Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1873-12-11

aries of members of the house and senators,
but did not believe that the people required
any Interference with the salaries of other
officials.
afr. Ellis II. Roberts IN. " said it was true
that great violence and lack of discrimination
mad characterized the public press on this
question. The indiscuminate abuse of public
men, without reason and without decent
preteXt, was crying shame. II IL could be
kept at home it would not be so mischievoUs,
although IL diminished the Indictment TO n
laudable ambition. II members could carry
tholr eyes II the other side of the Atlantic,
they would see how greatly more mischievous
IL was.
his back pay to the other side of the Atlantic?
MT. Roberts II the gentleman has satisfied
his own conscience with reference to his own
back-pay, he has reformed his duty. But
appeal to him not to decide my duty for me.
Mr.. Negley-I mean nothing unkind 10 the
gentleman; but l simply make inquiry
whether the gentleman did not lately return
his hack-pay 10 the treasury?
Mr.. r berts-When assent to degrade TINS
body, by personal controversy, II Will be when
/ change my estimate Of public duty.
Mr.. Niblack said the most graceful thing 10
do was simply to reinstate substantially the
Old law, leaving ali other questions connected
with IL to be settled hereafter on some more
appropriate occasion. He did not think that
the compensation Of members OF the cabinet
or of the judges OF the supreme court was too
high, but he thought the Presidents salary
was out OF all proportion 10 all the other Sala-
ries fixed at the last session.
Mr.. Durham did not consider the compen-
but would vote for the reduction in obedience
TO public sentiment. He believed his district
demanded, and that the geod of the whole
country demanded, the restoration OF the
franking privilege.
Mr.. Dawes said that he still thought, as he
did last session, that the increase of salaries
was an unwise measure. He thought there
should be a revision of the rates OF compensa-
tion Of persons in civil service. All that had
be undone, as far as the constitution will per-
nit The constitution has wisely
guarded the executive against any en-
crOachment on his compensation We
can Therefore talk freely about the salary OF
the executive, because We know that any
thing we do cannot reach the present eXecu-
tive; he stands before the country, thank
God, as one who never sought that place as a
position for the attainment OF wealth; but
we have made the compensation for the
future, together with the perqulsites Of
the Office 50 nigh, that hereafter, when
he shall have left that place, we
shall proclaim to the country that the
highest Office in its gift IS a position for the
attainment Of veal h. II we leave the mat
Ter there, cOntenung ourselves with the
idea tnat this whole condemnation is
confined 70 the fact that II touches our
own salary, we misjudge. With two hundred
thousand dollars salary there are perquisites
allowed which vary very little every year
from filtV thousand dollars, so that we leave
the Presidents Office hereafter with COM
pensation of four hundred thousand dollars
attached to 1t tor the term, and submit that
when we can do II without our motives being
impugned, when we stand so lar from any
person whom IL eau effect and when we can
do il under circumstances that nobody cdn
say that IL is a reflection upon, il is our duty
to meet that question and meet it fairly
and suuarely. Mr.. Dawes said that he
saw no propriety in increasing the salaries OF
the judges of the supreme court and cabinet
officers, and he thought tn the compensa-
ton of The latter should be brought down to
The same As that awarded 10 the president of
the senate and speaker Of the house.
Mr.. Hale N. HI ask the gen.
tleman from Massachusetts,, as the leader Of
financial committee OF the house, whether
in his judgment leaving the voice of the peO-
pie aside for the moment, and on his oath as
a salary OF ten Thousand dollars
year an ino-dinate or eXtravagant salary
either for a head OF department or for a
Judge OF the supreme court.
Mr.. Dawes-In a country which prides itself
on its simplicity of manners and OF its institu-
tions, and in a country where no places ought
to be sought in the gilt of the people for
the money il confeTs, l say to my friend from
New York, that it will be a sorry day for this
country when we put such compensation to
our offices that they will be sought tor the
money they will bring; and say, therefore,
that il is better for every one Of these men
that their compensation shall be what II was
before the passage of the law of 1858.
Mr.. O. F. HOar-My colleagues statement
in relation 10 the Presidents perQuisites will,
undoubtedly, attract attention throughout
the country. He has stated that the per-
quisites of the Presidents Office amount, on
an average, to finy thousand dollars a year,
making the salary and perqulslteS, Tor a single
term, four hundred thousand dollars. Now,
wish TO ask him how he makes out that sum .
Mr.. Dawes-I have done just this: l have
taken from the appropriation bills the sums
appropriated for the Presidents household
and his house just what would be expended
by any ether officer who has his own house,
not the cost OF The house, but the yearly ap-
propriations for carrying 1t on, and keeping
il in order and repair.
Mr.. HOar-Is 1t not for maintaining state
in that house which pertains TO the receptions
and other expenses OF office.
Mr.. Dawes-Ihey are sums which the Presi-
dent-if he was put on a footing with other
Officers-would Ee obliged 10 pay out of his
own income.
Mr.. 6. f. HOar-If he did not have it appro-
priated he would not spend it, that is the
NJ. pawes-The twenty minutes here ex-
pired.
Mr.. Marshall favored the repeal of the bill.
He believed, also, that the pending bill should
be amended by provision that no member
shall draw his salary until after he nal ap-
peared, been qualified and taken his seat.
Mr.. south ard believed that the whole Of the
| law OF last session should be repealed.
Mr.. Hale Mel gave notice that he would
| move the previous question at three O'CLOCK
tomorrow.
The speaker announced the following com.
| mitteeS;
! On Mississippi Levees-MorrIs, Hurlburt
| Stanard, Pierce, Lewis, Randall and Lamar.
| On Centenniel Celebration and Proposed
] National Census of lS75-kelley, Hawley
ICOnn.l, G.. K. Hoar, Shanks, WOOdford, Butlel
| fTenn.l, Smith lOhiol, Hart, Clayton, Wells
| Young, Harris and Stanford.
! Adjourned.