The weekly democratic statesman. [volume] (Austin, Tex.) 1871-1883, 1873-05-08

80 tAtitc AT t..ltAA tAlIAs II AIH tIIU|N
But was the increase too muchf think
not; il Is actually less for Texas members
than under the act Of 1866. We stxle IL !
measure 10 cqaaliKe salaries ana ther
were very unequal before. and / here make
an extract from the Tribune, IN explanation
Of the vote OF many Senators:
They say they supported the measure in
order 10 equalire The salaries 81 Members of
Congress, which undSr the old systom was
very unequal Tho mileage ot Senators
from several distant SIXTIES WAS during the
Forty-secund Congress, IS follows: Caiifor-
MIA 5000, Oregon $8toS 50, Nevada sS5iS
60, Texas 5000. Louisiana 1851 Arkansas
$500, MiRr sofa e2t75 IS, Kansas $2852
/ 10, NehraslSa eal41 90, Mississippi $500.
As each member isrequired 70 deduct tho
mileage that he has received during the
Foriy-second Congress from the extra 5000,
those who reside in the distant States will
have little left, and Senator from Oregon,
unless he puts in biz Tor actual travelling
expenses, viii have 50 pay back TO the
United States about $500 The aggregate
mileage Of members o. the Forty-sccond
Congrsss was $27O, 600. y
Il will be seen that when the deductions
are made for Texas members, and all We
Of the Mississippi river, that the amount ie
ordinary sense or honesty.
again. when you deduct the frankihg
privilege, which was a measure peculiarly
for the. benefit of the people and not Of
members. as all the documents sent free I'M
der it we're Tor constituents, not members,
all these must now be paid fof By members
ont Of the 81, 500, which viii amount to be-
tween $500 and $4,000 per annum, ala the
mileage from $1,000 to $1,000 per aanum,
and stationary allowance $125 per annum,
which, in the aggregate viii, for Texas,
really be less compensation than we re-
ceived before.
The Texas delegation viewed It as an act
of justice to other members who received
but small mileage, to put them upon an
equal footing with themselves.
But the salary was inadequate. No orc
who has not experienced it can form cay
just idea Of the expense. No member can
hope to save anything, II ne supports his
position there with decency and dignity,
and to carry his family and live there on the
salary alone is out Of the question. But it
will not be Improper 20 allude At this point
to a matter of which l should never have
spoken but for these attacks and that is
this, that in tho South, and especially in
Texas, the candidates bear the entire ex-
pense of their race out of their own earn
ings, which is unknown North How
much, think you, we have made so fart If
we had not possessed means outside upon
which we could draw, we should have been
bankrupt on our salaries. II my constitu-
ents paid all these bills, as they do in many
States North, $4,000 per annum would be a
better compensation than We now get /
cannot believe that my constituents expect
or would consent for me to work for them,
as they know do, and not receive a slfIi-
cient sum to meet all current and proper ex-
penses. But no one has heard me utter a
word of complaint on this subject, and do
not do so now; but let all the facts be
known.
Again, am in favor of paying officers
full and adequate compensation, and then
requiring a strict accountability and earnest
labor from them Perhaps but few Of our
people understand why so many more Of
the members North voted against the meas
ure than from the South win state one
reason is, that there is a growing DISPOSE
ton there to adopt the rule Of the English
Parliainent-that is, to allow no compensa-
tion for its members at all. Perhaps one
third OF Congress are more or less favorable
to the idea--to repeal all laws on the subject
and let only those come who are able and
possess sufficient property to maintain them
selves in Office This would be a complete
bar to all poor men, however eminent their
talents or great their accomplishments It
would turn the government over in few
years to the millionaires, who would run IL
in their ownsinterest, and barricade every
avenue between the poor and the positions
Of honor and trust. For myself, / shall /
never vote for such a proposition, not if in-
structed to do 50 by my constituents To
do so would be a departure from true re-
publican government, and would result in (
monied power, the worst Of all despotisms I
On the score of economy, it was shown by 4
the unanimous report Of the judiciary com
mittee of the House, and I believe by the
same committee Of the Senate that the abol-
ishment Of the ranking privilege, the /
mileage Of members and Senators,
and the stationery allowances, as shown /
by the reports Of the Postmaster General I
and clerks Of each House. would amount 70 I
sum greater than the increase Of paw. in /
Gliding the retroactive part, by over $780, /
600 per annum So it was clear upon these /
reports, that the act Of equalizing the sala- 4
ries was really one Of economy, by which /
$500, 600 per annum would be saved TO the 4
country.
Much has been said about the increase OF I
the Presidents salary, and the Cabinet Of 1
hcers. 1t seems that no one at all &C 4
quainted with the President Office and its (
expenditures, can object to the increase
made. We are all interested in supporting
the dignity and honor Of the Office OF Chief /
Magistrate. let whoever may I'll It. Wash
ington received S2J, 900 gold. with ike
perquisitcs as Grant, the latter receives
$25, 600 currency, being $4,000 less. S25,
600 gold in 1889 would buy more Of the
comforts Of life, as well as the ornaments.
than 1925, 900 win now purchase; besides,
no President ever saved anything even
then. Two or three became insolyent By
the Office. The great change ia the coun-
try and its wealth, population and relations
with the world, alike require change In
the salaries Of officers. In 1883, we had
3, 600, 600 of population; now 40, 900, 900
then we were worth about 2 600, 000, 900 81
wealth; now over 81, O00, 900, 000 The de.
partments Of government were IN their
infancy then; they are each much larger
now than the whole government was then.
Our diplomatic corps was then but small
now il extends 70 nearly al nations Of the
earth. We boosted then Of thirteen States;
We now have thifty-seveu, and many terrific
res. Then we owned q strip along the
Atlantic coast; now our laws extend from
ocean to ocean. To withhold from the
President the means to maintain the dig
nifty, the decency and honor Of the irst Of
fee Of the greatest nation on earth is far BE-
meath my conception Of the duty u an hon
est representative. did not vote Il for Grant
as a man or On officer, but for tn, Office 81
President. ] respect tho Office Of President
whoever may hll II, whether / regard the
incumbent as the most fitting man or not
IN fact, there IS a vast difference between q
representative acting under oath and fhoee
outside not 20 bound / want 10 do equal
and exact justice TO my political enemies as
well as my political friends. A member 81
Congress should represent not Only llis con.
sfituency, those Who elected him as well as
those who voted against him. bnf the whole
country
Nov lhern ,rarc about aln nnlnl.era and