The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1889-03-18
CONGRHSSNHN'S SALARIES
Living is SO Costly in Washing
ton that the Pay Of
THE SENATORS AND MEMBERS
Is Insufficient to support their Fami.
IIes".ConSequontly, Only Rich
Men can Go,.A Move for Re,
forming the Matter

WASHINGTON, D, G., March 18th
resignation Of Senator Chace upon tn
threshold of his second term Of six year
in the highest legislative body in tll
world, has aroused renewed interest Il
subject that is bound to receive earl,
and earnest consideration in Congress
Senator Chace, in private, gives as tb,
reason why he can no longer serve hi
State and country US a legislator, that III,
compensation Of a Senator was not SUI
acient to warrant him In longer neglect
ing bis business, lie has expressed III,
opinion that he is considerably poore
for his legislative experience than hi
would have been had he remained at the
helm Of his business ship, and directed
is course through the breakers OF the
pasl dozen or fifteen years. He Is one
Of the largest cotton manufacturers In
New England, and several times during
tbe recent tariff debate In the Senate
eyinced his familiarity with that subject
in its relations to the industry in which
he was interested.
The question Of increasing the com,
pensatiOn Of Congressman has been 70,
ceiying the earnest attention OF Senators,
especially OF late, aud there Is an over.
whSaaiIg sentiment among them In
layOr Of making the salary OF Congress,
men $1,000 year instead OF 81, 900 as II
at present. Members OF the House
while thoroughly In sympathy with the
Senator'S on this point, are not ready to
70 to the full length desired by them,
fearing q repetition Of the outbreak OF
censire, visited upon the Congress Of
1879 for It's action in the salary question.
But, 1t is argued by the advocates OF the
increased salary that what the people
we're Indignant about then was the
bacEpay grab feature, and that II the
increase were made TO date from the end
oiCOngress, no serious opposition would
W made tOit,
FRANK EXPRESSIONS.
There was frank expression OF views
BY the Senators on this topic in legisla.
tive sessions last week, in the discussion
that ensnel upon tho introduction Of q
resolution by Senator Teller authorizing
the Secretary Of the Senate to pay to
committee clerks serving nn a per diem
basis during the session OF the Senate,
and the clerks to Senators during tho
coming recess, the per diem allowed by
law. Mr., Teller, previous to presenting
the resolution, which was referred 10 the
Committee on Contingent Expenses,
said that in his experience Us chairman
ola committee, lie had been compelled
at times to employ two men to attend
tOthe correspondence devolving upon
him. lie believed Senators should have
unequal number Of clerks, because their
duties did not Cease with the adjourn.
ment Of the Senate. Senators Dawes,
Stewart, Harris and Gray endorsed the
sentiments expresSedby Mr.. Teller, but
Senator's Morrill,, Morgan and Hale
said i would be impossible to provide a
clerk for every Senator this year, inas.
much as the appropriations have all
heen made and In any event the cooper.
alton Of the House would 10 essential
to carrying out the proposition. In
concluding the debate Mr.. Platt said
MI. President, when the proper com.
miltee shall consider the matters which
have been spoken OF here this morning.
! think that committees ought TO 10
further; think 1t ought 10 consider the
question as to whether Senators are
fairly paid for the work which they do
and whether the salary OF q Senator oil
tue United States ought not to be raised.
! know It is charged that the
Senate Of the United States Is composed
largely Of rich men 10 whom the salary
Hno object, To some extent 1t may be
true that there are Senators here Ia
whom the salary is very little object, but
There are Senators here who have moth.
ing TO live upon except their salaries,
aud who are paid less therefor for ser.
vices which they render than they would
" sald IN any other walk or occupation
ol LIE for similar services, and very
much less. In addition to that Senators
nave great many expenses which theil
position entails, and the result Is thai
tGo,e Senators who have no income be.
mud their salaries are obliged 10 live ID
aPashed and very unpleasant way In
the city Of Washington.
WIZ II Is NECESSARY TO SEND RIcIr MEN
TO CONGRESS.
MI. Norrill-NIay l ask the Senator
Iron Connecticut II Ire Is not aware that
no man eau come here with his family
anu rent q decent house and live With
salary? ' " "''
NJ, Platt-I have been aware-and
taiaE perhaps may as well say II as any
Unsl because think ain as poor man
y 1aefe Is In the Senate-I have been
mos painfully aware Oithe inability Of 4
Taalot Of the United States to live Il
Isay Of Washington In anything like
sae HyIe and with anything like thu
comforts which we have at home, WI
ss.,, ulnauNuutagcJ winch We Ice
s.siy day Of our lives; and there ar,
IsallSH s here who will echo what l say
knowing II TO be true,
, SOT, | do not complain of for my
tll can remedy II for myself II
saGosc .a3 TO do SO. III do not choose Il
yau1Fe So.1 tte privaLion-tor l use tha
SS,..I,i-ShiCh a Senator Of the UniteI
S'ia S1Ss who Is compelled 10 live on hi
SAiy must endure, | can remedy tha
ssIEhlng my place and going HON
y Wy constituents, and allowing thet
SoSa %Sna somebody here, who has an In
Tg' Tag' which he can devote TO living /
tnS.lingtoh. | think that II Is QIlt
an st EtM .IM some plain words were spoke
oC.,,i. ~ wy subject, and have taken thI
TTNloh Th tOSpeak 10 them.n
iIeiS 3 are tiity committees OF the Ser
SSo.ll ~ lnu OIL these twenty.iour have CletL
'4'e''e on an annual stipend.
Ma 49, e