Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1873-03-07
CONGRESSIONAL.

Senator Morrill, Of Vermont, opposed the
giving increased compensation to the rail
roads for running postal cars. He said
The POstmaster-G General had been twenty
five years in trouble with the railroad com
panieS. The companies were always de
manding increased compensation and the
government was alwas yielding To their de-
mands. lie was in favor Of coming 10 the
aid of the POstmaSter-G General. and il the
railroads desired TO raise a contest with the
government let them do 50.
Mr.. Sawyer of South Carolina, replied,
saying that the cost of mail transportation
on the railroads had not increased in pro-
portion to the increased length and cost Of
the railroad lines, and that in proportion TO
the distance over which the mails are
carried there has been regular saving in
the service from 1850 10 ls72. rs 10 the
postal cars. it was demonstrated that they
were carried by the railroads at positive
loss. The Adams Express Company wanted
TO pay four times as much for the accom-
modation furnished by those cars as the
government pays.
The report Of the House Judiciary commit
tee on the impeachment question Is pre-
sented by Gen. Butler, was merely a review
of Judge Poland'S Credit Mobilier report, Of
which 1t had vastly more to say than Of the
evidence affecting Mr.. Colfax. 1t was
sharp, pungent and speciouS, like It's au-
thor. All the members of the Poland com
mittee. and the House generally. were a
good deal surprised that General Butler had
thus adrotly, and before they expected it,
placed before them and even had read in
full. at the clerks desk. his argument in
defence Of Oakes Ames sand James Brooks,
for such the report Is.
INCREASE or SALARIES.
Mr.. Butler (on Tuesday, moved in com
mittee of the whole. an amendment to the
pending appropriation bill increasing sala-
ries after the 4th of March, as follows -
President, sj0O0O; vice-presidcnt Justices Of the
supreme court and members OF the cabinet, $1,000;
chief justice, SoD; assistant secretaries OF state
treasury and interior $500. each senator. repre-
sentative and delegate, including the i-d Congress
$500 each,in lieu Of mileage, they to be allowed
their actual expenses 70 and from Washington
each session, including the I'D Congress.
Mr.. Butler advocated his Amendment,
Mr.. Garfield expressing regret that the
House should be called on atso latean hour
to vote on such proposition.
Mr.. Dawes offered as n substitute pro-
position to increase by per cent. the slla-
ries of customs officers whose compensation
does not exceed 81, 500. lie called atten
tion to the fact that, while the public debt
Is being increased and the revenue falling
short at the rate of S2S, 200, 900 year, yet
it was proposed, Immediately after presi-
Dental election, to increase the salaries, not
only of the President, but the members Of
Congress. lie called attention TO the fact
that their first action was to take care Of
their own salaries, and leave uncared for
and unprOvided for the compensation of
those on whose integrity and fidelity the
whole revenue service depended.
Mr.. Dawes's amendment was rejected, 45
to lO9.
Cen Hawley of Connecticut, strongly op-
posed Gen. Buffers amendment.
Mr. Upson Of Ohio, moved to amend Mr..
Buffers amendment by making it apply
only to the next Congress.
Mr.. Butler said that he could give rem
edy to every gentleman who did not think
this increase Of salary proper. Let him not
take it. Sign pledge not to take it. Vir-
tuous men and true, come up and sign the
pledge Shouts Of laughter.
Mr. Upson's amendment was rejected,
GO to 76, and Gen. Buffers adopted, 81
TO 66.