Marshall County Republican. (Plymouth, Ind.) 1856-1878, 1874-01-08
@PEECE
Hon. Jasper Packard,
In the House of Representatives
E'iddy, Decem5sr 1911 1873.
The House having under consideration the bill Oh
X. No. 471) 10 repeal the increase OF certain
salaries and 10 regulate the same,
and to cover undrawn and
returned balances in
10 the Treasury.

returned balances in
10 the Treasury.
Mr. PACKARD. Mr. Speaker, tits from
no desire to prolong this debate that |
ask to be heard briefly on the subject now
before the House but having voted for
the appropriation bill of last March.
which contained the provision for the
change in the salaries of Senators and
Representatives, and others, it is, perhaps.
due 10 myself that should say word in
explanation of the action | shall take
now.
In regard to the retroactive feature of
the legislation of the Sd OF March last |
shall say nothing it was but following a
long line of precedents sanctioned by
many of the very best men ofthe country.
hOnored then and ever since. 10 90 no
further, it will be remembered by all ;hat
there was retroactive legislation of this
kind both II the Thirty fourth and Thir-
v-nlnth Congresses, extending in each
case over 4 period of about eiohteen
months. The Senators and Represents
tlveS from Indiana, and who participated
In the ncnefitS Df that legislation. were.
for the Thirty-fourtli Congress, Jesse ID.
Bright, Graham n. Fitch, Smith Miller.
William III. English, George G.. Dunn
Win Cunback, ID. L. HOLLOWAY. Lucien
Barbour, III. D. Scott, Daniel Mace.
schuyler Colfax, Samuel Brenton. and
John L. Petit; and for the Thirty ninth
Congress, Thomas a. Hendricks. Henry
). Lane, William &. Niback. NJ. c.. Kerr.
Ralph Hill, john IT, Farquehar, George
W. Julian, E. Dumont, G. S. Ortn.
Schuyler Coliax. j. Ii. Defrees, and
Thomas n. Stillwell
Tue only real question was then, and is
now, whether the increase made was wise
and proper. The actual increase was
very much less than has been poDuIarly
supposed; for if we iucIude he tfanking
privilege, the mileage, and other allow
ances, and add them to the old SALARY
of $1,000, the pay now will not exceed
the former average of pay by more Than
s. ,00O or, if We disregard the frank in
the calculation, the average increase is
still less than $1,000 for each member.
My own view was that we ought to cut
off all allowances, which have long been
denounced, perhaps unjustly, but con
demncd nevertheless as ablses, and pro-
vide salary t,zt SbLUil be the whole. OF
the pay. My short experience here had
taught me that the pay ought to be some
what increased. but 1 was willing TO ac-
cept the slight increase represented BY a
liked salary of $780, and for that amount
| voted when it was introduced by the
gentleman from California, then'a member
OF This House. L believe il is bad policy
to provide such salaries as will virtually
exclude from official position many of the
best men OF the country, because fortune
has not smiled on them as it has on 9th
ers. Railroad presidents and rich capita-
isis could receive honors and the pay be
a matter of no consequence; but the
country does not desire TO conline legis
lation 10 that class of men, however wor.
thy and capable they may be. Recent de-
velopments all over the country, and es-
pecially among the quiet, intelligent ag-
rlcultural population of the Western
States, must convince us that things are
somewhat out of joint. Great monopo-
lies and large rlcneyed corporations are
believed to haye obtained undue influence
and there seems to be rigid dclermina-
tion to meet and check their growing
power SO general movement must
have some foundation. There are abuses
which it is determined to remedy. The
laboring masses affirm that capital has
more than its just share of representation
They demand recognition, and that they
shall have voice and a share in tie gov
erning power of the country. | believe
there is much force and justice in such
demands, and l thought it best to adopt
such policy in regard to salaries as
would make it possible for the poor man
M Tn har at l.o
call of his fellow citizens, and be enabled,
in order to his usefulness to his constitu-
ents, TO forget for time ''the slings and
arrows" OF poverty; to come here and
perform the proper duties of legislator
without bling constantly hampered and
crushed in spirit by the necessity of Civ
ing his best thoughts to the ways and
means of providing the everyday neces-
saries of life.
My opinion is wholly unchanged as to
the better policy of providing such sal
ary as will lift the man who must depend
wholly on his salary above immediate
and pressing want, and further enable
him, with close economy, to save little
for his future necessities. To this end
the present salary is not an excessive one
and no man knowing what we all know
who have had to live on the salary only
can say that $1,000 is dollar too much
but am compelled to believe that the
majority ofrhe people have reached q
different conclusion, and as they are the
lpaymasters, am not prepared to deny
their right to be heard. Ii the question
involved great principles Of moral right
or wrong, l should inflexibly adhere to
my own convictions OF duty but it is q
lquestion of expediency or policy only, in
which am ready to go to the very verge
not over the boundary, Of injury to tx
best interests of the country, in order tc
assent to the wishes of the people. ] dc
so the more readily, also, because at thil
time the country is experiencing the ct
fects OF financial depression. The wages
J OF labor nave been reduced, and in all th,
avocations of life men are expecting
smaller rewards for their industry thar
they expected six months ago. In thi
condition of the country it is not incon
sistent with our former action to fix th,
salary now at a lower figure than wa
insisted on last March.
, am opposed to the re-enactment of th
mileage, preferring such salary as shal
be ascertained by adding to the old pay o
, $5 900 an equal proportion to each mem
Der of the whole amount of the forme