New-York tribune., 1873-12-17
TEE BACK PAY QUESTION.

TEE BACK PAY QUESTION.
ANOTHER REpFhL BILL REPoRTRD-IT PROVIDES
FOR A SALARY FOR CoNGREssMEN OF $500
A RETROACTIVE AMFvDMFNT ADOFTED-ME But
LI< KsDEAvoRs TO MAKE THE WHOLE PROCEED
iNG RIDICULOUS.
10y TEIFGRApH Tc TIP TElBrNEl
WAsuINGTON, Dec. 10.-The House has al last done
something to be proud Of although the motives were
not Of tbe hest. for IL has been seen from
the first Of the debate on the Salary
bill that il required more effort than the
members possessed 70 surrender with peod grace
anything that favorably affected their pockets. The
reform is so radical however, that IT may after all
accom- ylish what was originally deeIed-the con-
tEuatioB Of the increased salary ard the restoration
of that twin calamity the franIiDg privilege
The debate the Salary bin began very lively
today following the passage of the Bankrupt bill
Mr.. Mckee Of Mssissippi was the first to speak.
The agitation of the question was foolish. so be
thought and the thing was humbug. Mr. Williams
Of Boston followed with eXtravsgant ideas. He
wanted rho salaries of the Speaker Nice-Presdent.
and CABINET scers increased still more, and scented
tho ldea that members of Congress were not the
equals aud the supeTiors OF the oldtime states
men Yet with all this. he thought he would sup-
port the Committees bill. Mr. Eldndge Of WiscOB-
rim made piaiEtiye and al the same time
"a patriotic speech. There were those who
said il was the speech of the biggest demagogue that
ever lived merely because he referred often 10 his
own honesty and mis- rm belief in the people. He
was a poor man; be had lived humbly; he had
ext-avagances lie had been unable to reciprocate
The social hospitalites that had been extended to
hnn; il was the frst time his constituents had
found fault with him he had served them 10 years,
aud had advocated unpopular theories and measures
...l,, - 4,
and las constituents had never complained Of him
before He saiG the time at which the Salary bill
was passed was ap unfortunate one owing to the
healtbfulness OF the air with Credit Mobher corrup
ton but he evidently had forgotten the fact that he
defended The Credit Mobiier transactions of members
lastsW inter. His time was extended twice. and yet
lac tid not finish his speech He asked leave to print
the rest. bat Mr Hale Of Maine objected very prop
eriy. THIS il a very healthy sign and will
rave much expense if continued. Thus far this
sesson in the House not a word has been printed in
The Record but what was uttered although il has
been often attempted.
Mir Hale of New-IOrk made q good point against
Nj Edriige in his speech when nc said that il wa'
not 80 much the increase Of pay that the people OBJ
Jected TO, but they were outraged at the sneak
jng manner in which the increase was
Inade-the lacking of it an appro
priation bin IN the closing hours OF
the Session. when Efforts during the session t6
pass the bill an independent measure had failed
repeatedly He was IN favor of restoring the Ole
rate Of pay and also the mileage. In the early part
Of the discussion Mr. kassOn of Iowa had offered
amendment makingin effect the repeal of the bill
retroactive, that is to provide that the. rate o.
$500, should begin last March, and that the mem
bcrs who have drawn amounts exceeding the rate o
tlast ,huf time CHI hay 4.
sum deducted from their future pay Aftei
MIR. Hale had spoken Mr.. Butler OF Massa
chusetts offered an amendment to Mr.. Kas
sons amendment providing that all member
of previous Congresses who had taken back pay
should have the amount SO taken deducted from
then future pay. This proposition created much
laughter, as IT Int large number of the present
members, including Mr. Kasson and Mr. Lawrence
of Ono. MI. Hale OF Maine tried TO say to tn,
Hsnse what was the fact, that Mr. Buffers only
ldea was TO make the whole proceeding trivial ant
ridiculous an insinuation which fred Mr. Butler al
once but the House was in confusion and il passed
Mr.. Kasson demanded the previous Question or
hls amendment, and the first vote was 70 he on Mr.
Buffers proposition. Here somebody moved IN all
joarn and tellers were appointed-Messrs Bn,le,
and kasson. The vote a tie adjournment
1lS TO lI3. The Speaker voted No. The yot,
showed great strength for Mr.. Butler and there wa,
considerable confusion. Other meaningless vote,
followed, and MI Butler raised the point Of ortie,
that the old members could not vote on his amend
Inent because they were interested per
pons. The Speaker said if Mr.. Butler rsiset
the point on any member, he would rule on it, Il
which Mr. that be objected to his col
lssgae Mr. Buffinton merely for test lie di,
not want the few members of the XXXIXtb Congress
osote against his amendment The Speaker over
ruled the point of order very adrotly, and the rol
Wa called the amendment itself. j
va barely defested--121 10 I39. Mr.. Bottle
vsssssd the proceedings with sDusaal yntsTest ~,