New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1889-03-19
coNGRESShENs SALARIES.

and straightforward in saying what he dld re-
gardng the inadequacy OF the salaries OIL Oon-
oressmen. II was confession which many
men would have shrunk from, out Oh 1875
pride, but the Connecticut Senator rose ABOVE
this, and sal bluntly that the salary pala 10
members of Congress was not one upon "hion
a moor man could live in the reasonable COM
fort to which he was entitled 1t is PLAIN nom
the response these remarks have eVokeu' oocn
in Washington and elsewhere, tnat propooi-
ton 10 increase the salaries OF congressman I"
a living figure would find many supporters.
In fact it might almost be safe to predict thao
public opinion would readily approve the
change, provided it should be made clear thao
the action of the members voting the increase
was in obedience to sincere conVlcnon tha'
the salary was too low, rather than selhsn
desire to increase their own incomes 1hS
could be accomplished by withholding the IN
crease from the Congress which shouio pass
the bill, and directing that 1t should Degln ohiy
with the succeeding Congress. This Wohu
nresent a complete contrast to the back-pay
grab. which aroused storm OF popular mag
nation, because after having made contract
to serve the people at certain salary the mem
bers on the last day voted themselves an IN
crease for the whole period. This was noo
extravaganza so much as bad faith, and any
repetition of the offence, which is hardly con-
oeiyable would have the same sequel
There are strong arguments for an increase
aside from the cost of living. No one who has
had any opportunities for observing Washing-
ton life can have failed to remark that mem
bers of Congress are put TO great deal oil eH-
pense and labor, because so many demands
are made upon them which are really unrea-
sonable, and yet which 1t is not in their power
TO refuse. Instead of being able to devote him.
self to the serious work of legislation, the
member must spend large part OF his tme
and strength and some Of his salary in beng
errand-boy, clerk and ofice-broker to his
constituents. If one of them wishes informa-
ton from Government bureau he adopts the
roundabout method of addressing his member
or Senator, forgetting that it will not require
many such applications daily to make serious
drain upon his time. The member writes to
the bureau. If he is rich and can afford to hire
two or three private secretaries at his own exc
pense, as Senators from some OF the larger
States are obliged to do, the letter goes FORWARD
promptly. If not, it must await his convenience.
In due time the answer comes, which must be
sent with another letter to the constituent, who
thus wastes several days Of his own time, be-
sides considerable of that OF his representative,
for the lack of sufficient thoughtfulness or in
tellgence to address his inquiries to the proper
quarter.
If it is the actual ignorance of the constit-
uent that is at fault, it is only fair that the
Congressman should have a larger salary, or
should be furnished with sufficient clerical as
sistance to enable him to meet these demands
The problem is much more serious than many
suppose, especially to Senators. The Repre-
sentative is subject only to the exactions OF the
inhabitants of a single district, but every man
in State feels that he is the constituent OF the
Senators, and is at liberty to call upon them
for service of any sort. The result is that they
are likely to be overburdened with work, much
of which they ought not to be asked to do Mt
ALL and almost all of which involves some ex-
pense. We could name one Senator, not now
living, a man Of great distinction and equal
probity, whose last years were harassed and
embittered by the effort to make both ends
meet, because he was almost without private
means, and whose postage bill alone was so
large Judu ~ hdS oSAANuo OaSASh" AZ WIZ
anxietes Of his life.
1t was suggested long ago as a remedy for
this state Of things that the various States
should maintain agents at Washington, whose
duty it should be to run the errands and fur
nish the information now required of members
of Congress. Probably more satisfactory
solution would be to pay Congressman such
salaries that they could have sufficient clerical
aid, besides being better able to discharge
social obligations. The proposition that SEN
ators should be paid more than Representatives
might be justified by the greater demands made
upon the former, but 1t would hardly meet
with favor in the Lower House. One impor-
tant argument in favor of change must not
be .overlooked-that the alleged plutocratic
tendency Of our politics will certainly not be
checked so long as salaries are so low that poor
men feel they cannot afford to go to Congress