The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1896-05-09
House Members Vote Them
selves 800 a Month.
FOR A CLERKS SALARY
During the Time Congress is
Not in Session.
BY ALMOST STRICT PARTY VOTE
This New Luxury the Republicans
Have Voted Themselves Involves
Expenditure of S2l6, 900
Per Annun.

Washington, May 8.-The members
of the House to-day voted themselves
500 per month for clerk hire during
the recesses of Congress.
Under a resolution passed by the Fif-
ty-Second Congress the members of
subsequent Congresses received 500
per month for clerk hire during the
sessions. To-day the proposition to
extend this allowance to members dur
ing the recesses of Congress came up
in the form of the Hartman resolu-
ton, adversely reported from the COM
mittee on Accounts.
1t occasioned some very sharp de-
bate. 1t had the support of Mr.. Cam
non, the Chairman of the Appropria-
tion committee and was opposed by Mr..
Dingley, the floor leader of the ma
jority. Mr.. Aldrich, (Rep., Ill.), said
it would involve an additional expen-
diture of $4,000 per annum. The res
olution was advocated by Mr.. Cannon,
Mr.. Morse, (Rep., Mass.), Mr.. Hep
burn, (Rep., Ia.), Mr.. Boutelle, (Rep.,
Me.) and Mr.. Henderson, (Rep., la.),
and opposed by Mr.. Dockery, (Dem.,
MOI, Mr.. Pitney, rep, N. j., Mr..
Tracey, (Rep., No., Mr.. Wheeler,
Dem, Ala.), Mr.. Skinner, Pop, n. C.),
and Mr.. Talbert, (Dem., S. Co.
The resolution was amended so as
to accept members and chairman of
committees having annual clerks and
as amended was passed 130 to 1O8.
An analysis of the vote shows that
ia Republicans, Is Democrats and one
silverite voted for it and 50 Republic
cans, So Democrats and one Populist
voted against it.
Mr.. Dockery, Dem, MOI, in OPP
posing the resolution said at both
ends of the Capitol, the word "Econo-
nv was on every body's lips, but
everybody wanted it to begin next
door. At no place could it be saved
more easily than in the rejection OF
this proposition.
Haven't we $270,0oo,o0O in the
Treasury" asked Mr.. Northway, tRe-
publiean.)
Certainly" replied Mr. Dockery,
s.but it is a borrowed surplus"
Didn't you refuse to vote additional
reyenue2"
II did; but had / known that the
House intended to pile appropriations
to 5000, GOO I might have voted for
it,"
He called attention to the manner
in which the resolution was drawn
Tt gave the money TO the members, not
the clerks, and recalled newspaper in-
timations that members put the money
in their pockets.
Mr. skinner Pop, N. Co., in opposing
the resolution, said he had from the
first been in full sympathy with the
Speakers desire to keep down appro-
priations.
IF" said he, ''he (tfe Speaker
should fail in his high ambition, the
sober second thought OF the people
wiH applaud him for applying the
pruning knife while the treasury is in
dire straits
On motion of Mr.. Stahl (Rep., Pal,
a resolution was passed requesting the
PRESIDENT to inform the House what, If
anything, had been done to carry out
the provision Of last years Sundry Civil
bill directing him to negotiate with the
government of Great Britain for the
abrogation or modification Of the exist
ing regulations of that government
which require the slaughter of cattle
imported from the United States at the
port of entry.
At t4:30 p. m, the House took a recess
until O'Clock, the evening session to
be devoted to the consideration Of
private pension bills.