The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1906-12-19
SCARED c0AGRESSMEN
KILL SALARY INCREASE
THINK OF POLITICAL GRAVE
YARD AND SAY $4,000 is
ENOUGH.
MORE PAY FOR THE CABINET,
They, the Vice President and the
Speaker to Get $12,0O0-But Rep
resentatives Stay Hungry.

resentatives Stay Hungry.
Washington, Dec. 14.-"1t is i'm
possible to maintain an average fam
ily in Washington, with all expenses
considered, on $4,000 year. said
Representative Clark Of Florida in
the house this afternoon and every
man within sound Of his voice agreed
with him. Yet the assembled patriots
voted down the proposed increase of
congressmen's salaries to $500 by
vote Of 1SS to 1O7 on a roll call, after
first voting it down by ISL to 135 on
a rising vote.
The ghost Of the salary garb Of
1928 stalked omniously through the
hall, and scared the hungry solons
stiff. They had before them
the picture of the political
cemetery that was 9a built after
that bill passed, and while they
the political cemetery that was built
after that bill passed, and while they
looked longingly on the Littauer res
olution they voted it down. One after
another got up with watering mouth
and despairing voice and announced
that ne was irrevocabiy against any
such iniquitous proposition, and that
$4,000 was enough for him.
"Where are you going?" asked one
congressman who had voted for the
resolution, as another who had voted
against it went out.
"To get my shoes half soled and
stand off my landlady," responded the
patriot in hollow voice.
Most of the men who vote against
this resolution will do so hoping to
God it will pass said Clark in his
speech, and George Washington in
the cherry treA Incident was on "a
plane with Clark when he said that.
Before that sacrificing and pa
triotic aston the house decided to IA
vor the rise of the salaries Of the
vice president, the speaker, and the
members of the cabinet to $4,000 a
wear. The reason that was done was
that everybody knew the cost of liv-
ing in Washington was such that the
present salary of these officials doesn't
suffice for anything like their 1egiti-
mate, moderate expenses, yet the
shivering patriots who have not been
able to take their overcoats out and
who are wearing leaky rubbers on
cold days didn't dare to raise their
own.
'sWhy did you vote against this res
olution?" said Sherley to Underwood
in the corridor.
Because $4,000 is enough for any
congressman" replied Underwood.
cit would be if you kept it, but
how is it enough when it is taken
away from you?' inquired Sherley.
But it was a great debate. 1t re-
stored the traditions Of American
oratory. Not since Daniel Webster
spoke his piece about liberty and
union, one and inseparable, has any
thing like it been heard at the foot
of Pennsylvania avenue. Lamar Of
Florida carried off the honors Of the
day.
1.-The people of my district" cried
Lamar in thunder tones, planting one
foot far before the other and advanc-
ing his chest a couple Of inches, 'are
being robbed Of their earnings by the
railroads and this congress will not
relieve them While they are suffer
ing, shall I accept an increase in my
salary? MOI"
There is prosiac person from
Massachusetts, bearing the name Of
Sullivan who was not impressed by
this argument.
eve haven't all Of US married rich
wives" said Sullivan with a glance Of
painful severity that paused at inter-
walls in the sweep around the house.
"Mediocrity," he continued, "is safe
while the salary remains at its pres
ent figure If you raise it the cheap
men are likely to be displaced by bet
ter ones, for it will be then an object
to them to come here.
There are some men in this house,
who, judged by the value Of their SER
vices, are worth not s5,O00,>but s25,-
O0O" Here there was wild cheering.
"And there are Others" he added,
"who are not worth $1,000" A death
ly silence followed. Either the
salaries will be raised" continued