Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1892-09-24
TRAVELS AND SESSIONS
Of the Commission showing.

Total number ofdays 2O0s, or5ii years.
Average lime each year. o Is months,
with two sessions necessary 10 complete
the work of this year.
This showing exhibits as much time
spent In the performance OF its duties
~ IL spent by members Of Congress IN
theite, II not more; aud yet the Com
mission was attacked ON this score by
the honorable chairman OF the House
committee on Territories in a speech
delivered In the House on the 9th Of
July last. He seems 10 have fallen
Into the error Of taking ms true, state
mentH such as have been quoted above.
The Congregational Record reports him
as saying:
"rheso gentlemen who have composed
this Commission during the last ton
years hsvo found their duties 20 con.
genial, have found n iunkoting trip TO
Salt Lake City once Soar 80 pleasant
that they have held on with death.likn
tonncity year afur year, and haya on an
appropriation hill some ynnfs since had
their salaries increased from 5000 TO
5000 per aunum, and their contingent
expenditures have more than cQualod
the sum paid ihom AS salary,
Sir, the members OF this Commission
are paid 5000 per annum and travelling
expenses, for going once each year 10
Utah, whore thoy spend two or throo
months on tour OF recreation and
pleasure. Tho remainder OF the time
thoY arc ut liberty TO spend attheir homes
In tho several Sates whore thoy reside
Attending To their private business affairs.
Again, Oh the ith dny OF July, he
said; eve pay to five men $1,000 per
year and contingent expenses amount.
ing 10 $4,000 per annum to 10 10 Utah
once In twelve months"
II h presumed the honorable gentle.
man collected his supposed facts from
the statements made before his COM
mittee, hut, unfortunately, these state.
ments contained "a vast amount OF mis-
information and very little that can be
recognized an truth.
The Commission was authorized by
act OF Congress, approved March %,
les2, and the members salaries were
tixed by that act at 5000 per m.
num- Before appointing the Com
mission President Arthur requested
Congress TO increase the salaries to
$4,000 on tho ground that he could pro-
cure n better class OF men TO serve than
nj the low rate OF compensation fixed.
NNhkiNrr ebhiIil'h WIN TVS ftlhtft
before any appointments were made,
40 II is not true, as charged, that the
Commission, by lobbying, had their
salaries Increased upon on appropria-
ton bill.
II is regretted that the honorable
gentleman was misled by the misstate.
ments and perverslons OF fact CON
tained IN the statements made before
his committee.
That he had opportunity 10 hear tho
other eide OF the question, aud especial.
ly TO learn that the "lunketing trip
once year" was myth of the imay-
inalion, Is evidenced by the following
letter sent To him turing the time the
statements were being made and before
the hearings were concluded.
A letter rom Commissioner Robert
son Ia annexed to the above;
THE DELEGATE FROM UTAH,
IN a speech delivered In Congress July
ian, also attacked tho Commi-slon,
aud, IN support OF his statements, glvea |
what purpOrts 70 be letters from two !
prominent "Gentlles," zone nf whom |
was formerly a member OF this llo,r,
and who has lived In Utah over