The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1906-12-29
SENATE STANDS
FOR INCREASE
WEAKENED ARE WILLING


Especial tn Tho Times Dispatch
WAShlNGItN December ga Gonl
many tmportart questions await tho rec
converting OF Congress. but none OF them
is Of such absorbing interest 90 tine national
lawmakers as The proposed increase ln
salaris OF Senator'S and Representatives.
il is believed. hopefully believed. in the
House thai the Senate will restore thc
extra s2.5'o year. which the House
cut out of the legislative. executive and
judicial appropriation bii.
The matter is OF more moment OF
course. 20 House members than Co Seua-
tors. because. as a rule. Senators are men
of independent means. while 90 great
majority Of Representative have little
ASIDE from their salaries After years
OF cloak-room agitation. it was believed
the House this year had gotten its cour-
ose mp to the point of voting its mem
hcrs tho desired increase. but at the last
moment it was found impossible 90 rally
majority 90 the standard. An ATTEMPT
was made TO get Democratic caucus
action favorable to the increase. ana when
the plan fell through large number ~
Republicans. who were supposed 10 be
sohdiy for the project suddenly discov-
cred that So" year was adequate COM
pensaton.
IL IS not -~Ievod. however. that any or
these "degerters." as they are called by
their holder colleagues would raise any
serious objection should the Senate re-
store the increase Certainly. it is not
believed many of them would GO To- the
point OK refusing to accept the extra
$500
il is understood Senators generally
favor a $500 salary for members OF
Congress. but are strongly opposed To- an
indirect increase which the House voted
itself. In the BILL as it passed the House.
the allowance for clerk hire for RDnre-
sentauvcs was increased from $500 to
SlopV year and instead of providing
that the money should Doe paid actually
10 clerks To was given outright as an ali
ioWance 20 members. II ls TO this prom
osition that Senator's object. They declare
that Il is an attempt on tho part OF the
House TO Increase their own salaries bv
indireouon, while they lacked the courage
directly TO vote the increase There is To
special objection To giving the clerks an
extra $500 a year. but Senators are de-
termined it shall NOT go into the pockets
OF thrifty Representatives.
The selection OF Il successor TO Senator
Thomas G. Platt is agitating the minds
OF politicians just now. That Senator
ilatt contemplated early resignation has
been repeatedly reported. and as often
denied. but now IL is declared withnosi-
uVeness and a large showing OF authority
tnat MS resignation Will be rendered
Governor Hughes early in the new year.
Washington is inclined 10 the belief
| that President Roosevelt will dictate tho
selection Of successor to Senator Plat.
though he may first have to fight IL out
with opposing elements. The President
hfst choice 10 is understood. would be
Secretary OF state Elihu Root but Mr.
Root positively refuses 20 De a wcarer of
a toga- Other men prominently mentioned
are Timothy J.. Woodruff and j. SIoat
Fassett Joseph II. Choate formerly Am
oassador 20 Great Britain. also has a
considerable following, bat it-is declared
his candidacy lacks the requisite am
prevail OF Mr. Roosevelt Since Mr.
Choate returned from the Court OF ST
James he has been prominently idenfi-
ned I'm a legal way with Standard on
and other large corporate interests. and
the President is anxious for a Senator
from his native State. who will he free
from even a suspicion OF sympathy win
the trusts