Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1873-02-11


the Government. Your committee are there
fore Of the opinion that the present compen-
sation attached to the Presidential Office in
proportion to the general values of the coun-
try is hardly any more than one-fourth what
it was when the office was created. There
is another reason in favor of an increase of
this compensation which occurs with much
force to your committee. While there is no
law to prevent an President of the United
States from engaging in the business pursuits
OF life for the purpose of acquiring property,
yet custom and public sentiment have so
strongly decided against such a course on
the part of enc who has held this high station,
that your committee think he ought to have
sufficient provision while in office to ensbie
him when he leaves it 10 retire from all active
or at least from all money making, pursuits.
In view otthese considerations, your commit
tee can conceive Of 70 valid reason whatever
for continuing the present salary, and have
agreed to recommend that it be fixed at the
sum of $50, 600 per annum as the very lowest
that should be attached to the Office of the
President. Your committee also concur in
recommending the following salaries to the
officers of the Government respectively
named For Vice President, $40, 900; Speak
er of the House, $4,000; members Of the
Cabinet, $40, 900 Chief Justice of the Supreme
Court, $4,000; Justices of the Supreme
Court, Sl00 900.
In making the recommendation Your com.
pittee are are not unmindful of the fact that
the expenses incident to residence in Wash
ington of gentlemen in those positions, and
the various calls upon their hospitality and
charity, must necessarily exceed that sumo
Indeed, it is well known that many of them,
in order to live in manner becoming their
stations, have in later years been compelled
to rely greatly on the accumulations made by
them in former years of labor. Your CON-
mittee is especially of the opinion that the
present pay of the judges is inadequate to
their labors, duties, and stations. Some of
the States even pay their judges more. 1t is
thought, however, that our present recon-
mendation will be received with entire una
nip,ty, and hence your committee present it
to the House and country. though even men,
bers of the committee are in favor of CHER
sum for the judges.
On the subject OF the salaries Of Senators
and repres entatives and delegates in Con-
gress, your committee find not only made
quacy in amount, but also the greatest irreg-
ularities growing out of the question of mile
age. The rule establishing mileage has al
ways been purely arbitrary, and not compen-
sa,ory for actual travel. 1t is, time it was
fixed The greater portion of it has always
been in the nature Of additional pay, and
hence has worked an inequality for which
there never was shadow of reason in the
compensation of members. This inequality
has become vastly greater since the cons,ruc-
} ton of railroads to every State and almost
every Territory in the Union. Perhaps 5000
will defray the actual expenses by any men,
Der or delegate coming there from the most
remote section of the country, yet your COM
mittee find that the average mileage to each
of the ten members residing farthest from the
capital for single session of Congress ST.
250 40, while the average amount of mileage
paid to each of an equal number of members
residing nearest the capital for the same
length of time is S36.s2. Those residing
the nearest the capital perhaps consume their
mileage. and much more, in travel, as they
frequently return home during the sessions of
Congress. 1t will be apparent, therefore,
that members and delegates residing at dis
lance receive as pay more than 81 200 in ad-
/ dition to the pay of many of their fellow mem
bers. There can be no equality in the salary
of senators, members and delegates while this
system remains. Your committee have there
fore determined to recommend the aboli-
ton of pay on account OF mileage, except for
the actual expenses incurred in travelling in
: the most direct route to and from session of
Congress, an itemized account of which shall
, be fled with the proper officers of the Senate
and House. This will not only eQualze the
f ment annually at least $3.50, 900 now expend
ed in mileage. 1t is thought that justice and
economy both demand this action.
Your committee would also call attention
| to the abolition of the Thanking privilege, al
ready consummated at the present session.
While there is diversity of opinion in regard
to the wisdom of this measure, yet your com.
mittee beg leave to call attention to the off,
cial information on this subject, furnished by
the Postmaster General of the United States,
under date of Jan. ~, 1871. If the facts and
figures which he submits, and which appear
to have been obtained with care and method,
and on which both branches of Congress have
acted, are correct, then the Congress of the
United States has saved to the government
| the annual sum of S2,543 32772, by depriv-
ing its members and the department OF the
privilege of sending matter free in the mails.
: What their increased postage account, if here.
after to be borne by themselves, will necessa-
rily be, it is difticclt to estimate, but that i,
. will be large no one will deny.
In consideration therefore, of the foregoing
, facts, and in consideration also of the fac,
that members of Congress should be enabled
IL live in respectable manner, at least q
? portion of the time, with their families in
Washington during their services, your CON-
mittee recommend that in lieu of the presen,
salary of senator's, members and delegates, in
lieu then of all mileage now allowed, and in
lieu OF the franking privilege, and all post
age. stationery, and newspaper accounts, land
every other requisite, the sum of $8, 900 per
annum as a fair compensation. No argument
it is thought will be necessary to convince
l the public that this is no more than is neces.
, sary for competent public servants. 1t may
be urged however that Congress should econ.
omiZe rather than increase the expenditures
: of the Government at this time, and that SEN
? ators and members should set the example in
all matters personal to themselves. Your
committee fully concur in this view, and they
beg leave to show that their recommendation
herein is not inconsistent with that position.
If the salaries shall be equalized and iu-
creased as your committee recommend, the
accounts on the score of economy which the
present session of Congress will presen. to
the country will be as follows
} Increase of Presidents salary S25, ZOO
Increase of Cabinet Ministers salaries IA, 900
Increase Of salaries of Judges of the
Supreme Court Is, 500
Increase of senator's, members, and
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