The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1903-09-08
MoRE SALARY FOR NONSENSE.


The Sunday papers contained a Washington dispatch
foreshadowng effort the part of the next congress
to pass bill increasing the salary of members from
$4,000 to $500 per year 1t will cause kick 1t was
tried once before and protest made with such gen
eral ygor throughout country that the bill never be
came operative only that but it marked the end of
the congressional career of men who supported it 1t
was dubbed salary grab and very near over
turning the party then in power.
It all seems to be an issue of style. A great many
rich men have been elected to congress and great many
poor men also The rich men can spend much than
their salaries in being good fellows entertaining
lavishy held by the influence of such lavish
entertainment they are enabled for their
constituents it is said that some congressman
are so Indifferent the salary attached to the job that
they give all to their private secretaries.
fit is true that the rich get for his con-
stituents than the poor member simply because he is
that much more able to sshly then there is
something wrong something that ought TO be rghted
The halls congress ought be open to rich and poor
alike good government ought to it that the
constituents of the poor member not be dscrimn-
ated against simply their representative cannot
as good fellowship goes as the rich member.
What is the remedy? There are several One sug-
gests that only men of means should congress-
that no place poor Why would it not be as
logical say that only poor should be sent there?
Il all the members poor then there would be
competition for that influence which comes from the
extravagant Of wealth in entertainment and all the
members would be equality so far securing
something for their constituents is concerned with the
exception course of who would be able than
others by the mere superiority of brains And what
would this kind of superiority lead to? It
brains instead of more wealth in congress.
costs each congressional constituent in the United
States less than three year keep representa-
tive congress- That much, and if it cost him
year increase the salary $500 there
ought be much ground kick, but in asking
for he ought to better argument
present than that he cannot afford put much
style the other fellow congressman who is of the
right material will rise above the nonsense of style and
he has brains and industry he do well as his
Eich colleague, for his constituents
Some day brave congressman win defy the
social ethics that require representative senator to
giving favors those who seek to win them
By their extravaganza and prove that they be
Just easily and effectively by giving the time devoted
TO roous living serving their constituents by industry
and strict attention business the people
And at the time the people have a duty to per.
form in dealing with their representatives the good
people in constituency would the rescue
OF good congressman about election time they would
be of material help toward enabling him live in Wash
angton on the present salary given representative
He is compelled to give too much money secure his
szssa fund the people would take keener interest
In the business of selecting representative going
to the polls to vote for him. they save him thou
sand dollars and thus enable him to live in Wash
ington comfortably and little for rainy day be-
sides
The business of congressman is like any other bust
ness should be conducted business principles be-
tween the man who serves that capacity people
who employ him. If he does not get enough money to
pay him for his time and services there nothing to pre-
vent him from quitting andegving the people chance to
employ somebody else and if on the contrary the peo
pie are satisfied with their congressman OF senator they
should that he sent to Washington at as little ex
pense 10 his pocketbook as possible
IN any event congressman or any other representa-
tive Official should be given salary simply 10 main
tain sham responsibility or TO ape fellows who can af
ford to give elaborate entertainments to the Goldfish
crowd that usually haunts national capital
CHANGE. COMING OVER OLD MEXICO.
Writing for the Review of Reviews. Professor l. s