The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1876-01-28
made in regard to the pay OF professors

DaTfnss Tue eIlClenCy Oh Tue west rom
Academy. II he thought the bill woul,
have such an effect be would not adyocat
it. He showed that under the bill tn
pay and emoluments Of the Senior Pro
lessor would be $4,000 year, and that 0
the Junior Professor S4,l00, and h,
thought that that was fair and liberal
These professors had advantages owe
professors at other colleges In the fac
that in their old age they had the priyi
lege Of being retired on three-quarter
pay, The proposition stripped OF all ii
difficulties was whether $4,000 year wa
sufficient for 10th Senior Professors ant
400 for the Junior Professors. Pass
Ing on to the question OF the pay Of the
cadets lie showed that the increase made
in 1867 was only in the shape Of an al
lowance OF an additional ration, and ht
claimed in point OF fact that the cadet
had no interest in the matter inasmuch as
his entry pay went to his support, ant
none OF it ever went into his pocket, ex
cept that at the end Of his four years
term 500, being a saving OF 81 per month
was given to him for the purchase Of Q
military suit. There was not the slightest
feeling on the part Of the committee to in
tcrfere in any particular with these young
men. 1t would be far from him to EN-.
barrass in any way these young gentle.
men, who hoped to be and probably would
be OF as much service TO their country as
their predecessors in the academy. He
wanted to repel the idea that there had
been any purpose on the part OF the com.
mittee to embarrass the administration Of
the West Point Academy, which had
shed so much honor on the coun-
try. The committee had taken some
trouble to find out the allowance to
military cadets in France, Prussia and
England. At the Polytechnic School in
France the pay ran up high, but the ay-
erage pay Of military cadets in France
was $3.50. In Prussia it was less, the
maximum being not much above Sl2O,
and running down in some schools to
500. In England, so far as the commit
tee was informed, the pay was less than
$500.
Mr.. Hurlbut asked Mr.. Randall what
was the difference between the pay Of
common soldiers here and in those coun-
tries.
Mr.. Randall replied that he had no.
looked into that.
Mr.. Hurlbut suggested that the pay Of
common soldiers abroad was about one
fifth Of the pay OF common soldiers here.
Mr., McDougall asked Mr.. Randall as
to the difference in living here and
abroad.
Mr.. Randall admitted that it was much
higher here, but denied that the disparity
was propOrtionate 10 the disparity in
the pay.
Mr.. White avowcd himself rs not only
in favor Of reduction OF the pay Of the
cadets, but was also in favor Of reduc-
ton Of their number from 80 to 2l0, by
which $4,000 n year would be saved.
He would also cut down the strength OF
the army, and would reduce the number
Of the members OF Congress to 200, be-
lieving that that number could do the
business much more satisfactorily than
300 could.
Mr.. Holman (membcr OF the commit
tcc) admitted the reduction Of the pay Of
cadets seemed rather ungracious, and
therefore he was anxious that the real
facts should appear, which showed that
instead OF this reduction it was in fact a
large increase over what cadets had re-
ceived in times corresponding in point
Of expensiveness with the present day.
From 1920 to 1874 the allowance Of Gu
diets had been SIG month; from 1S45 to
1857, $50 n month; from 1857 to 1864,
which covers period Of great expensive
ness, $500 year. The proposition now
was simply TO 60 back TO the pay Of that
period, except that it was increased by
$40 year, and he had no doubt what
ever but that an allowance Of $540 year
would be found ample. Coming down to
the pay Of Professors, he argued that the
provisions OF the bill in respect to them
were extremely liberal. In conclusion,
he said that this was the first Of a series
Of bills to be reported by the Committee
on Appropriations, and he therefore ap-
pealed to the members not to let their
sympathies in favor Of West Point get
the better OF their judgment. II their
judgment governed them the bill would
pass substantially as reported, and il 1t
did then the people, who were now look"
ing TO Congress with an earnestness never
before known, would begin TO breathe
freely and indulge in hope.
Mr.. Daniord stated that the co-opera-
tion Of the Republican side Of the House
would be given in all needed reform, but
he believed that cutting down the pay OF
West Point cadets was retrenchment
uncalled for by any party or by any peo-
pie. He spoke Of the humble rank from
which, as a general thing, cadets came,
and argued that this reduction Of their
pay would operate to the disadvantage OF
the poorer young men.
Mr.. Banning-How can this bill ope-
rate against the poorer boys.
Mr.. Danford replied that small pay
would operate against the poor boy in re-.
gard to his outfit. He then proceeded to
argue against the reduction Of pay Of
Professors. ...
Mr.. BIount, member Of the Committee
on Appropriations, argued on the justiii-
cation OF the proposed reductions, and
called upon the members Of both sides,
but particularly on his own side, to stand
by the committee.
Mr.. Williams (of Georgia. said that
when the economists Of the House set
about cutting down expenses he was al
ways pleased TO hear their arguments
and TO add his vote to theirs, but he was
sorry that the pending proposition could
not obtain his sanction. He had thought
to himself how he would feel after having
voted 10 cut down the pittance allowed to
the West Point cadets, and whether or
not he could look Hn honest man in the
face, and he found that he should be
ashamed to commence the Forty-fOurth
Congress with reduction in that direc.
ton. Why had not the Committee on
Appropriations reported bill to cut
down the pay OF the members.
Mr.. Holman-ATy friend need not be
too anxious about that, lie shall have an
opportunity to vote on that proposition
we propose to have entertainments all
along the line.
Mr.. Wilson-That Is all right when
that bill comes in, l will support II readi-
ly il tho wish Of our friend on the other
side is that we must cut down the salary
OF every officer OF the Government, let ut
have chance 10 vote on 1t, and let every
man be responsible for his vote. find no
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