Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1876-03-22
Our Washington Letter.

Our Washington Letter.
WASHINGTON, d. c., March 18th 1915.
Mssrs Editors The prevailing topic Of iutc.-
est Just now In Washington, is the report Of the
House committee on appropriations Although
there has been as yet but little discussion Of the
bill reported, by the House, thas been the subject
Of much debate outside, and deep interest is felt
in the result Of the action Of Congress in the mat
ter The Wholesale reduction in the
SALARIES or GOVERNMENT ofricrns,
as proposed by the committee, meets with uni,er-
sal condemnation from the press and people, both
here at the Capital and outside, and should it find
favor in the House, ought to be, as it doubtless
will be, met with y stern refusal TO concur in the
Senate, The caucus held by the Republican Sen
ators on yesterday came to the conclusion that
the sweeping reductions proposed Of ten per cent
on salaie, and twenty per cent in the force,
would seriously impair the efficiency ot the civil
service Wherever and whenever such reductions
can be- made the Republicans in the Senate will
vote for thom but II b. believed that the Republic
can party has not become 50 dobased ia public es-
timation as TO require any such action TO enable
It to merit the continued confidence Of the people
The reorganization Of the government depart
ments as at present, went into operation in 1853
n,aor uha, WINS tpo,yn as tho e IInut,r hin "
pi,, IN ,ha, limo tharo was no classification and
,he s,la,iss RANGED fr,n nine hundred tn fifteen
hundred dollars. With few exceptions, Congress
had given the matter much attention without re-
suit, and at the second session OF the Ihrty-sec-
ond Congress the whole subject WAS submitted 10
the Senate committee ON finance Of which the
Hon. Il. NJ 4. Hunter was chairman. who re.
ported the present plan. The democratic Con
grcss with Mr. Hunter at the head voted the
present salaries, which were then paid in gold.
while the cost Of living was not half what IL h To-
day Since that time the Day Of every person Ina
the service Of the government. at home and abroad
in civil and military life has been increased To
correspond with the depreciation Of the cnrrenc,
and the high prices OF living. exce,t that OF th,
clerks in the departments tho reduction
Of force. il is well known that il cannot be- don,
and the business Of the denartmcnts 90 on Their,
/. no economy in the measure prono.el Tor IA,
vrorl must lie done and sooper an later tho .,,,.
| eminent must nav forit Neither /, trpe eeonon,
intended Inv Tho democratic Itop.e. tl.cy msrel,
attempt Ills with the hone of proyinr to the conn
| try that thew are the CHAMPIONS Of rotrcn,hmen
] and reform They care not whether the MUDtf
Of government are cloreod or not II tine uteteitY
Of mart, are snbserycd
In comparison To the present salaries of ..o,
eminent officers and clerks. let ii. loob for d mo
ment at
TIM PAY or coNaGr~HfN
The annual pay Of members Of Congle-s was in
/ creased sNty-siN and two-thrds per cent by th
act Of 1856. Democrats and Republicans vote
alike in favor Of the increase, and ono OF tie aT
guments used in debate was that "member %
Congress could not live Washington on 900
The appropriations committee now reconmrn,
that members pay be reduced 10 go. lea,in
stil an increase over thcirpa a. it stood preyiou
to the Thirty ninth Congress at the rate Of fit
per cent. The members live in Washington onl
half Of the year, with am income accru.ng iroi
business or investments at home, in addition +
their salary AS member such legislation as TIA
proposed by the committee looks, in the cye
the public as II The pay Of the clerks Is 10 Do ed
down fer the purpose " creating a fund froi
which TO pay to members the increase Of fifty p,
cent, as it stood previous to 1865 1t is base
upon unjust principles Of discrimination, and vi
not bring the desred political benefit to any part,
In" same arguments may ue Ad'ahfedas IT, III
P'lNy o' reducing
rnE PRESIDENT stfAm
Iweniy-scVon Senator'S were absent OF decline
% vote on the bill reducing the Presidents ,alar