The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1906-12-21
House Defeats the Bill to
Boost Pay.
MEMBERS WERE QUITE TIMiD
Representative liiiauer OF New York
Led the Would, be Raid on the
Treasury.
From Mondays Daily.

| From Mondays Daily.
By vote of LOG to 1888 the national
house defeated the bill providing for an
| increase in the pay of its own members.
| The measure came up for vote ;Sat,lr
day afternoon and the scene created in
| the chamber was one lOng-tO- be remela-
| bered-The bill called for an increase
of salary from $1,000 to 81 800 per year.
Flying the black flag, the raiders, led
| bv Representative Littauer of New
York, started out to tap the treasury to
the extent of about million and half
| dollars in salary raises.
They started out with whoop and
after winning the two preliminary skir
mishes in raising the salaries of the
speaker and vice president and the nine
members of the cabinet to $4,000 each,
were driven back without securing az
of the good fortune for members of co..
gress.
Called Timid Ones Pikers.
''Pikers, towards, tin horns and hypo-
| critics. were some of the terms applied
to those who, thinking $4,000 a year was
better than nothing, voted against The
grab.
As long as there were no roll calls
members generally showed a disposition
to vote away the surplus of the treas
ury in salary raises; but the moment
there was 4 possibility of being put on
record the treasury raiders found their
followers drifting away from them.
The increased cost in living was the
reason assigned by those who wanted
more salary. 1t was said that the price
of living had increased forty per cent,
while it had been forty years since con-
gressional salaries had been adjust'l.
Even those who opposed the Increase
admitted that they could not live com
fortably here on their salary and secret
" hoped that it would go through.
No difficulty was encountered in in
creasing the pay of the vice president
and speaker, who have been getting
$4,000 and who will now get $4,000.
Then the cabinet officers were raised,
only half-hearted objection being
made. as everybody thought the congress
sional salaries were to be jumped to
81 800. .. s.
Were Up Against 1t.
1t was while the legislative, executive
and judicial appropriation bill was I'M
der consideration that the representa-
tves were brought face to face with the
salary raise proposition. The vote .liat
killed the amendment increasing sal
aries of members of congress, was log
to 1873, but the other propositions cas-
red by an overwhelming majority.
In anticipation of the question of in
creasing salaries coming before the house
there was an exceedingly large MEM
bership present and the debate on the
} several amendments for increase was
followed with marked interest.
After disposing of the salary question
the house passed the legislative, execu-
tive and judicial appropriation bill and
adjourned at 3:45 p. IN.
: Mr.. Littauer. who had given notice
that he would offer the amendments to
the legislative bill necessary to accom-
! plish the proposed increase, Immediately
secured the floor after the previous ques-
| ton had been ordered on the bill and
presented an amendment raising the sal
aries of the vice president and the
, speaker of the house to $4,000 per an
| mum each. He spoke of the dignity of
the position of speaker of the house
and said that everybody recognized that
the duties were arduOus and that the
~
/ Opposed the Increase.
Mr. Underwood of Alabama said he
, was opposed to any further increase of
salaries along the line of legislative and
! executive offices. He further said he be-
, leved 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 the sal
| ,l0, IS
so that poor man might come to con-
3 gress and represent his constituents. He
said he would not contend that a con-
! gresham could live in Washington and
, keep pace with modern society.
, Mr. Fitzgerald of New York said he
would vote for the increase even if the
l price he paid was political oblivion. He
{ called attention to the salary paid the
mayor of New York and also to the pay
of the controller of that city, and insist
ed that the vice president and the
speaker should be paid salaries common
surate with the dignity of their offices
After o...er speeches the amendment
was adopted by vote of PA to 81, the
opposition failing to secure votes enough
/ to call ayes and noes.
Mr.. Littauer then introduced another
amendment as follows:
IN and after March 4, 1907. the com
pensation of heads of executive depart
ments, who are members of the presi-
J dents cabinet, shall be at the rate OF
$4,000 per annum each.''
Littauer Gives the High Sign.
During the course of his remarks on
this amendment Mr.. Littauer held up a
large picture of president of base
| ball association whose salary had been
increased from $4,000 to $4,000 year
, and cOntrasted with the salaries paid
members of the cabinet The amend
| ment was opposed by Mr.. Mann of Hi
nois. but was adopted by vote of 204
to 60.
, The amendment which so closely con-
cerned the members themselves follow
| ed Immediately after the amendment
raising the salaries of members of the
cabinet.
Mr.. Littauer. who retires to private
i life with the close of the present con-
t gress, offered provision raising the
e salaries of senators and members of con.
gress, delegates and the resident COM
| missioner from Porto Rico to 81 800
!, and on agreement the time for IL in
1 crease to begin was fixed on March 4
: 1907
Mr.. Boutelle of Illinois said he OPP