The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1889-03-19
OFFICIAL SALARIES.

nation that the compensation of a Sena-
tor is not sufficient to justify him in
longer neglecting business. He is large
manufacturer, and has business interests
that require and will repay attention.
This is not the case with all Senators,
and still less with all Representatives
but it will probably furnish occasion for
reviving the old question of an increase
of salaries. There neveryet was a legis-
lative body that would not increase the
pay of its members if it could and dared
to do so. The average Congressman or
legislators plan of economy always be-
gins somewhere else than in the body of
whichhe is a member. He is ever ready
to vote extra pay and big perquisites to
all the employees of the body, on the
ground that they are faithful and over
worked public servants" and is always
laundering after an increase for himself
on the same imaginary ground. Some
Congressman are faithful, and a few may
be overworked, but the majority do not
suffer in either direction.
The question of official salaries is one
of some Importance, and should be con-
sidered on its merits and settled on a
just basis. The salaries of Senators,
Representatives and government Off
Gals should be sufficient to secure and
fairly reward the services of first-rate
men, and yet not so large as to make
them source of wealth. They should
be adequate to the comic rtable and gen.
teel maintenance of a family in good
average style, with reasonable margin
beyond for those economically inclined,
but they should not be such as to justify
or encourage any official in aping the
style of mOneyed aristOcracy or trying
to keep up with the social dance led by
milliOnaires. In short, official salaries
should be fair to the verge of iberality,
but they should not be exorbitant nor
out of proportion to the services rem
dered by office holders, nor to what per-
sons of equal ability earn in private life.
1t has never been the policy of this gov
eminent to pay high salaries, and never
should be; it should pay enough to
secure the services of good men and to
support them like gentlemen, but not
like nabObs.
We believe that congressman, includ-
ing Senators and Representatives, are
better paid in proportion than some
other high officials of the government.
Their compensation has been increased
several times since the foundation of the
government, and considerably more in
proportion than that of judges and other
officials. The first law on the subject,
that of Sept. %, 1889, fixed the
compensation of Senators and Repre-
sentatives at $6per day and So for every
twenty miles of travel. In 1916 the
salaries were made $1,000 year "for
this and every future Congress-" That
law was retroactive, and was the first
that it was repealed the next year. In
1918 the compensation was fixed at So
per day and So for every twenty miles
of travel. In 1856 it was increased to
$4,000 a year and mileage. In 1866 it
was made $4,000 year, 20 cents mile
of travel to and from Washington, and
1926 ayear for stationery. In 1878 Con-
gress passed the celebrated salary
grab" law, increasing many salaries and
making their own 1880 year from the
beginning of Congress, two years back.
This created a storm OtpOpul censure,
and the next year the law was repealed,
except as to the President, Chief-justice
and few other officials. Thus, by sue
cessive acts, the compensation of Con-
gressmen has been increased from Sc
per day to So, 900 a. year and numerous per-
quisites. Mileage is large item, and
with many Western members amounts
to as much as the salary. The position
is worth, according to mileage, from
$4,000 to $4,000 a year, the most of
which is available in cash. 1t would
be preposterous to assert that most
members of Congress could make this
much in private life. There are
always a number of wealthy men in
Congress and another class who are en-
gagged in fairly profitable business of
some kind which they cannot afford to
neglect, but it is probably safe to say
that majority of the members of every
Congress do not sacrifice anything by
taking the Office, while very many could
not make half as much in any other way.
We are speaking of members of the
lower house. Senators receive the same
compensation, but their expenses are not
necessarily greater. Cabinet officers,
heads of departments, who have to live
in Washington the year round, and can
not engage in any other business, receive
only $4,000. The Chief-justice, who, as
head of the judiciary, should rank in
dignity with the President, receives only
S10,5O0 and the associate justices $4,000.
Circuit judges receive only $4,000, and
most of the district judges only $500.
A lawyer who is fit to be district judge
could easily earn three times that in his
profession. The judiciary is the poorest
paid branch of the government, but it
has the advantage of life-tenure and
a provision for retirement on pay
after certain period of serv-
ice and reaching certain age.
The fact is, there is no money in Office
holding under any circumstances. None
of the salaries afford more than COM