The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1876-08-10
Debate in the Senate on Salaries Of the
President and Members Of Congress.
THE HOUSE REQUIRES A REDUCTION
Speech of Senator Bayard on This
Mistaken Economy.
"TuE DRuMMOND LIGHT OF THE PRESS"
SENATE.
WASHINGTON. August 2, 1876.

committee ON tho Legislative Executive and Judicial
Appropriation bill, reported that tho committee had
been unable IN explanation OF the position OF
the committee MI Window sad thus bill had boon in
conference since early July, four committees hav-
Ing been appointed first sent TO conference
Tho committees had worked night and day and abored
hard TO agree upon report He was satisfied that
committee could agree upon all the provisions OF tho
bill except that relating the compensation OF sena-
tors and Representatives in Congress and that relating
TO the COMPENSATION OF the President oil the
United States; but to agree upon these points
tho Senate conierecs would be compelled 10
yield more Than they could reasonably be
expected TO- In regard 20 the two points about which
ihere the most difficulty tho committee OF the
Senate should deem 1t proper TO reappoint the old
committee desired TO be instructed by tho Senate, or
to a, least have an expression Of the sense of the
Senate on the subjects, and he believed tho conierees
the part OF House of Representatives also
desired to be instructed by that body The committee
had exhausted all their ingenuity in their efforts to
reach an agreement They had proposed to strike out
NJ the bill Nil provisions relating the compensation
OF Senators and Representatives In order that there
might DO taken from 1t everything Ike personal
sderatons and that The subject could be settled by
independent bill In regard to the salary OF the Prcsi
dent, they had proposed to mako the appropria-
lion to Ihc 4th Of March next, and let The
houses act the question OF what 1t should be
alter that date. Speaking Tor himself. he was opposed
TO reducing the salaries Of Senators and Representa-
lives Congress, because lac believed at the present
time they were not too high lie was opposed to yield
Ing to the demand OF the House that question For
him TO vote 10 reduce ms salary would be an act OF
sheer anu shameless dcmagogsfn, and he would not do
T. He would a soon 20 before his constituents with
vehundred dollar note III his hand aud promise give
as contribution III cons'ue!at'oh VI MS rec;
hon AS to vote to reduce his salary lie had
never yet found an instance where his constit-
ucnts found fault with AN honest vote OF his
given IN the Senate. and 10 vote Tor
duction OF his salary would be "A dishonest
vote. The people OF THIS country disapproved the
act increasing salaries but he had heard any
complaint OF he nal adjustment liking them So 0OO
Believing the present salary was right, he would not
vote 10 open the question agau. Senators and Repre-
bentatives had been deprived Of the ranking privilege
and we're now compelled to pay postage GU all their
letters and documents, which amounted to reduction
Of salary TO the exiehr OF $500 per annum least
Both houses OF Congress had passed bill reducing tho
salary OF the President ana he having vetoed IT 1t
not tor Congress thrust the measure before him
again appropriation bill Such acton would
not be treating a coordinate branch the
government with respect The proper way was to
take up me BIZ vetoed and pass It over the veto #
swo-thirds Of each House demanded the reduction.
Should the Senate reappolnt the same conorees they
would Il as al expression of the sense of tue
Senate that they should adhere to the position taken
by them.
THE PRESIDENTS SALARY.
Mr. BAYARp, (dern OF Del, member of tho Con- |
ference Committee also spoke OF the Efforts OF the
committee agree upon the bill and said he had |
sought IN the committee 10 elevate all the questions of
difference TO the high plane OF the good the
Try without reference TO party results he contributed
PR. Windom) favor OF the position taken by tho
committee, though he did not agree with the state.
