Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, 1906-12-18
rATRIorIc sELF-sAcRIFIon.
why ConEressmen Turned Down the
salary Raise.


admirable modesty. refrains from editorial
comment on the moving spectacle Of con-
/ grCssmen rejecting an advance In salary.
I The words Of each commentator are
/ printed with the usual precision, a record
OF unblemished patriotism to edify future
critics OF salary grabs. The atmosphere
which gives a fitting background to the
picture tand the tone which lent charm to
the uttered words are omitted. These fea-
! lures officially overlooked are supplied by
some Washington correspondents who wit
messed the awful struggle between fear
and desire in the house Of representa- lives
/ on Friday December Il, 1896. A few para
graphs viii brighten the picture
1T is impossible to maintain an average
! family In Washington, with all expenses
considered. on $500 year" said Repre-
sentative Clark Of Florida, and every man
who heard him agreed with him.
The ghost Of the salary grab OF 1929
stalked omnously through the hall. and
scared the hungry solons stin. They had
| before them the picture of the political
cemetery that they was built after that bill
passed, and while they looked longingly on
the Littauer resolution they voted Il down.
! One after another got up with watering
mouth and despairing voice and announced
that he was irrevocably against any such
ubiquitous proposition, and that 5000 was
enough for him
Where are you going?" asked one con-
gresham who had voted for the resolu-
ton, as another who had voted against it
went out
ITO get my shoes half soled and stand
on my landlady." responded the patriot
in a hollow voice
Most of the men who vote against this
resolution Will do uo hOpinu 10 Cd xyfIt
pass" said Clark in his speech and
George Washington and the cherry tree in
oident was on plane with Clark when he
said that.
John Wesley Gaines, who was courageous
enough to raise his voice in favor OF the
increase, needed not the low chanting by
! those scoffers who stood near him Of this
new version of an old refrain
John Wesley Gaines, John Wesley Gaines,
Ihou monumental pile OF brains,
| Come in, John Wesley, for IL rains.
| John Wesley Gaines, John Wesley Gaines.
The Tennessee congressman did not place
upon grounds OF necessity and right and
! justice his insstence that his salary should
! be Increased He based his argument upon
| the self-effacing policy that as George
| Washington once put $4,000 of government
money into his own pocket after saying he
did not want 1t no humble man like John
| Wesley Gaines had the right to refuse an
Increase of salary and thus seem to place
| himself upon higher plane than the first
president.
Am I better than the father of our
| country" cried Mr.. Gaines. and not one of
that listening thronE dared TO answer with
the truth.
! why did you vote against this resolu-
! tion?' said Sherley to Underwood in the
corridor.
Because 5000 is enough for any con-
gressman." replied Underwood
ut would be II you kept It, but how is
it enough when It is taken away from
you?" inquired Sherley.
But 1t was a great debate. It restored
the traditions of American oratory. Not
since Daniel Webster spoke his piece about
liberty and union, one and inseparable, has
anything like 1t been heard at the foot of
Pennsylvania avenue. Lamar of Florida
carried OF the honors of the day.
THE people Of my district" cried Lamar
In thunder tones, planting one foot far
before the other and advancing his chest
a couple OF inches, fare being robbed OF
their earnings by the railroads and this
congress will not relieve them. While they
are suffering shall accept an increase in
my salary? MOI"
I'VE haven't all OF us married rich
wives" said Sullivan of Massachusetts.
with glance of painful severity that
paused at intervals in it's sweep around the
house "Mediocrity," ne continued. as safe
while the salary remains at it's present
figure. II you raise It the cheap men are
likely to be displaced by better ones for It
Will be then an object to them to come
here
There are some men in this house who
judged by the value of their services are
worth not 5000. but $4,000" Here there
was wild cheering. And there are others -
he added. who arc not worth $1,000" A
deathly silence followed. Either the sal
aries will be raised" continued Sullivan,
"o- else two classes Of men will come to
Washington-ths idle rich and the shifty
ward politician with no visible means Of
support. The idle rich will barrcade them
selves behind their pocketbooks and the
professional politicians live by their wits Z"
Sims OF Tennessee wanted to have the
salaries raised at once, Instead of having
It put off to some future congress- I'VE
know that prices are high in Washington
now" said Sims, but we don't know what
they will be then. BY 1903 the democratic
party will have destroyed all the trusts
and living will be cheap"
The cost of living in Washington was the
burning question with Sims. ct have a
letter here from Senator Tillmar," he
cried, Fin which he says he will starve to
death unless his salary is raised Who
wants 20 see Senator Tillman starve?"
Then the rising vote was taken and tho
proposition beaten by twenty-six majority.
On the roll call. where a congressman has
TO go on record and his eagle-eyed constit-
uents can see how he voted the majority
rose to eighty-one, After It was all over
one Of the most leather-lunged of the pa
triots who had voted against the resolution
on the ground that $500 was enough for
any man, went out and bought himself a
safety razor and a box Of shoe backing
; and bade farewell to his barber and his
bootblack.
'The landlord has just put my rent up. -
: he said, and the BARRIERS have raised the
, price Of shaves to 25 cents. Twill be n
fearful winter"
i THE LAST INDIAN WAR SCARE.