The Fremont weekly journal. [volume] (Fremont, Sandusky County, Ohio) 1867-1877, 1873-12-26

ed salary for the past year-than
any desire to accord to the people !
what they demand; and will be so
regarded when the people come to
deal with these Improbable servants
that is, if they can learn who they
were. The last vote in the House
on which the Yeas and Nays were
called was that sustaining the pre-
vious question on the $4,000 salary
bill and stood 131 to 130-24 not
voting. True, the yeas and nays
were demanded, on the final vote,
but although it required only 81 to
vote In the affirmative. that msny
were not found, and the bill passed
by a simple division OF the House.
If anything had been wsntiDg to
show the insincerity of CoDgrssmen
on this subject, it was abundantly
furnished by this strategetical move
ment to avoid putting themselves on
record, and throw dust in the eyes
Of the people.
Their palms itched for the increas
ed pay, while they knew they dare
not retain it, yet they determined to
retain all they could and so under
the leadership of Spoons Butler,
they set aside the bill of the commit
tee, which fixed the salaries the same
as had been paid before, computing
mileage and stationery at $500, with
actual travelling expenses, and &C
cepted a substitute which only takes
effect after its passage, and while al
lowing allIncreseds salaries to remain,
except those of Congressman, gives
even then the back pay and the $2,-
500 increase for one year. We give
the substitute as it passed the House:
SEC. l. That from and after the
passage Of this act, the compensa-
ton of Senators and Representatives
and Delegates shall be at the rate of
| $4,000 per annum, payable monthly,
and in addition thereto the actual in
dividual expenses of each Senator,
Representatives and Delegates in
going. to and returning from the seat
of government, once in each session,
to be certified in writing by each.
SEC. 2. That the compensation
of the Speaker of the House of Rep
( resentatives shall be at the rate OF
$4,000 in addition to his pay as Rep
ressntative, amounting in all to $8,-
000, and that of the Vice President
shsll be the same amount, with the
same allowance for travelling expen-
ses as heretofore provided.
SEC. 3. That all laws and parts oi
laws inconsistent with the provisions
of this act are hereby repealed.
SEC. 4. That the Secretary Of the
Treasury is required to cover into
the Treasury all sums that may re.
main undrawn, or which have been
received as increased compensation
under the provisions of said act, az
proved March 8, 1873, which shall
or may come into his possession by
the return thereof.
This is anything but acceptable tc
the people, and if not remedied will
result disastrously to the Republl,
cans, who had the numerical force
necessary to repeal.
The Senate has met the matter in
but little better spirit than the House
Its committee reported back a sub
stitute for the House bill which re-
peals the salary law so for as it eff
fected the salaries of Congressman
alone, but leaving the others as they
had been increased. tits as follows:
'Be it enacted" ETC., "that
so much of the act of March Sd, 1873
as provides for increases of compen.
sation Of members of Congress and
the several officers and employees oi
either House of Congress, or both, be
and the same is, hereby repealed and
the salaries and compensation of all
said persons shall be as fixed by the
laws IN force at the time of the pass
| age Of said act.
"SEC. 2 That the compensation o.
the several heads of department shall
be each $4,000 per annum.
"SEc. 3 That the Secrutary of the
Treasury be required to cover into
the treasury all sums that may
remain undrawn or which have been
received as increased compensation
under the provisions Of the said act
approved March Sd, 1873, and which
shall have or may come into his
possession by the return thereof"