Middletown transcript., 1874-01-24


the Treasury for the privilege of coming
here. There will be a premium upoL
seats in Congress but at what cost to
public morals and to the real Interests of
the people! The men who come here
poor weuld not remain poor long, aud the
history Of their legislation would contain
the bankruptcy and disgrace Of the Gov
crnment and nproverisbment Of the pco-
pie. 1t would be absurd. therefore, to
pass measures which would fll seats in
Congress with either Of the two classes to
which l have referred.
Now, Mr.. President. there has been so
much Misrepresentation and abuse Of the
public mind us to the law passed at mid
night on Monday, the Sd of March last,
the general appropriation bill, the largest
known to the Congress in amount, the
most multfarious in its subjects, in which
was contained the provision changing the
salaries Of Senators and Members Of Con-
gress; it has been subjected to so much
wild, ignorant. coarse abuse, that it will
require care for any one to discuss it and
not be moved to some degree of indigna-
tion by the coarscness of the epithets
which have beeu heaped upon the whole
Congress indiscrminately.
hope that have proper respect for
just public opinion. that recognize full
ly my position, and my duty as repre-
sentative to obey deliberate AND Just pub
lie opinion; in other words, that should
be II representative and not misrsprssen-
ta,ive. | shall make no boast Of my in
dependence of popular oPinion-my ac-
tions must measure that-but l can only
promise that my true opinions shall be al
ways openly expressed in relation to pub
lie measures. and when that ceases my
presence here shall also 'ase, In an ef-
tort now to enlghtcn public opinion trust
l shall not b. found wanting and it is
W tn the intent to contribute to the truth
of history in regard to the effect and mean
ing of the law changing the salaries. in re-
gard to the policy of the present measure
Of repeal and amendment, that desire to
say what do now.
The question of increased pay and Of
change in the basis of pay had been moot
ed frequently in other Congresses imme-
diately preceding the last. There had al
ways been an objection in some quarters
to the allowance of mileage. which, in fact
created great inequality in pay between
members of Congress. Several times it
had been proposed to do away with the
system of mileage, and as often the effort
had been unsuccessful An attempt was
finally made to increase the compensation,
| think two or three weeks before the ad-
journmcnt in March last. 1t failed. 1t
was voted down. aud think speak but
the comnen opinion of all men in this body
when | say that no one suspected, at the
time that it was resuscitatcd and sprung
in upon this bill of general appropria-
tion. that such action would be permitted
by the majority to take place 1t came
upon us improperly; it came upon us
when there was not time. owing to the date
of its introduction. for its proper conside-
ration and debate. and it found the Senate
fottared by rule adapted in respect to the
debate upon appropriation bills. by which
not moro than five minutes were given to
any Senator for the discussion of any fea
ture in aH appropriation bill or any amend
ment thereto 1t was most unfortunate
and most discreditable to the parties by
whom it was engineered and to that ma
jorty which permitted such trick to be
successful; but such was the history Of
its introductisn into this body.
1t was proposed by the measure that
came from the House that an edual nav Of
$4,000 per annu.n should be given to each
Senator. Representative. and Delegate
What was the effect of that? It was to
reduce the pay of nearly every member Of
this body from the more distant States.
TO that desired then, as l do now, to
express my dissent am not willing to
see the pay in 1874 put at less rate than
it was in 1866. l may say that the change
would have benefited me. My pay, with
mileage, was little over $4,000 a year.
My home is not very distant I have
neither much expense nor annoyance in
reaching it. which do with convenience
and frequency. My ease was very differ
ent from men who come here from a great
distance. abandoning tbsir professions, cut
ting themselves off altogether from the
possibility of giving attention to their pri-
vate affairs at home. I therefore should
have been, and am now. adverse to seeing
any reduction in the emoument of Sena-
tors and Members Of the House who come
from the distant States. 4e
Then the other question arose: IF you
will not reduce the pay of those gentlemen n
from the distant States. will you not equal
ize the compensation by increasing the pay
of all others to the maximum of the nav
and mileage of those from the more dis
tant States? 1t was question, therefore,
of equalization of compensation. that the
members from the New England States
and the Atlantic coast should receive the
same pay as was then allowed by the law
to gentlemen from the more distant States.
To men from Nebraska, from Nevada from
Oregon, from California there was no in.
crease of compensation worthy Of the name
"a most trivial sum. amounting in ssmo
cases to little or nothing. and in one case
absolutely compelling Senator from Orc
gon. in order to equaize his compensation