Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1876-07-07
forty.Fourth Congress- First Session



Washington, July 6.
Mr. Randall of Penn, from the conference com
mittee on the legislative. executive and Judicial
bill reported that the committee had been unable
to agree. He sent up to the clerks DESK and had
read, the proposition submitted by the Senate
conferences, which was to the effect that mas
much as anything like an intelligent adjustment
of the salaries Of employees in the executive de-
partments must necessarily involve a critical and
iaborous examination, the Senate should recede
from its amendments in regard to salaries and
should remit the reservation and adjustment to
Joint committee of two Senators and two Repre-
seutatiyes and that any changes made by Congress
on the report of that committee shall take effect
from the lst Of July, 1876, aud that the persons
who shall be affected thereby and who shall con-
tinue in service shall be deemed willing to accept
such terms. The Senate, however, could not,
with regard to its constitutional rights and duties
AS a co-ordi mate branch of the legislative branch,
assent TO the existing laws, which 1t believed TO be
perncious. As the price for securing the Deces
sarv appropriations to carry on the government
under existing laws is on the same principle, the
Senate does not demand that the House should
vote to appropriate money WHICH the House feels
il its duty to refuse. 1t thus leaves to each house
b,olute independence in regard to aocedng or
not acceding to the principles of legislation as
they consider unwise.
The Senate conferees further submit that the
Senate will recede from its anne ndment in regard
to the reduction Of clerical force, and will agree
to an amendment that VIII reduce the force one
half OF the extent proposed.
Mr. Randall of Penn, went on to state that the
practical effect Of the proposition of the Senate
conterees was to leave the question open for con-
troversy by their employees and the government,
and to claims for the difference between the
amount of salary as fixed by law and that to be
paid under Ms bill. The House conferees, how
ever had proposed to recommend as substitute
for the second section of the bill, making the sal
aries as fixed in the bill permanent, a provision
| - hall hn f,,ll tn,t &C.
wear; unless Congress shall otherwise provide.
aud provision for a joint committee to enquire
into the requisite number OF proper salaries OF
the employees Of the several executive depart
me nts, with view to due and proper acJust-
ment of the same; such committee to sit during
the recess and report to both houses the first
Monday of December next. The reduction of
force that would be effected by the House bill
would be about 1909. The Senate had acceded
to a reduction of 800, and proposed to accede
to further reduction of 600. lie thought, how
ever, as the Senate had given way ON the subject
of the compensation OF paymasters there was no
reason why it should not also give way on this
subject.
the COMPENSATION of some 100 postm isters, who
were receiving over $500, had been reduced one
third, the compensation OF some 300 posmasters,
receiving less than $500, had been Increased, and
that quently instead of reduction there had
been large Increase OF the expenditures.
Mr.. Randall in conclusion argued that as there
was no branch of industry in which the compen-
saton of labor not being reduced it was not
unreasonable that reduction of 10 per cent.
should be made in the compensation Of govern
ment officials.
Mr. Foster of Ohio, the republican member of
the conference committee, combatted the position
taken by the Senate conferees. lie remarked
that as to the proposed reduction of 10 per cent
in the pay of Senators and members, there was a
tacit agreement that the reduction should be
made, and that the aggregate saving in the
reduction of clerical salaries was only $250,00O.