The Pensacola journal. (Pensacola, Fla.) 1898-1985, 1906-12-23
FAVORED RAISE
IN SALARIES
Speech of Hon. Frank Clark
In House of Represen-
tatives Upon the
Subject.

under debate in the national house or
representatives last week Frank Clark
of the Second Florida District deliv-
cred a strong speech in favor of it's
passage The following is a copy of
the speech delivered by the Florida
congressman:
the standpoint of poor member of
congress. Poverty is not crime, nor
ought it to be a deterrent to official
place under the government, The
time has come, Mr. Speaker, when men
are leaving the service OF their coun-
try, retiring to private life, solely
because the salary which they receive
in their official positions is inadequate
to maintain them, and they see in the
future years ahead poverty for their
children and want in their old age |
believe in dealing with this question
from the standpoint of right Are the
salaries inadequate? Are they com
mensurate with the station and the
duty to be performed? If they are
not, then they ought to be increased,
no matter ii others would come here
from our districts and gladly accept
the position for less pay.
I want to say that | come from a
district that know will stand by me
in this increase of salary. My people
are in favor of decent pay for these
positions. While it is true. as the gen
tleman from Illinois has said. that it is
high and honorable place, the govern
ment of the United States ought not
to require the services of any citizen
without pay commensurate to the
services performed. And. Mr.. Speaker.
believe there are not ten men on this
floor who, in private conversation. will
not say, "The salary is inadequate, the
increase is right" but, some say. 81
can not afford to vote for it." If the
time ever comes while l am member
of this house that | look upon any
proposition as being right, and yet |
am afraid to vote for it, | will tender
my resignation and go home. | intend,
az long as am here. to vote my con-
victions as my limited ability will give
me the right And you all know that
it is utterly impossible to maintain
a family in the city of Washington.
with all Of your other expenses, on
the present salary. Mr. Speaker, some
gentlemen leave their families at home
because they are not able to bring
theme here. would not come here for a
senatorship If had to remain for six
or seven months separated from the
wife of my bosom and the children of
my loins. The government does not
country, representing public sentiment
are demanding this increase. and they
are branding us with not having the
courage to vote for it, If it is right
Mr. Speaker, that this increase should
take effect in the congress to begin
on March 4, 1909, it is right that il
should take effect in the congress Ia
begin on March 4. 1907. And intend
| If this amendment of the gentleman
from Pennsylvania (Mr. Butler) is vot
ed down, to offer an amendment fixing
the taking effect of this law at the be
! ginning of the next session of con
gress. That is the time when it ought
to take effect. and the sentiment "a
can not vote for it because l am in
creasing my own salary is a mere
/ subterfuge, by which you can not de
ceive the American people. They
know that the vast majority of the
members OF this house consider that
the salary is inadequate and that il
ought to be increased You can moi
fool them. They know that you want
IT, while at the selfsanle moment theil
hearts are silently sending up prayers
to the good Lord that it may pass.
In my state, Mr.. Speaker. we have
a constitution adopted in 1885,. That
constitution provides for biennial ses
stons of the legislature. 1t provides
that members of the legislature shall
not receive more than So per day. anC
10 cents mile in going and return
ing from the capital. During the tween
ty-one years that that constitution has
| been in force-and every session fiXe:
its own Interpretations have beer
offered at So a day. 81 day. S. E
day, and not single legislature has
ever met that they did not wind uT
I by fixing it at the maximum-s6 a da,
and 10 cents mile. We increased
last year the salary of the governo,
from $3.50 to So 900.a built a man
sion for him TO live in. We have in
creased the salaries of the, Judges am
the state attorneys. and all down the
,]ine, because our people recognize tht
great increase in the cost of Twins
that has been brought about by thi:
ere Of marvellous prosperity.
1t Is true that seat in this great
legislative body is 8 great and distin
guished honor. we'll worthy tho ambi
tion of any citizen of the RepuhIic:
but If you fix the commentator Sc
low that q man of moderate means
can not, in Justice to his fnuilr. re
main here, you absolutely close the
door Of hope" to every poor man in
all the land. and you deliver the lew,
making mower into the hands of the
| rich and powerful. SO great is the
/ honor of being member of this
house that men have in the past, sac
| rificed their personal interests TO re-
main here: they are sacrificing their
personal interests today, and as lone
rs the laudabie ambition to serve ones
country finds lodement in the breast
of the American citizen. sacrifices to
reach here and to remain viii continue
to he made.
While I may he criticized from GER
tain quarters FOR tire rositinn pm
now takipo-ard. indeed 7 eySecf IT,