made heretofore that the House OF Rci esenta
lives absolutely refused To make appropriations unless
he Seuatc would agree to It's propositions All the
sonlerence reports heretofore agreed upon
showed differently. he then spoke OF the
President, and said he did not believe it should be
reduced TIE bill to reduce his salary had passed both
houses OF Congress- though lac voted in tho negative
AMI 1t vetoed by the President IN the OF
hts constitutional power. and with entire dsnterested
ness lie (Mr. Bayard) would never consent by his
President
would permit the President invade any right or
duty OF nis Congress right TO put this bill re-
ducing his salary upon appropriation bil and thus
compel him to veto bill 10 carry Oh tho government
or swallow propostou already vetoed by MIN Con
gross had right by species OF moral duress make
tho President lessen hs constitutional prcrogatves
II lac the President OF the United States and This
bill came before him Under the same circumstances IN
which the House proposed TO send II to hun he would
vctou. Ia regard to the pay OF Senators and Repre-
scntatves IN Congress, he held that thus repre-
tentative government or the people 1t MAS intended
that that representation should not be affected tho
poverty or rlches OF the man representing them What
would lie the result OF abolshing entirely the pay OF
members OF Congress- IL would DO srorsighted aud
absurd economy. winch experience would wipe away
IN less than year Its rcsult would be bring
Classes INTO cgsation-those who rich and those
who were pennicss to grow rich On their legislation
and either would be hurul 10 the country IL would
be u sad day Tor this country when men 1T TO cgisate
upon the great questions presented were prevented
from coming Congress on account of their poverty
Il tho duly OF ,he people TO that talent ard
brains not Kept out OF ,aeir halls OF legislation
coSuarssxEy NOT rAip ENOUGH
He spoke OF the duties deyoving upon the members
OF Congress- and said It doubtful whether The pay
nxed for them did exclude men OF capacity and
industry from coming here, they found pron.
able remuneration IN their business pursuits and pro-
tess'Vns Members OF Congress many
CONF cied to maintain two homes while serving out
heir terms The expenses OF Their living were IN
sroased, aud he would frankly that without other
AID than that derived from his salary he would have
resign his position or give up The associations OF his
fanny. Home lie ami home influences shoud sur
round the who made the laws tor country lie
did not believe tLat senator or Representative with
average family could come here To Washington and
live through the long u, Congress that
Respectfully which the position demanded Tor
dollar less than The pay now received and there wero
but few members who did not have 10 draw IRON their
other means Ia addition TO their salaries, IN order
live respectfully
rng FRAMING rRlvlLsGE
He agreed with the senator IRON Minnesota, Mr.. /
Window as TO the abolition oi the ranking privilege
virtually reducing the salary OF members extent
Of $500 annun aud said IN the Parliament Great
Britain NO pay was allowed 10 members poor man
could take seat and the result was shat notng but
property represented that Parliament IL tie
Jay system should be established there the British
rovcrnm would be revolutouzed m les than one
rear. In this codntry there privileged class
aud a man not only had the right but was |
office lac should have tho means to live upon
REDUCTION oP inE TREASURY
In answer 10 questions OF Mr ConShng, Mr. Window
said the committees had virtually upon redac
OF the force IN the departments TO the extent
Of 7G5 employees. This reduction chiefly tell upon
Treasury Department where the humber ~ DO
missed was %9l The coDlerces the part vi the
senate believed that the treasury could set along
the reduction out Tue service would be embarrassed
Mr.. CoxxLING, trep.l OF y. Y, SAID. when remcm
oered Shc high rciVratory reputation OF the
the Treasury Department. ana the Efforts
economy made IN that department diiucuh Tor
him accept fact the statement that +el persons
could summary be dismissed. THIS reduction would
be nearly onehith OF tue entire force of the
Take the establishment OF A. T. stewart Nes York.
with It's 200 employees. suppose, alter the
death OF Nr. stewart. Ii had been stated that
out OF every nvc of those employees have been
Withdrawn and the business OF the House sti.l 20
undisturDcd, would have compelled every iistener
dsbelieve It or conclude that the business OF the
House had heretofore been conducted with a surplus
force he argued that the proposed reductions OF ,o5
N the depart would cripple the anu
inadvsAb.c Neither the managers OF the conference
the the senate iisel should
10 y reduction II the statement that sYl employees OF
The treasury could be dismissed without deiriment 20
Tie pubic could be true proved TO his nj
that the Treasury Department. had not only oceu per-
.i.sxs