The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1906-12-18
The Born J~efYersonian ON Salaries.

The Hon. WILLIAM BAILEY LAMAR,
Representative in Congress Of the Third
Florida district, has more true Jeffer-
sonian local color than any other Jeffer-
sonian now on public view. The weird
sisters smiled on his birth and arranged
that he should have it in jefferson county;
and they ordained that he should live
in Monticello. He is a Jeffersonian by
origin, situation, instinct and conviction.
The views Of such a statesman on the
wages Of Congress are beyond price.
Mr.. LAMAR puffs the jade Fortune away.
He tells the House that he doesn't belong
to the rich class He is proud to come
from an agricultural district and he
can't make more than 5000 a year at
the law in Monticello. He divides all
Congress into three parts:
This House is constituted practically OF three
classes Of membership-one very rich. who do not
need any raise OF salaries at all; another clasx who
represent railway and other corporations in add
ton to being members Of rhis House. and do not
need any raise Of salary AZ all: and the other class
are those who cannot make moro than 5000 Q year
In the communities in which they i've
Mr.. LAMAR would not be very rich II
he could; and any corporation that sought
to hire him would be swept away by
the hurricane Of his tropical. redheaded
Jefersonian temperament. Five thou
sand a year is enough for him. II is all
the Jeffersonians Of his district would
stand for, robbed and beggared al they
are by the accursed corporations:
To-day the lumber men, the vegetable men.
tobacco men, fruit men and farmers generally in
the district l represent are pressed and injured by
cxtortonste railway rates and charges. And this
House OF Representatives, neither Democrats nor
Republicans. has not passed an adequate law 70
protect the interests OF the people who sent mo
here, and I will not cast a vote 20 raise either my
own salary or the salary OF members OF this House
collectively when this House has declined 10 pass
q fair. Just and adequate statute that will protect
the interests of which I speak.
Mr.. Speaker. some Of the railways In my dis
trict are capitalized At two, three and four times
their value. Every article shipped out OF my
county, every article shipped out Of my district.
every article shipped into my county. every article
shipped into my district. is ~unjustLy taxed by the
gross. fraudulent device Of DISQUALIFICATION OF
the railroads. Whether $500 per annum be an
adequate compensation for MEMBERS or not. I place
one serious objection TO II upon the ground that
this House. without regard 10 party. did not. when
Il had an opportunity to do so, pass a fair. just and
adequate law that will protect the people whom l
have the honor here TO represent"
DR.. JOHN WESLEY GAINES is never
weary Of lamenting the expressions
heaped upon the tobacco growers of
Tennessee, yet he dares to ask for more
pay. The born Jeffersonian is OF sterner
stuff. The born Jeffersonian knows, and
has high authority for believing, that
members OF Congress have what is
technically known as a pudding:
Let me state what a distin guished member OF
this House said to me once. Several members
were standing around and talking about the sacr-
noes men had to make to come to Congress and
speaking OF the inadequscy OF the pay OF Congress.
men.
"'weI.' said this gentleman. . LAMAR. do you
believe these Pickvtckian %stortes,' I said; Well.
1 do not know. I an inclined to doubt o OF
them Said he: Il do not believe a word. I do
not know how It is with other men. but this is the
softest snap / have ever struck IN my life"
1t is to be regretted that the born JEFF
fersonian did not disclose the distin-
guished members name. Who is the
Catonian economist that has revived the
plain living and frugal spending which
enabled our lamented friend JERRY
SIMPSON to lay up most of his salary
and to retire from Washington with a
modest nest egg2 In this Haunting,
extravagant time, which has just been
reprehended by an Associate Justice of
the Supreme Court, a Congressman who
regards his job as the -~softest of snaps
is an example Of righteousness and
austerity, a candle that shines as a good
deed in a naughty world. There should
be no bushei over such a light. Who Is
the distinguished member Is it LAMAR,
modestly rejecting his own virtue upon
an imaginary third person?