The Lamar register., 1889-04-13
washington Letter.
rom our Correspondent
WAsnINGToN, April Il. Z

Since the resignation of Senator
Chase the question whether members
OF Congress ought to have their pay
increased, has been topic of much
discussion in Congressional circles.
1t is urged in behalf of such change
that man like Mr.. Chase cannot af-
ford to come to Congress. But sup
pose the salary of a Senator were
raised to ten thousand dollars; as has
been proposed: could Mr. Chase any
better afford to come to Washington?
He is a mill-owner and an active
business man. When he leaves
home his business suffers; and, if the
session lasts more than few weeks,
ten thousand dollars are not gong
to compensate him for his trouble
and the loss, direct and indirect,
which falls upon HIM. The full cost
of his excursion into politics cannot
be estimated. Any man of first-rate
capacity-any one really filing the
measure OF the statesman who figured
In the minds of the trainers of the
Constitution as a maker of laws for
the republic-must be content to
take part of his compensation in
public life In the honor of being
chosen by his fellow-citizens to ad-
minister their affairs. The larger
salary, after we pass the point of
what is necessary for the support of
q prudent man and his family in re-
spectacle style in Washington, the
more candidate will feel justified
in spending on his canvass; so that,
unless carefully guarded, an increase
might be merely an incentive to
looser use of money in elections.
Whatever conclusion may be reached
by Congress, when i comes together
-si;ssl ssss1,,r Ga this salary question, it Is
to be hoped that the golden mean
will be sought, and stipend hxed
which shall neither be SO small as to
bar men out who are poor only in
pocket, nor so large as to enable men
of inferior grade TO buy their way in
more easily than now, by giving
them a large prospective estate to
mortgage.
One of the most notable figures
among those who came here to wit
ness the Inauguration was Gen.
George NJ. Prentiss, of Bethany, Mo.
During the mighty war of tho Re
bellion Gen. Prentiss was a proml-
nent factor IN the struggle on the
Union side, and was more than once
breveted for bravery on the field,
reaching the grade of major general.
Since the war his run of luck has
not been of the best, and the cause
of the Generals visit here, besides
seeing the Inauguration, was to ask
for the modest favor of postmaster at
Bethany, Mo, which pays only 5000
Il year. He went to Gen. Carr, then
prominently spoken of as Assistant
Postmaster General, stated his case,
and was told by Carr that it would
never be in his powar to give him
the place. He advised Gen. Prentiss
to go and see Secretary Noble, of
the Interior Department, who would
probably do something for him.
Gen. Prentiss did so and Secretary
Noble said: "Gen. Prentiss, if | am
obliged to turn every official out of
my Department and the Department
itself inside out, | will do something
for YOU" Last week found Secre-
tary Noble true to his word. A com
mission was made out appointing
Gen. Prentiss q land inspector at
$4,000 a year. There is happiness in
Bethany, and Gen. Prentiss and his
relatives are now eating feast of
continuous Joy.
There is quaint little house stand
ing under the east portico of the
White House, where all may see it
as the pass along from the Treasury
side to the northern porto cochere.
II has stood there during the four
wears of MIR. Cleveland's administers
ton, almost pathetic in its lonesome
and forlorn condition, packed In
among boxes and bales and garden
ers' tools of all sorts. 1t once stood
s,+ mo, tho uraeDSward under an