there will probably be a
race between the parties as to which shall
evince the livelest Sensibility on the score
of yirtUous regard for public opinion, and
the most sweeping measure is the one most
lildly to pass the House, but with this eN-
ception: 1t is doubtful whether Republic
can members will be in a hurry TO cut
down the appropriation for the Executive
Mansion, while Gen. Grant has three years
of official power, and perhaps more, in
which to remember them.