Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1906-12-29
MEMBERS AFRAID
TO VOTE INCREASE
Legislative, Executive and Ap-
preparation Bill viii Soon
Come Up.
Special Correspondence.

Special Correspondence.
Washington, d. c., Dec. 25.--shortly
after Congress reassembles the senate
will take up the Legislative, executive
and judicial appropriation bill. This is
the act which carries appropriations for
the salares Of nearly all executive de-
partments OF the government as we'll
as the pay OF members OF the house
and senate and OF the judiciary. When
the bill was up In the house last week
an attempt was made TO provide for an
Increase OF the compensation OF sena-
tors and members up to $500 year;
but the attempt failed. very largely be-
cause members were afraid to vote for
the increase, although II is doubtful II
there is really one in the entire body
who was not prayerfully anxious that
the amendment would go through. As
usual. many members who were afraid
to vote for their own interests are ex-
recting that the senate will restore the
appropriation when the measure Gomez
up In the upper house next week.
UP TO THE SENATE.
But 1t is more than likely shat instead
OF doing what the house really wants
TO have done, the senate will resent the
sctlon OF the lower branch In adding
sl,50O a year TO the compensation OF
at least half its own membership, Ten
or IL years ago the house concluded
that each member was entitled to
clerk. The senate has for great many
years allowed each member OF that
body the privilege of appointing
a clerk or private secretary The
names OF the employees are placed upon
the regular roll and they are paid.
just as other employees are paid, by the
disburslng officer. IL one dies or re-
signs, the salary Of course ceases. The
members OF the house are entitled TO
clerks or secretaries equally with the
senators. This fact dawned upon the
members of the house some ten years
ago, and they voted themselves $1,000
year each for clerical assistance,
with the provlso that the member must
certify that he had paid or had agreed
TO pay 500 during the preceding month
Tor such assistance This year the
house has increased the allowance Of
each member for clerical assistance to
$500 per annum, and has stricken
out the provision requiring certifica-
tion In other words, the house has
virtually increased the salaries OF eve
ry member who does his own clerical
work 10 $500 per annum, for IL Ia
very well known that large number
of members employ no secretary. Some
OF them claim 10 have paid over the
previous clerical allowance TO their
wives or daughters or TO some other
members OF their family. This was
simply TO ease their consciences, but
now this will be unnecessary, provided
OF course that the senate acquisces.
During tho last few days senator's
have very freely discussed this action
OF the house and the consensus Of
opinion seems to be that the clause
should be amended so as to provide
that every man who draws the pay
OF clerk or secretary should have his
name on the roll so that there can be
no chance for the petty frauds which
have been common in the past.
Members OF the house have openly ex-
pressed the opinion, on the other hand,
that the senate will restore the in
creased salary amendment. But the
senate grew sick OF raking chestnuts
out OF the fire for the house some years
age, Up till three years ago IL was the
annual custom to Insert IN some genera !
Eli paragraph TO the effect that no
liquors, wine or beer should he sold
within the Capitol building. This clause
would invariably be adopted by the
house and then members who voted fou
u would go over TO the senate and urge
their friends to knock II out. Finally
me senate gew tired OF this sort or
thlns and permitted this obnoxious
tarasraph to remain In a bill to which
Il was In no sense germane. The resuit
Is that there Is not one drop OF In