The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1907-01-18
10 Shoulder Blame for an In.
crease of Salaries.
Senate Could not Sec IL That wp-
Had Acted Part OF Monkey ON
Several Occasions-Sorrow and In
diSnation Prevail Among Represent
atiVcs-An Increase OF Salaries
Would Cause no Serious Comment in
Any Part of the Country.
Especial TO The Messenger)

AopCNAoi W D
Washington, January 16.-There is
sorrow at the south end OF the capitol
where meet for purposes OF debate and
legislation the direct representatives OF
the people. The sorrow is OF the self
plying kind and is mingled with in
dlgnation, the latter directed at tho
senators who represented the sovereign
states at the capitols other end.
And 1t is all because the senators re-
fused to give the representatives some
thing the representatives refused TO
take for themselves: TO wit, an addi-
tion OF $4,000 to their yearly stipends.
The house. by its course. had said to
the senate: I'VE want this additional
pay, we ought 10 have II, but are
afraid to take it; you vote Il to us,
and let our constituents cuss you in
stead or us. Your terms are longer
and the people cannot get at you direct
ly."
Ihat was all very nice and logical,
from the view point of the house. But
the senate could not see II that way.
1t was recalled that year after year, at
the behest of temperance organiza-
tions, the house passed a resolution
abolishing the sale OF intoxicating
liquors at the capitol. II was a WELL
understood part of the game that the
senate would kill the resolution, and
year after year It did kill Il. Bnt at
one session, about three years ago, the
senate decided it was tired of the
houses monkey business" and quiet
ly and unostentatiously 1t concurred in
the house resolution.
-.
end and disposition to charge the
senate with bad faith; but the senate
stood pat, and under the dome today
it Is not possible TO buy intoxicants.
That bibulous members manage to
keep their supply in their committee
rooms has no bearing at all upon the
subject.
The part hard TO understand is why
there should be any hesitancy either In
the senate or house about increasing
the salaries of members OF congress. n
is doubtful If there would be any seri-
GUS amount of criticism in any part
or the country. Not only has WASH
ington become a world capital and a
City Beautiful" but it has become
about the most expensive place in
the country 10 live. Members Of the
diplomatic corps aver that living is
more expensive here than in any capt.
tai Of the world, with the possible e&-
ception of st. Petersburg.
Out of his salary OF 5000 a year a
senator or representative must pay his
campaign expenses and contribute %
numberleS charities. H. is lucky TO
have $4,000 a year left for his family.
That doesn't go very far in Washing
ton. 1t will enable him 10 live. or
course in a modest sort OF way, but
unless he has a private Income ne Is
absolutely barred from participation
in society, except 10 attend the White
House receptions and an occasional
combination affair at one OF the
second-class hotels. Society plays a
large part, larger than most people
believe in the running OF this or any
other government; and The poor man
in Washington is tremendously handi-
capped, no matter how brilliant his
mental attainments.
1t IS notorious that a poor man can
not afford 10 accept a diplomatic post.
because our diplomats are not ade-
quately paid. II is getting to be true
OF the United States senate, and In the
house cloak-rooms the same thing Is
talked.
A time will come no doubt, waen
congress will have the courage 10 vote
itself more salary, but the time Is not
yet. Either the country will have 10 be
educated up 10 the point OF ciamorous-
ly endorsing such project, or men
will have to come 10 congress VINO nave
, more backbone.