The Rutland weekly globe. [volume] (Rutland, Vt.) 1873-1877, 1874-02-06
Judge Poland on Congressional
Paw.


Pay.
Hon. Luke Z. Poland representative
from the second congressional district, has
written the following letter 10 the United
States Treasurer Spinner, reviewing the
whole question of congressional pay and
restoring to the treasury his. "back pay" in
obedience to that decision;
WAsHINGToN, Jan. 81, 1874.
Gen. H. u. Spinner, Treasurer Of tie Uni
ted St0teS
SIR: | herewith hand You draft for the
amount received by me for increased salary
as a member of the f0rty-second Congress,
under the Act of March 3, 1873. to be
paid into the treasury of the United States,
| take this occasion to state shortly my rea-
sons for so doing. The constitution pro-
vides that SENATORS and Representatives
shall receive a compensation for their SER
vices to be ascertained by law"
Compensation includes reasonable sup
port while performing the service, and rca-
sOnable reward for the service performed.
The compensation heretofore provided by
law has always professed to be uniform,
though the large mileage formerly allow
ed made it in fact very unequal In con-
sidcring what is,l proper compensation, "A
difficulty at once arises from the different
condition and different habits of the va
rious members, and first and mainly, as to
the support or living while performing the
service In Congress there are always
some men of large wealth, who are able TO
live, and do live, in style altogether he
yond any salary yet fixed, or even propos-
ed. On the other hand there is Il much
larger number who have no other support
for themselves and families but the COM
pensation they receive us salary. But many
Of this class cannot be content to live it'll
in sluall means, but are foolish enough to
feel that they must copy the expensive
style of their more wealthy colleagues or
fail of equal social position.
But aside from this, there is a great di-
versity in the actual and necessary eXpen-
ses Of different members. Some have
large and expensive families to support ;
Others have none, or less numerous and eX-
pcnsye ones. Some have been accustomed
to the luxurious and expensive habits Of
fashionable life; others have been reared
to habits of frugal economy, and have no
desire to depart from them.
Compensation for service is perhaps still
more difficult to make equal. There are
always men in Congress of large ability
and attainment who could command in
business or in the professions very much
larger income than they receive in Con-
gress. On the other hand, Congress always
contains some men whose services in any
department of private life would not be
thought very valuable. Many members
| devote themselves assiduously and labori-
ously to Their duties some do very little
except 70 look after the local and personal
matters from their own immediate district
or State.
1t is appeared, therefore, that in fixing d
| compensation for members there would ma
tually be very great diversity of opinion
as to the proper amount. But this amount
must be fixed by CongIcss itself, for the
power is vested nowhere else. In deciding
what was proper each man would natur-
ally be governed much by his own individ
ual case, and the aggregate judgment OF the
whole body must be the criterion.
When the proposition for an increase oI
the salary of members was first brought
into the last Congress the House ncgativct
tby quite decisive majority, but just a
the end of the session, it having becl
placed upon an important appropriation
bill, enough members were found who felt
or affected to feel that disagreement to th'
salary clause as passed by the Senate wOul(
involve the loss of tho appropriation
bill and make a special session of Congrcs
necessary to pass the bill by bare major
ity. When last before the House the sub
ct had very little consideration the wan
of time and the condition Of the bill pre-
vented any full debate,
| voted uniformly against the increase
was actuated somewhat by my own person
al condition and ideas The old salary wa
| NJ. 4 ID,,e 4 .ta1f Ia.
many of those who voted to increase it, tel
that it was actually necessary for them.
thought also that If there was real neces
sity for an increase, it was an inopportun
time to make it. Certain investigations an
developments had created a great excite
ment in the public mind on the subject o
corruption in public officials and for II tim
there was great dislrust OF everybody in OF
fetal position. But the Till became tn
law. That portion of it making the increas
apply to the Forty-Second Congress was q
once denounced in very severe terms by III
public press. Little or no objection wa
made to the prospective increase. | coul
not see the force of the indiscriminatloT
Ii 50, 800 was proper salary for the Fo
ty-Third Congress, / could not see why
was not for the Forty Second The servlC
was the same, the expense of living certain
ly as great. Congress had the same leg
right to raise the pay at tue end {
session as at the beginning. an
the propriety of the act depenC
ell wholly upon the amount tiXeC
whether Il was or was not an unreasonab
sum- Such too had been the invariab
: practice of Congress aud of all state legi
3 latures, that an increase of salary alwaJ
applied TO the body making it. 1t was ol
jected to on the ground that it was in Il
: nature of contract between the represel
/ tatye and his constituents, that he wOul
serve tho term for the salary as II stoC
when he was elected. | regarded th
view as wholly unsound. If there is an
1 semblance of contract in it, the contract
Q that the member will serve for such con
9 pensalion as Congress shall determine.
Congress should make II less he could NJ
: complain il they increased 1t, he is el
o titled 10 tie benefit OF tho iaOrease. III