New-York tribune., 1906-12-15
mTES INCREASED PAY.
TT NOT FOR CONGRESS-.
1oase Would Raise Salaries of Vice-
President, Speaker and Cabinet.
rFron The Tribune Bureau. ]

TFrom The Tribune Bureaa.l
darlington. Dec. 1.-THE House voted to-
- increase the salaries Of the Speaker. the
a~ president and the members OF the Cabi-
n,t paradoxically, went on record against
~- the compensation OF fits own members
.se members Of the Senate. The action was
@ n connection with amendments TO the
ssative. Executive and Judicial Appropria-
N nig which was passed this afternoon after
- under consideration for three days.
-,s.,ssion OF the question OF salaries for Con-
..s-aen and government officials excited an
.-rsI degree Of interest among the members
s,.-ee number OF whom took advantage OF the
~,-r1,nity 10 give their views on the difficulty
%raving living expenses at the capital with the
'.rnsnsation Of $1,000 now allowed TO Con-
rsssrnen-
900 By Representative Littauer and adopted
..ssv the saIaries( OF the Speaker, the yice
--.si6eut and the members of the Cabinet ara
-sised from $500. which is now allowed in
.,h case 10 $1,000 q year, this Increase To go
,,.o effect on March next Immediately after
.hs vote OF these amendments Mr. Idttauer Of
.s-ed one providing for raising the salaries OF
-ns-bers of both houses from 5000 to $500
:, he paid out of the Legislative, Executive ana
rrsic,ai appropriation AS soon as this WAS
-.ss there was g noticeable stir among the
-rs-nbers on the floor and a long debate fol-
,owed. on call OF the roll the vote stood 1Os'
!, favor ot the amendment TO 1SS against
legislators who advocate increasing their SAL
s-ee have not lost all hope OF action being
raksn when the Legislative bill reaches the
Senate. The reason which prevented a number
ot members from going on record in favor of in
c-easing their OWL salaries-the position it
slect,on-wil not prevail IN the Senate and il is
:hought probable that the provision viii be in
cOrporated n the legislative bill in the upper
house
When Nj. L.ttauer presented the amendment
raising the salaries OF the vtce-President and
he Speaker 10 $4,000 a year, he spoke Of the
dignity or the place Of the Speaker, and said
hat everybody recognized that the duties were
a-duous and the pay was insufficient. Mr.
Underwood, OF Alabama. said that he was op-
posed 20 any further increase Of salaries along
the line OF legislative and executive Offices He
believed the salaries OF the minor clerks OF the
government should be Increased on account OF
he increased cost Of living. His contention was
hat salaries are paid TO members Of Congress
50 that poor man might come TO Congress and
represent his constituents. He said he would
not contend that Congressman could I've IN
Washington ecd keep pace with modern
society.
IL. Fitzgerald. OF New York. said he would
vote for the increase. even II the price he paid
was political oblivion He called attention TO
the salaries OF the Mayor and Controller OF
New Yo-k, and insisted that the vice-President
and the Speaker should receive salaries COM
msnsura5e with the dignity Of their Offices.
After other speeches the amendment was
adopted by q vote OF 214 70 51, the opposition
falling 70 obtain votes enough 70 call the yeas
and nays.
NJ. Lit-auer then introduced another amend
ment, as follows:
On and after March I, 1907, the compensa-
ton OF heads OF executive departments who are
members of the Presidents Cabinet shall be at
The rate OF $1,000 per annum each
In MS remarks on this amendment Mr.. Lit
auer held Up large picturs OF q president OF
8 baseball association whose salary had been
increased from $4,000 70 $4,000 a year. and
contrasted that with the salaries Of members
Of the Cabinet
The amendment was opposed by Mr.. Mann. Of
Illinois but was adopted by vote of 2o4 TO 60
The amendment so closely concerning the
members themselves followed Immediately after
The amendment raising the salaries Of members
Of the Cabinet.
Nh. Lrtauer, who retires 10 private life with
the close CT the present Congress. offered
The provision raising the sa!aTies Of Senators
and members OF Congress, Delegates and the
resident commissioner from Porto Rico to
si'Js' and on agreement the time fixed upon
Tor the increase 10 begin was March i, 1907.
Nj BoUIe-L Of Illinois, said he was opposed
. the proposition 10 increase salaries of mem
oers. but was glad 10 vote 10 increase the COM
peAsatloQ OF the Speaker, Nice-President and
members Of the Cabinet
Mr. Clark, OF Florida, was Cheered when he
announced that he desired 10 discuss the cues
non from the point OF view Of poor man He
called attention 10 the fact that men are leaving
Tate life, solely because the salary they receive
IA ONCE ls inadequate. I believe" he said,
There are not men on this floor who in pri-
Fate conversation Will not say, The salary is
Inadequate, the increase is right but some say
cannot afford 10 vote for it For Gods sake,
4et US answer the great daily papers who are
cha-4englDg our courage 70 90 upon the record
W our votes before all the country, was his
concluding appeal
Mr- Lamar. OF Florida. opposed the amend
nenr- as dic Representatives Gronna, Of North
Dakgtzs Lacey Of Iowa. and Webber, OF OHIO.
representative Sullivan, Of Massachusetts.
VINO retires with this Congress, in supporting
NE amendment said that he acted largely on
ne principle Of preservation, which is the
hrst law n nature. They understand he
salc that small compensation is the usual
defence sometimes the only protection OF
meciocrtty. AS salaries increase mediocrity
olIlnishes, for better men are attracted TO the
public service"
Others who spoke in favor OF the amendment
were Representatives. Grosvenor, OF Ohio, and
Ems and Gaines, of Tennessee