The Evening critic. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1881-1885, 1882-08-15
A QUESTION or PAY.
The Appropriation for the salary Of
the Presiding Onicer OF the senate
An Open Letter 60 Comptroller
InWFanee

2oi PESNMLyANiA AvEsur SOUTHEAST.
WASHINGTON, u. g.,
August 10, lisa.
Mr.. Comptfoil,r Laurence.
SIN: You will, doubtless, In the discharge
OF the duties imposed upon you by your once,
OF which the public arc aware you are nj.
ways punctlliously discriminating and aocn.
rate, have occasion TO notice tho bungiing and
ignorant manner In which tho provision tor
paying the presiding ofiiccrs Of the United
States Senate ut its session Just closed was
made, as developed in paragraph two C2D, page
seven ca OF tho act pub. Doc. No. 20D making
appropriations for legislative, executive and
judicial expenses OF tho Government, etc. Tho
paragraph alluded 10 reads M followsi
"For com ponsation Of tho Yice.rresidont o.
tho United States, eight thousand dollars"
Now, 1t Will appear evident 10 the most
casual observer that since the accession Of
vice-President Arthur 10 tho Presidency that
there has been no etch oniccr as Vice prosi-
dent OF tho United Statos, nor IL II probable
there will DO during tho remaining portion OF
the quadrennial torn which Will expire on the
9TH OF March, 1885. II Is n matter OF public
notorioty that at the last session OF the Senate
two Senators woro chosen on different days ~
Presidents pro temporo OF that BODY, and tho
inquiry naturally arises, which OF them u
entitled TO tho compensation granted ~ a Vice
President aa named In tho act already referred
TO, II entitled at all ? No doubt can exist but
tlut DOtn ScnutOrS arc entltlcu 10 compensation
us such presiding officers, nor can the dlspar.
ity in tho continuance OF service In the least
degree affcct their titles respectively 10 "A pro.
portionate share OF any appropriations mhdo
10 the Presidents pro tompore OF tho sonato. II
the incumbent President pro temporc OF
the Senate can constitutionally cialm
United States how has It happened
that his immediate predecessor, clothed with
simil lar powers and by the same authority, was
displaced at the same session, II constitution.
whose term OF ofllco Is nxod at four years by
thnt instrument
1t will not, it is believed, be controyortei by
any one for moment that 1t is possible 10
divest member OF the Sonato OF tho United
States OF single prorogatlvo as such by plac.
Ing him temporarily over that body as It's pre-.
siding officer. His compensation Is, or ought
to be, senatorially provided for II due consid-
Grafton be given to the relation he holds 10 the
Senate, for all the rights and privileges apper-
tanning TO his Senatorial character remain un.
abated In every particular. He Is still ne
Senator and not q Vice-Prcsident, which latter
once,i 1t Is suggested. lies In obcyanco till
awakened Into lifo and energy by some ono OF
the casualties enumerated In the Constitution
OF the United States.
In order to prevent doubt In the minds OF tho
accounting officers OF the Government and
confusion In the execution OF receipts on
the payment OF money out OF the Ma
tional Treasury, 1t would seem important
that critical accuracy should be observed In
the description OF all of1ices named In tho
statutes wherein by loose construction tho
Interchange OF title OF one ofllce for another Is
likely TO occur, although similarity OF duties
may be apparent In both. In tho case under
consideration, 1t may BIO asked How can pay
ments be receipted legally by n President pro
tempore OF the Senate whom he assumes 80
false a position as to write his name over tho
words Vice-President OF the United States or
how can payments be made TO and receipted
by President pro tempore when the law hns
made no appropriation for such an office?
Tho foregoing brief exposition OF tho subject,
II Is believed, will suflce TO attract tho atten-
tion OF the learned officer OF the Treasury In.
trusted with tho authority to determine tho
construction and uses which ought to bo
applied TO the enactments of Congress author
icing the drawing OF money from tho Treasury
of the United States.
/ am, sir, respectfully, etc.,
Ii. NELSON CHAPMAN.