The weekly democratic statesman. [volume] (Austin, Tex.) 1871-1883, 1873-05-01

.ALN 80 NDN Is the ulFclc1llu- Inc
cstly increased facilities Of cheap and
up,d travel had removed the canse that
existed and justified the allowance Tor
mileage, and there was no longer any
sufficient reason why the member from
the Pacific coast should receive from
the treasury $i0.0 600 per annum, and
the member from the Potomac but s.. 600
This seems 10 me hnt Just. and I was
willing to see all members put on the
same footing as TO compensation, and so be-
leve were Of all my col eaguss. Had we voted
against this measure to equalize the pay of
members, would not complaints have been
made, long and loud. against as. OF 1.-The
rality, meanness, and selfish disposition to
retain an unfair advantage over other mem
bcrs, in so far as our allowance for mileage
exceeded actual travelling expenses And
especially when il was stated that this
increased the sum of $500 as fixed bv the
House to $500, and cutting of ali allow
ances except actual individual travelling ex-
Expenses, and even that as TO the members
Of last Congress, maintai ling that the
$500 without allowances. while il might
so seem, was really no increase. but really a
diminution of the amount received under
the then law by a large number of Senators.
tSee Congressional Globe PIP. 2i01, 21Oe,
etc..
This report Of the Conference Committee
came before the House on the last day, and
during the closing hours Of the session, be-
ing, as before stated, the legislative. execu-
tive and Judicial appropriation bill, a bill
necessary 10 carry ON the machinery of the
government, and must be passed, or an ex-
ira session Of Congress would inevitably be
fthe result. AS a question of economy, it
was better to pass the bin as it was,
even at an increase Of cost to the
government, as pretended by some,
than incur the expense Of an extra
session. But II this estimate before re-
ferred to on the pay at SO, 500 be correct,
then it follows that the actual increase of
expense to the government by the 81, 500
would not exceed between $50, 600 and
$40, 600 per year. But I did not vote for
the Senate increase on this ground alone
/ voted for it because deemed II lust that
the pay to members should be equal and
because, though some from remote States
and Territories might not get as much as
under the previous law, to the great body
of them it was an increase of compensation.
and was in favor Of an increase and would
have been willing to have seen n still greater
increase than the 1880. To such an
amount as would be compensatory to a mem
Der for his services, and to meet his neces
sary expenses of living at the capital with
his family in manner betting
the Representative of an intelligent, lib
eral and just-minded constituency, who
appreciate the character. capacity. in
telligence, energy and fidelity neces-
sary to discharge the duties Of the position.
and who, as in all else of a public official
character, desire the best services they can
oh nd Ar,~
compensation to him who performs them.
believe this true economy and an impor-
tant and greatly needed reform. It will be
observing the spirit Of one of the most i'm
portant injunctions of the Good Book, in
not subjeeting the member TO the dangers
of temptation, with an empty purse, an ill
supplied family, and children growing up
without proper educational advantages, to
aid, by their silent but too often resistless
appeals, the plundering lobbyists that swarm
around Congress-and sometimes State
Legislators, 1 am told-seeking atevery turn
orob and plumber the people We might, too,
get rid of the excuse so often made for
members during the tendency of the Credit !
AIcbilier investigation that the compensa-
ton was VIGOROUSLY insufficient to meet the !
necessary expenses of a man with family |
living at Washington as the position and |
public sentiment require them to live and |
they often look to other sources for neces-
sary means Of support Allowed fair COM
pensation this pretext would not exist, and |
the country would avoid the danger ofmem-
bers rather .faUoring the passage of laws that |
AFFORD these great, and to the people, very
expensive advantages.
Besides by an Inadequate compensation, !
you virtually excluie poor men, or men Of
small means and re families from Fecom-
ing members Of Congress, or from remain
ing there a sufficient length Of time to
become efficient and influential members, |
however exalted their talents and moral
worth. The remuneration should be such /
that any may aspire to the position and /
hold It without pecuniaTy sacrifice or becom- |
ing Impoverished. The people have the !
right to the services of the best men for
these places, and if republican institutions
are worth preserving-and who says they
are notl-they will cheerfully approve such
compensation as will enable the best to
occupy them.
I have no doubt plenty Of men can be
found to ill every seat in Congress without
any compensation, defray their own expens-
es, and thus take model after the English
Government; that is, initiate an aris-
tocracy Of the meanest grade--the aris-
tocracy of wealth, which we often
meet, possessing a very moderate ac-
compartment of brains. But can you at
ford to do this / think you can not, nor
do believe you would tolerate any such
idea as turning over the Legislative branch |
Of the government to a monied, kind of
Goldfish aristocracy. We have had too much |
already Of that character Of legislation in /
the interest of, and for the benefit Of the
members themselves, at the expense Of the /
country. An inadequate compensation, as
we have seen, is not particularly complained
Of by millionaires; they do not feel It's mad
equacv. Another class are TO a degree in /
different-the Adventures who seek legis-
lative place to make merchandise out of the /
position and many such soon grow rich on
salaries that honest men can only live on by !
rigid economy. It costs tho country, !
though, many fold more than what |
might be termed a high salary |
You, am sure, do not wish to
place the Legislation Of this country and 1
its future destiny within the control Of
either or both Of these classes. Your inter
est, as / conceive, and believe You viii
agree with me, is to regard this euestiOn as
practical one, and that to secure the best
material for the service, the safer plan Is to
allow such compensation as viii be COM
pensative to the character Of men you are
willing to trust with the duty Of shaping
the policy and making laws for great
country. This is no new position to me,
as many Of you viii besr witness. For
many years, when have had occasion 70
refer 10 the subject Of salaries Of officers,
and it has frequently happened, have at
all times maintained that as a rule our Off
GERS were not adequately paid, and that the
true policy in 8 Republic was to give
such sum as would compensate for
the service to be done and TO
secure men Of proper capacity and
moral worth to do it. L is to some little
extent due TO my exertions that many Of
the officials Of this State arc to-day paid
double what was paid less than twenty
years ago. It is trre some mas not be
worth 50 much, but in q little time ! hope
that viii hts roncdied So far ae I am rs