Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1873-12-26
W ASGINCTtN
SENATE.

protect the interests of both creditors and
debtors
Mr.. Frelny huysen moved an amendment
to the motion of Mr.. Edmunds, so as to
refer the hill to She judiciary committee
with instructions TO report to-day, and
that the committee have leave to SIT during
the session of the Senate.
The morning hour here expired and Mr..
Fcnton proceeded to. address the Senate
on the resolution reported by the commit
tee on finance, last week.
Mr. Pratt (lnd.) offered resolution
which was agreed to, directing the COM
mitUee ON finance to report whether more
efficient provisions of law arc not required
to restrain national banks from charging,
receiving and taking higher rates of
interest than is allowed by law.
Mr.. EdmundS moved to take up the House
bill repeating the bankrupt act. Mr..
Morton hoped the bill would be referred
and reported tomorrow. Mr.. Conkling
hoped the Senate would retain the House
/ bin until some of the Senate bills now before
the judiciary committee were reported.
/ After some further discussion the bill was
referred to the Judiciary committee.
HOUSE.
In the debate or the salary question, Mr..
/ kass0n moved to reconsider the vote of last
/ evening which adopted his amendment, and
/ also moved to lay the motion on the table.
! This is the mode in the House of making an
action final and irrevOcable. The motion
/ to lay on the table was agreed to, l67 to
/ 81.
Mr. Hale (N. W moved to amend by
/ striking out the portion referring to the
/ President, and gave notice that he would
move 4 similar amendment in regard to the
U ~ 4 FL
| They should look not only to the Presidents
time for four years but to the effect on his
! future life Of having held that Office An
/ cx-PreSident was in substance debarred
from the ordinary pursuits and avocations
of life. With n single exception it had
been the rule of all Presidents. lie did
not b.lieye that the President ought to be
left ut the expiration of his term to be i'm
poyeri-hed by his position, a. was the case
with Thomas jefferson. to be absolutely
eaten out by social duties, which his
position as an ex-President imposed upon
him, 50 that he should 60 to his grave
utterly bankrupt.
Mr.. Clymer pa said that the tone and
temper in the debate on this whole question
had been one of elimination and recrimina-
ton. 1t had been done in a temper which
had done nothing for themselves and nothing
denee or the pleasure with which the result
would be received by the country
Mr.. Iremaine IN. \. moved to amend
Mr. lIale's amendment by excluding from
the effect Of the bill the Vice President, the
secretaries of state, treasury, war, navy,
interior, the attOrney-general, postmaster
general and speaker of the House of Repre-
Sentatives lie said he concurred entirely
in the sentiment expressed by Mr. Hale
that the Presidents salary stood upon an
entirely different ground from that of mem
0ers Of the House. The discussion was con-
tinued by Messrs. Dawes, Hale (Maine),
Wood IN. ", Lowe (Ks.) and Storm. Mr.
Tremane, at the request of Speaker Blaine,
modified his amendment 50 as to omit the
speaker from the scope of it. The amend
ment was then rejected; yeas 20, nays
1913.
Mr. Butler (Alass.), on his name being
called, said that under the instructions Of
his state he voted aye. The question then
REQUIRED on Mr. Hale's amendment in
reference to the Presidents salary, and it
was rejected, yeas 20. nays lS6.
Mr.. Poland (Vt.) offered an amendment
requiring members of the present Congress
who received back pay as members OF the
last Congress TO refund by monthly reduc-
tiOns, and directing the treasurer TO com
municate the passage of the bill to ex-mem-
hers Of the last Congress and to cover into
the treasury the moneys that should be re
turned
Mr.. Beck (ky) asked Mr.. Poland |
whether Congress had any power to take |
from ex-memhers the money drawn by them |
as back pay.
Mr.. Poland replied that his amendment
did not propose to do 50.
Mr. Beck-Then if they have as much |
right to retain it as the President has to
retain his, why undertake to insult them
behind their backs and not dare to put the
same proposition to the President
Mr. Poland went on to speak to his amend
ment lie had offered it in obedience to the
popular Judgment; the popular outcry had
been mainly directed to the back pay pOr-
ton Of the law, and if the House designed
to carry OFT in good faith that popular
Judgment, it should compel every man who
received that back pay, 50 far a. it could do
50. To- account for it on his present salary
or in sdsie other way.
Mr.. llniman (lnd. moved a. a substitute
for Mr. Polaud'S amendment one applying
only L. member, Of the present Congress
who were also members of the last Congress,
emitting everything as to ex-members.
Mr. Poland accepted Mr.. IIolman's
amendment as a substitute for his own.
Mr.. kassOn made a point Of order that
the amendment was unconstitutional. The
speaker said he did not sit as a judicial
officer to decide on constitutional questions;
if he ruled ont everything that he CON
sidered unconstitutional his duties would
be very much enlarged The question was
taken ON Mr.. llolman's amendment, and it {
was agreed to, yeas 1916, nays l0l.
Mr. Maynard trenn) offered an amend
nent TO except from the proposed reduction
employees of Congress, and spoke in support (
If that proposition. The amendment was I
'efcrred without the yeas and nays. l
Mr.. Butler Mass moved to amend By
.dding proyiso requiring all members who
lad also been members Of preceding Con
presses and in which they had received back !
,ay to return the same to the treasury. lie
lad that the proposition was logical, and
lie appealed to the House to come up to the
natter squarely and like men and support
he substitute which would be offered for
he whole bill by the gentleman from Hi q
lois, Mr.. flurlbnrt, fixing the salary at I
s., 900, to take effect from the passage of !.
he act. Cries Of Good. " Good" I
: That is right"
The question was taken viva vOee on Mr.. {
Sutler's amendment, and it was carried by
10 to so. Mr.. Hurlburt en- then offered o
he follow ing as a substitute Tor the whole v
ill: That from and after the passage of =
his act the compensation OF Senators, Rep !
and delegates shall be at the q
ate of $4,000 per annum, payable monthly. u
nd in addition thereto the actual indiyid .
al expenses of eacii Senator, Representative
nd delegate going to and returning once 3
z each session, to be certified in writing by !,
ach. Section That the compensation u
{ the speaker of the House of Representa- II !
ives shall be at the rate of So 900 in ad u =
itlon TO his pay as representative, amount u
lg in all to IS 900, and that of the vice I
resident shall be the same amount with j
he same allowance for travelling expenses
5 hereinbeiore provided Section 3. That
Il laws and parts of laws Inconsistent with /. l,
Ie provisions of this act are hereby =,
spealed. Section 4. That the secretary of
ne treasury is required to cover into the
-easury all sums that may remain undrawn II
r which have been received as increased Is
improvisation under the provisions of said n
ct approved March 80, 1873, which shall n
ave or may come into his possession by the Is
eturn thereof. n,
Mr.. Hurlbut Moved the previous question Z,
n his substitute. Mr. Dawes endeavored n,
get in proposition to substitute bill n
) reported by the committee. On Hurlburt's is
Institute being again read it appeared h,
lat it had been changed after it was first A,
Tered, By fixing the salary of the speaker W
nd vice president at 50 900 and So 900. y;
Ir. Dawes called attention to it and claim 10
that be had right to debate the pro- ri
=. T.