New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1873-12-09
TIE SALARY QUESTION.

TWO Bills REPORTED BY TIE SPECIAL COMMITTEE
THR MAJORITY BILL LITTLE BETTER THAN A
HALFWAY MEAsURE-THE MINORITY BILL IN
FAVOR OF REDUCING TIE PRESIDENTS ALLOW
ANCEs-A SCORE OF SUBSTITUTES AND AMEND
MENTs ISTRoDUCED-THE WHOLE SUBJECT POST
PONED TILL TO-DAY.
fBY TELEGRAPH TO TRmUNT.l
WASHINGTON Dee. S.-The Salary bin reported
to the House to-day from the Special Committee, by
Mr.. Hale of Maine, disappointed expectations, aud
proved to be little better than halfway measure
1t reduces the salary of Senators and Representa-
tives to the old rate and provides for covering into
the Treasury all there is left undrawn of the back
nav plumber and all that has been returned. The
reduction does not, however go back 10 the begln-
ming of the Congress, are the salaries OF Cabinet
officers and other department officials, which were
raised by the Objectionable law, affected, and no
stems are proposed for future reduction of the
Presidents salary. Besides the pay of large num-
Der of clerks and employees about the Senate and
House, which was raised at the time of the general
increase and in the same bill, is not touched
Mr. Hale had no sooner got his bill read than he
was disconnected by n minority report and bill
signed by Messrs Kasson and Jewett of the exist
ence of which he appeared to have had no knowl-
edge This report. after discussing the appropriately
of the increase of salaries and the imperative de-
mand for its repeal boldly struck at the Presidents
salary and advocated reducing the allowances for
the Executive mansion the only way of cutting
the salary down TO the old figure. The bill proposes
to repeal all increases of salary authorized by the
law of last Winter, including Cabinet Ministers; to
make the repeal retroactive to take elect on
March T. in the case of members Of Congress; to Tx
the Presidents salary at 1895 600 after the present
term and during the present term to prohibit the
making of appropriations compensation to officers
or employees abont the Executive mansion or
grounds except to the secretaries, clerks. steward,
and persons employed at work on the grounds.
The Republicans when they heard this bill read,
were obviously shocked that Mr.. KassOn member
of their own party, should have the temerity to lay
his hands upon the emoluments Of the Great IDis-
penser of Patronage at the other end OF the avenue
Some admired his courage in daring to do what thelr
own sense of Justice commended but others APP
peared to look upon the daring Iowa member as
man who had committed a sacrilegions act.
Mr.. Poland followed UP the minority bill with one
of his own Of similar purport except that 1t omit
ted the President and hada sensational elnse atthe
end. repeating the portion of the old law by which
the back pay was grabbed by members OF the ALIld
Congress deducting from the salary Of members OF
the present Congress who belonged to the ALlld'
the back pay they received and finally instruct'ng
are no longer members to refund, and to report a
list of those who comply and who do not
Fifteen OF twenty amendments and substitutes to
Mr. lIales bill poured in, and the House plunged
about in sea of talk in the effort to decide on some
of action on the subject. Mr.. Hale appeared
to have an elephant his hands which he did not
know what 10 do with. Half dozen members be-
gan abusing his bill. and many moro Kept urging
him to call the previous question and stop what
threatened to become general wranglc. he wanted
to do this but was deferred by Mr. Dawes, who pro-
tested in the most vigorous manner demanding tnat
there should be such discussion as the gravity oil
the case and not the camor of the case, demanded
Mr. Garfield said that there was danger OF the whole
session being wasted in fruitless debate such was
tho experience of the House in 1857, when the same
question of repeating law increasing salaries was
mp. While Mr.. Hale was hesitatng. Mr. Woodiord
got the floor and moved the previous question,
but the House refused 10 second the demand the
vote standing "a to 49, Then the bill went over by
consent until tomorrow. with an arrangement for
a discussion first by twenty minutes speeches ana
then by five minutes. ..t-~