Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1873-12-12
EVENING STAR.
CONFERENCE.-THE.
ne BACK Par DISCUSSION.


7BE BACK Par DISC USSION.
hoCSf.-Aiter our report closed
M stephens continued his speech on the
o., oaSk pay elIi and IN closing said he considered
me abolition OF the Thanking privilege a. by far
me most unwtse feature Of the whole measure.
no government could last unless the people an
principles They must have information re-
lating TO the action of the government ana the
CONSTITUTION had wisely provided that the sc
uon OF the government should be open % them
and he regarded the frsnking privilege a. ONE
OF the great instrumentAlities OF q free repuNlI-
can government 10 add TO the enlightenment OF
Mr.. Garfield said he would not join IN auv
elsmor that would call men thieves because
they had voted for that which they had . con
sututionsl right 20 vote for. But he recog-
niEed the fact that there was a popular feeling
in the country which demanded the reneal %
the salary btu, and in Difference % thafsenti-
ment the House should pass the bill, and then
members could 80 forward 10 their work With q
better grace, and would not be met with the
charge Of voting themselves unconstitutional
Mr.. Randall referred 70 the history Of lesi.,.-
ton on the subject of salaries and said he haf
voted for the bill Of last session, and he pro
posed TO stand by that action and rise OF f.l'
with IL. He had been here for a number q
years and he positively sverred that until "a
pay was made = 800 last year Il had never been
sufficient for a decent maintenance.
Mr.. Hurlbut indicated purpose 20 move tha'
the bill be recommitted and the committee b.
instructed TO report back the bill introdu ce.i BY
himself on the subject
MIR. kssson opposed the bill reported bv Mr.
Bale, on the ground that there was no equality
Mr.. Potter advocated the repeal of the bill.
because he believed the people demanded AZ, A,
they had a right TO do.
Mr.. Nesmith read the law, showing that he
and others Who had been recently elected
were authorized 20 receive paw for the full term
MIR. Speer advocated the repeal of the bill.
Mr.. Croker said he had taken the back paw,
and be still had it, and should keep IL until CON
So Nv nfa "A tad D. a.
not think the increased salary was any too much
for the adequate maintenance OF a house and
family I'm Washington.
Mr.. Scudder y. J.l argued that 10 was out OF
the power of the present Congress "a change
the salary Of the members OF the last Congress-
He, however, favored going back 10 the old rate
Of pay for the present Congress.
Mr.. Dunnell advocated the adoption of his
amendment repeating In q single clause all that
peruon OF the Appropriation bill relative 20
salaries, Including that OF the President, CAbi-
net officers, Judges, and employs
Mr.. Grassland concluded that there virtually
was no increase Of salaries 60 members, but
that by the repeal OF the Thanking privilege,
the cutting of of mileage and the stationery
allowance, a saving 10 the government was eff
fected. He denied that the voice OF the people
was for repeal, and held that IL was the cry of
plsce-hunters and mischief. makers. He said
be took his back pay, he carried IL home. and
he used it. He could not return II II he would ,
ana 80 help him COO, he would not II he could.
commit the bill, with instruction 20 report a
bill absolutely repeating all increase OF salaries
SO far as il could be constitutionslly done; aud
10 equalize the pay nearly as possible. so
that each member would receive not more than
SC 600 per annum.
The Speaker explained that II the demand for
the previous question was seconded, the House
would first vote upon the instruction. and then
upon the bill OF the committee, but amendments
would be cut off,
The House, by a vote OF 100 70 l45 refused 70
second the demand for the previous question.
Mr.. Orth then urged the adoption Of his in
structions.
Mr.. o'Brien presented the memorial Of Philip
c. Friese, of Baltimore, 10 secure TO the colOred
population their legal status.
Pending further consideration of the salary
bill, the House at IiO O'Clock adjourned.