The Wheeling daily register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1864-1878, 1876-03-25

to what it was prior TO 1860, $4,000 than
the poor pay of various employees OF the
government, who are only receiving now
the same as they received 30 years ago,
He would not touch those old established
salaries. The proposed reductions in
the State Department was not
retrenchment, but disorganization.
The fact was that the Committee on Ap-
propristlons, in reporting this bill, struck
down the force Of the departments with
out the approval and consent ofths de-
partments, and in some instances with
out consulting the departments.
At the close of Mr.. Kasson's speech
the committee proceeded to consider the
bill in detail.
The item for the compensation OF Sem
ators, in the first item in the bill, having
been read, which fixes the salary at
$4,000 Mr. Baker, Of Indiana moved 70
reduce it to $1,000. Rejected.
Mr.. Foster moved reduced it to 81 700
and intimated. that the Democratic ma
jority, if it wanted to be consistent
should vote for the reduction TO 81, 700.
Mr.. Randsll-(interrupting). Why did
you not propose that amount in commit
tee instead Of resisting the reduction Of
the paltry ten per oent we have made?
Mr.. Foster-I am not to be cstechized
on the floor.
Mr.. Rsndsll-(persistently) I want
to show the country and House
the incon sistency, the duplicity, OF the
gentleman from Ohio in coming in here
and Offering an amendment to reduce
the salaries of the members to 81, 700,
while he resisted in the committee re-
ducton of 500.
Mr.. Foster-I have good answer to
that attack.
Mr., Randall have made no attack.
Mr.. Foster-fou have charged me
with duplicity and inconsistency.
Mr.. Randall-There is no sincerity in
your amendment, and you do not expect
it to be adopted.
Mr.. Foster-Try me aud see.
Mr.. Rsndall-The Committee on APP
preparations has fixed the compensation
of members where l think the people
will be satisfied.
Mr.. Foster asserted that he offered the
amendment in good faith, as lie did every
thing. There was no demagoguery
about him, and the gentlemen all knew
it. There was no consistency in this bill
unless the salaries of members were re-
duced to 81, 700, rs that would be re.
duction of ten per cent. on the
salaries as fixed when the salaries
OF the clerks in the departments
we're fixed He regretted ex
ceedingly that the chairman of the
committee Randall had made this as
sault on him so early in the debate;
that gentleman's own consistency could
BIZ called into question more than that Of
any other member Of the house Up
to year ago that gentleman had been
an advocate of high salaries and his
marvellous conversion had taken place
since that time. He gave him credit for
an honest conversion, but he did not
want him or any other gentleman 10
deter him from an honest dischsge of his
duties by charges Of duplicity.
Mr. Bsysrd introduced tho amend
ment proposed by Mr.. Cooper, as fol-
lows:
And if the two Houses do not agree as
to which return shall be counted then
that vote shall be counted which the
House Of Representatives voting BY
States in the manner provided by the
Constitution, when an election devolves
ON the House, shall decide TO be 8 true
and valid return.
After debate the question was taken
on the amendment offered by Mr..
Bavard, and was lost. Yeas Is; nays 30
Mr. Baker, Of Indiana, said he hac
pledged to his constituents to use hB
voice and vote in the direction Of re-
trenchment, economy and reform, ane
he intended with all honesty and gooc
faith to redeem that pledge. The Demo
cratic majority reminded him, in thf
bill, of Artemus Ward, who was willin,
to sacrifice on the altar of his country al
his wife's relatives. Laughter.
Mr.. White, after fling at the child
clerk of the House and at Mr.. Randall, fG
having once alluded to him as a miserable
man. declared hsmself in favor o. all r..
ductions that were ne esssry for the pr
per and economical administration 4
the government. The Democratic mi.
ioritv in the House reminded him of tie
Jew peddler, who accounted for selling
his goods at ten per cent below cost, on tt'
ground that the goods belonged TO ricl
uncle of his whom be wanted To break u.
Mr.. Chittenden declared himself s
earnestly and conscientously in favor {
every possible economy, because no mn
could fortel how the government was
meet its expenses. He warned te
| members that if thew reduced the salaris
Of the government officials below te
point which would sustain them respect
ably, and not reduce their own salaries .
the same point, the country wout
howl in judgment at this inconsistenC.
If members of Congress came here
make money, then a compensation II
$1,000 would not be too much; but I
they came to serve their country $500
was enough TO cover their expenses Dr
the time they were required to sped
! here.
Mr.. Hoar trusted that the House I'd
not propose to present the pitiiul speo-
c,e that was presented in the two 1t
Congresses, of wrsnglug about i,s on
paw. If there was anything IN the pot
ical history Of the country tha. he void
give a good deal 10 have struck Quit
was the debate on that subject in the 1t
two Congresses. He would vie
against any change in the salary Il
members. First, because il was n thig
which ought not TO be stirred up for D
liticsl purposes, and second, becauses
thought, on The whole, it was as mar
right as it could be got. be entirely y
spected and honored the position Of te
gentleman from Pennsylvania, Rands
when be said that he yield
his individual judgment in a mstr
where he was personally concerned, tone
general sentiment of the people, an6e
sympathized with him very much wen
on being asked what he had done uh
with the money, he replied it was me
Of the business Of the questioner. A ny
good answer.
Mr. Randall explained that the difthl-
" which the committee had met as
that if other salaries were reduced andot