People's party paper. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1891-1898, 1892-07-29
40. Section so provides as

Salaries allowed under the preceding
section shall be computed and paid
in all cases, for a period of not less thar
three months from the commencement
of the Congress.
1t may be well questioned, Mr.
Speaker, whether there is any au-
thority for the passage of such an act
but surely there is no authority fol
extending payment beyond the three
months which by this act is guaran-
teed to the member elect at the com.
mencement of his term.
Again, section 81 provides
Whenever vacancy occurs in either
House of Congress, by death or other
wise, of any Member or Delegate cleo
ted or appointed thereto after the COM
mencement of the Congress to which
he has been elected or appointed, the
person elected or appointed to fill it
shall be compensated and paid from the
time that the compensation of his pre-
decessOr ceased.
So / submit to the House that the
proposition the gentleman from Iowa
has presented is not founded on good
law or sound reason. 1t is not just
to the taxpayers of the country it is
not just to ourselves as the admins
traitors of a trust fund. And | sub
nit further, sir, that it is a sound prin-
ciple of law and justice which no man
will deny or question that an officer
shall not be paid when he is render
ing no service, any more than that
there shall be two salaries paid at the
same time out of the public Treasury
for the same work.
The resolution which has been
read, and which | shall submit at the
proper time, is for the purpose of en-
grating upon this bill declaration
of what we ought to do, and all that
we can properly do under the law.
1t allows the payment of every dol
lar that the law permits, and beyond
that we have no right to go unless
We want to 60 before the country with
the Iitiable record of being brave
enough to refuse this compensation
to che of our subOrdinates, and timid
enough-mean enough, you may say
not to apply the same rule when
we come to deal with one of our col
leagues on this floor, or his represen-
tatives.
Mr.. Sayers. VIII the gentleman
allow me to ask him question?
Mr.. Watson. Certainly.
Mr.. Sayers. Are we to understand
the gentleman from Georgia to give
his opinion that the law now author
ICES the payment of three months
sa'ary to deceased members
Mr.. Watson. No, sir. If the de-
ceased member served less than three
months, that is to say, if he held the
place less than three months after his
term commenced, the law allows his
legal representatives three months
pay. In other words, he shall be
guaranteed as much as three months
salary from his term. But if he shall
have received as much as three
months pay before his death, moth
ing more shall be paid upon his death.
The compensation of his successor is
supposed to commence at that time.
| very much doubt whether Congress
had the right to pass such an act, but
if that act does not authorize the
continuing pay TO the extent of fill
ing out the three months salary, then
there is not a line of law anywhere
authorizing the payment of dollar
beyond the time that the member has
actually served.
now yield three minutes to the
gentleman from Tennessee Mr.. Snod-
grass
The amendment passed, 100 to 90,
and the money will doubtless be APP
p1iated when the conference is con-
GUIDED.