The Washington times., 1894-04-17
CLOAK ROOM AND GALLERY.


Representative Bailey Of Texas, was the
first member to come out squarely against
payment of members when absent, and is on
record himself as refusing to take pay in such
case where he himself was concerned.
1t happehed back in the Fifty-second Con-
gress. Mr. Bailey went off to Virginia to make
a speech, and on his return told the Sergeant
alarms that in compliance with statute
passed back in 1866 he ought to have one
days pay deducted. This the Sergeant-at-
Arms refused to do, and suggested that II Mr..
Bailey wanted to he could take the money
and cover it back into the Treasury.
But the Texan statesman was not thus to be
crossed, and after some remonstrance insisted
that the law be complied with. 1t was done,
but the newspapers were told about 1t the
next day, much to the disgust OF Mr. Bailey.
This puts the Texan representative in very
enyiable condition now that the very same
question is raised, and his friends are con-
graduating Kim on the stand he made then.
The law deducting pay from members salaries
for absence was passed by good majority in
the Senate, where it was pushed by Senator
Butler, the father OF the present South Caro-
lima Senator. In the House 1t had harder
pull. and only got through by a majority OF
one.
Members Of Congress have not always been
paid as generously as they are to-day. In
the early days of the country, the pay was
per diem during actual session and up to 1916
was not more than IS a day. In 1916 1t was
voted for the first time as an annual salary,
and was then placed at 81 500, but the opposi-
ton to ii was rs great as that raised by the
"back-salary grab" and the feeling against it
compelled the repeal of the law the following
year.
1t was in 1856 that the annual system was
again put into effect and the amount fixed on
$4,000. The present allowance of $4,000 was
amended in 1866, requiring deductions for
absence. owing to the fact that during the
war and Immediately thereafter many mem-
bers who were lawyers. spent large part OF
their time at their houses devoting them
selves to their law practice. The rule has
been seldom enforced.
Several members of Congress of bucolic
turn of mind enjoyed the sight of a rural
scene on the Capitol grounds yesterday,
where the lawns were being moved and
yielded a good crop of grass. There is little
evidence that the season has advanced as one
glances casually about. but first rate load of
fresh grass was the result of the agricultural
proceedings on the north lawn yesterday.
The product is perquisite of the darkey
reapers.
Dr. English. member of Congress from New
Jersey, is bitterly opposed to the bill now be-
fore the legislature of his state providing for
instruction in the public schools on the in
fiuence of alcohol on the human system.
Although great many states have adopted
such legislation, DR.. English declares that it
is used as means of forming false propa-
ganda in the shape of books published by the
American Temperance Union, which tell only
a part of the truth BY mixing truth and
falsehood, DR.. English says. they do more
harm than good, and the truth, he claims,
can be taught in a few hours If not in few
minutes by parents. This is sensible dis
posal OF the question.
The fondness Of women for attending fune-
rails was well evidenced yesterday by the un-
usually large attendance in the ladies' gal
leries in comparison with that in the mems.
This strange and morbid fascination of
womankind for anything connected with
death is something which has never been sat
isfactorily explained.
Representative Bailey, of Texas, tells a
good story about Henry Clay, which comes to
him from the late ex-senator Dever, of Ken
tucky. his wife's father.
Henry Clay, it will be remembered, was sent
to the Senate to complete an unfinished term
before he was elected to the House. When
the time for the election came Clay went back
to Kentucky. and fearing that in the then
state OF politics he might not get his cleo
ton, being opposed by the able John Pope,
who was a one-armed member, took special
pains to speak to everyone whom he thought
could aid his cause, asking him to exert all
the personal influence possible.
Among others he spoke to his barber, and
suggested that as he was an old supporter
and had voted for him before he try to get
others to do the same. This worthy with
smile said: "Yes, Mr. Clay; have voted for
you before and am a good friend OF yours,
but this time I'm going to vote for Mr.. Pope.
because he can only get one hand into the
Treasury and you can get two"