Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1873-12-25

fund by monthly reductions, and d.
recting the Treasurer TO commune
cate the passage of this
bill to the members Of the last Con-
gress, and to cover into the treasury
the money that should be returned.
Mr.. Beck. asked Mr. Poland
whether Congress had any power to
take from exmembers money by
them drawn as back pay.
Mr.. Poland replied that his amend,
ment did not propose TO do so.
Mr.. Beok-"Then if they had as
much right to retain it as the Presi.
dent has to retain his, why under
take to insult them behind their
backs, and not dare put the same
! proposition to the President"
Mr.. Poland went on to speak of
his amendment.
Mr.. Hale, of Maine, asked Mr.. Po-
land whether Congress had a right
to pass an act which should effect
certain members of Congress, leav-
ing their salaries at one rate and the
salaries of other members of the
same Congress at another rate.
Mr.. Poland replied that he propos.
ed to make all salaries of members at
the same rate.
Mr.. Hale-"Why do you deduct
from some and not from others ?"
Mr.. POland-"In point OF fact we
make the salaries equal; bat we have
a right to make them unequal if we
choose. This is not q mere 6rutum
fulmen; it is pretty efficient legal
remedy against these men. If there
are any of them who look to q polit-
ical future, they will heed the requsi-
ton of the Treasurer of the United
States. That money would burn in
their pocket"
Mr.. Beck-"Does the gentlemen
from Vermont think that the
Presidents money will burn in his
pocket ?"
Mr.. Poland-"That question is
hardly german to the amendm ent."
| Laughter.
Mr.. Holman moved, as q substi
tute for Mr.. Poland's amendment,
one applying only to the members of
the present Congress who were also
members of the last Congress, omit
ting every thing as to ex.members.
Mr.. Poland excepted Mr.. Holman's
amendment, as substituted for his
own.
Mr. Kasson made a point of order
that the amendment was unconstitu
tional. The Speaker said that be
did not sit as judicial officer to decide
on constitutional questions. II he
ruled out every thing that he consid.
cred unconstitutional, his duties
would be very much enlarged
The question was taken on Mr..
Holman's amendment, and it was
agreed to--ayes 1856, nays 1O1. Mr..
Maynard offered an amendment to
except from the proposed reduction
the employees of Congress, and spoke
in support OF that proposition. The
amendment was rejected without the
yeas and nays. Mr.. Butler, of Masa.
chusetts, moved to amend by adding
proviso requiring all members who
had been members of last Congress
and 10 which they had received back.
pay, to return the same to The Treas
ury. He appealed to the House to
come up to the matter squarely and
like men and support the substitute
which would be offered for the whole
bill, by the gentlemen from Illinois
Mr.. Hurlbut, fixing the salary at Sc.
600. to take effect from the passage
of the act. (Cries of good, good, that
is right) The question was taken
viUG Uoce on Buffers amendment
and it was carried 113 to 20.
| Mr.. Hurlbut then offered the fol.
lowing substitute for the whole bill
SECTION /. That from and after the passage Of thi
| act, the compensation of Senators, Representative
and Delegates shall be at the Of 50 900 per annun
| payable monthly and in addition thereto the actua
Individual expenses Of each Senator. Representative
and Delegate in going 10 ard returning from the sea
OF goysrninsnt once in eact session. to be certified
Section @ That the Cont snsation Of the Speak
or OF the House OF Representatives shall be 81 il
addition 70 his nay as Representative, amounting il
the same amount with the allowance fer travel
ing expenses as herein-before provided.
Section 3. That all laws and parts OF laws ncon.
sstent with the provisions Of this act hereby
peaed.
Section That the Secretary Of the Treasury is
required 10 cover into the Treasury all that may
remain undrawn or have been received as increased
compensation under the provisions of said act ap-
proved March 8, 1873, which shall have may come
into his possession by the return thereof.
Mr.. Beck spoke on the general sub.
ject anddefended bis action in voting
forthe increase last session on the
ground that the alternative would
have been an extr.s session and that
would have been of incalcu liable mis-
chief to the country, involving the
postal telegraph scheme and other
propositions.
Mr.. Hurlbut moved the previous
question on his sui stitute.
Mr.. Dawes endeavored to get in q
proposition to substitute the bill as
reported by the committee under
Orth's instructions, but Mr. Butler
and others objected, and demanded
that the previous question should be
put on Hurlbut's substitute. Being
again read it appeared that it had
been changed after it was first offered
by liking the salary OF Speaker and
Vice President at $4,000 instead of
SO 900.
Mr.. Dawes called attention to it,
and claimed that he had a right to
debate the proposition in its present
form.
The Speaker ruled that that point
was we'll taken.
Mr.. Dawes animadverted on the
improperly of changing, without the
knowledge of the House, a PROPOSE
ton that was before it.
The Speaker said he would be OBJ
liged if the gentleman from Illinois,
Hurlbut, would leave the substitute
10 It's original shape, even though that
reduced bis salary, he asked that as
special favor. The language of the
gentleman from Massachusetts, Mr..
Dawes) had left the possible inference