Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, 1906-12-15
AGAINST THE SALARY GRAB
Lower House of Congress Refuses to Vote
More Pay to Members.
RAISE FOR S SPEAKER AND VICE PRESIDENT
These officials Will Receive $4,000
Each and Cabinet Members
S12,OOO-Debnte Precedes
Action.

WASHINGTON, Dec. 1.-THE house of
representatives was brought face to face
today with the proposition to increase the
salaries OF its own members senators, the
Woe president the speaker Of the house and
members Of the presidents cabinet while
the legislative, executive and judicial APP
preparation bill was under consideration
and while 1t passed favOrably on the prop
osition as applied to other officials, refused
to make the order for members of either
house of congress.
Mr.. Littauer of New York, who had
given notice that he would offer the amend
ments to the legislative bill necessary to
accomplish the proposed increase immedi-
ately secured the floor after the previous
question had been ordered en- the bill and
presented an amendment raising the sal
aries of the vice president and the speaker
of the house TO $4,000 per annum each. He
spoke of the dignity of the position Of the
! speaker Of the house and said everybody
/ recognized that the duties were a.duous
and the pay unequal to the position.
Asks More Pay for Clerks.
/ Mr.. Underwood (Ala.) said he was OPP
posed to any further increase of salaries
along the line OF legislation and legislative
offices. lie further said he believed the
salaries of the minor clerks of the govern
/ ment should be Increased on account Of the
! increased cost of living. His contention was
that salaries are paid to members Of con-
ggess so that a poor man might come to
congress and represent his constituents. He
said he would not contend that congress
man could live in Washington and keep
pace with modern society.
Mr. Fitzgerald IN. " said he would vote
/ for the Increase aver, ~ tho prgco no "a mo
political Oblivion. He called attention to
the salary paid the mayor Of New York
and also to the pay Of the comptroller Of
that city, and insisted that the vice presi-
dent and the speaker should be paid sal
, aries commensurate with the dignity Of
their Offices.
After other speeches the amendment was
adopted by a vote Of PA to 81. the opposi-
tion falling to secure votes enough to call
the ayes and noes.
Mr.. Lttauer then introduced another
amendment fixing the salaries Of cabinet
officers at $4,000 per ananum after March T.
1907.
During the course Of his remarks on this
amendment Mr.. Lttauer held up a large
picture of a president Of a base ball asso-
citation, whose salary had been increa sed
from $1,000 to $4,000 a year and contra ted
cabinet. The amendment was opposed by
Mr.. Mann Qll.), but was adopted by a vote
OF 2O4 to co.
Proposition Voted Down.
Mr., Littauer. who Tetres to private life
with the close OF the present congress, then
offered a provision raising the salaries OF
senators and members Of congress, dele
gates and the resident commissioner OF
Porto Rico TO $3.50 and on agreement the
time for the increase to begin was fixed
on March 4, 1893.
Mr.. Bouteil UlI) said he was opposed "a
the proposition 70 increase salaries OF mem
bers, but was glad to vote 10 increase the
compensation Of the speaker. vice presi-
dent and members OF the cabinet
Representative Clark (Fla) was accorded
an ovation when he announced that he de,
sired 10 discuss the question from the
standpoint OF a poor man He called atten
ton TO the fact that men are leaving the
service OF the country and returning tC
private life, solely because the salary which