The Montgomery advertiser., 1906-12-15
NO RAISE FOR CON5RESSMEN
 -. Hov Turns Down the Proposition. INCREASE FOR THE SPEAKER Vice President and Cabinet Mem
 bers to Get More. Representatives Decide That They and the Senator. Are Getting Enough
 for the Service Rendered
 the Country.
INCREASE FOR THE SPEAKER

Washington. Dec 1.-The House of Representatives today refused to in- crease the salaries of it's own members and Senators. To the Vice-President, the Speaker of the House and members of the Presidents cabinet substantial increases were voted.
 Mir. Lirtauer, of New York. presented the amendments to the legislative ap- propriatioh bill necessary to accomplish the proposed increase, He first intro- duced an amendment raising the sal- aries of the Vice President and the Speaker of the House to $12.000 each He spoke of the dignity of the Speaker of the House, and said that everybody recognized that the duties are arduous and that the pay is unequal to the posi- ton. ~
 Mir. Underwood, of Alabama, said that he was opposed to any further in- crease of salaries in legislative and ex- ecutive offices. He furtner said he be- lieved the salaries of the minor clerks of the government should be increased on account of the increased cost of liv- ing. His contention was that salaries are fair to members of Congress so that poor man might come to Con- gregs and represent his constituents. He said he would not contend that a Congressman could live in Washington and keep pace with modern society.
 Mir. Fitzgerald, of New York, said he would vote for the increase even If the price he paid was political obliy- ion. He called attention totthe salary paid the Mayor of New York and also to the pay of the comptroller of that city, and insisted that the Vice-Presi- dent and the Speaker should be given salaries commensurate with the dignity of their offices.
 After other speeches the amendment was adopted, 214 to 5t, the opposition failing to secure votes enough to call the ayes and nays. Mir. Littauer then Introduced another amendment as fol- lows:
 ''on and after March {. 1907. the com pensation of heads of executive depart nlents who are members of the Presi- dents cabinet shall be at the rate oi 2,00e per annum each.
 Han yaAnson FHwmrea.
 During his remarks on this amend. meRt, MT. Littaner held up picture of President of a baseball association whose salary had been increased from SIG, 900 to S15,000 year. ana contrast cd this with the salaries paid members of the cabinet.
 The amendment was opposed by MT. Ham, of Illinois, but was adopted, gOA to SO. 70 amendment which so closely concerned the members them selves followed immediately.
 Mir Littauer who retires to private life with the close of the present Con- gress, offered a provision raising the salaries of senators and members of Congress, delegates and the resident commissioner from Porto Rico, to $7,- 500 beginning March 1, 1909.
 Representative Clark, of sFlorida, was accorded an ovation when he an uounced that he desired to discuss the question from the standpoint of poor man. He called attention 10 the fact that men are leaving the government service solely because the salary in of- fcial positions are inadequate.
 v believe" he said, there are not ten men on this floor who, in private conversation, will not say The salary ia inadeduate; the increase is right but some say I cannot afford to vote or tt"
 For Gods sake let us answer the great daily papers who are challenging our courage to go upon the record oS our votes before all the country" was his concluding appeal.
 MT. Lamar. of Florida, opposed the amendment as did several others.
 Representative Sullivan of Massa- chusetts, who retires with this Con gress. in supporting the amendment, said that it would be opposed largely on the principle of self-preservation. which is the first law of nature. They understand" he said, that small com pensation is the usual defense. some- times the only protection of mediocrlty. As salaries increase mediocrity dtmin- ishes. for better men are attFacted 10 the public service"
 Others who spoke. in favor of the amendment were Representatives Gros- venor of Ohio. and Sims and Gaines of Tennessee. The amendment was de- feated by a vote of 1O6 to 1SS.