The Montgomery advertiser., 1909-02-25
DEBATE ON SALARIES
LIVELY SPEECHES IN THE LOWER HOUSE.
No Increased Pay For President and For Speaker--Representa Reject the Ideas of the
 SenatOrs

Washington. Feb. 24-In a lively de- bate in the House today on the con ference report in the Legislative ex- ecutive and judicial appropriation bill Messrs. Underwood, of Alabama, and Clark, of Missouri. criticised the Sem ate increases in appropriations, espe- cially in reference to salaries.
 Messrs Bingham. of Pennsylvania Gillette, of Massachusetts and Living ston. of Georgia, the House conferees strenuously defended their report which, insofar as there was no disa- greement, was adopted.
 When the discussion turAed on the increased salaries of the President Vice President. Speaker of the House and judges. about which the conferees could not agree, MT. Clark renewed his criticisms, declaring that instead of S50.000 the President actually received S291,0O0 per annum.
 The vote on each increase was taken separately. By ffty-seven to 1O2 the House refused to accept the Senate amendment increasing the Speakers salary.
 The increase proposed in the Presi- dents salary from S50.000 to slOO, ,OOC a year was rejected. This vote result ed, yeas Al; nays 16S, which again had the effect of rejecting the Senate amendment. Before the announcement was made Speaker Cannon directed that his name be recorded in tire affirm ative.
 An unusual scene followed. Members were on their feet in a. general scram- ble for recognition for motions of or. sort or another.
 The Speaker. unruffled by his be- siegers, held that motion by MT Wat son. of Indiana, to recede from the amendment and amend II su As make the salary $75.O0O preferential was in order. MT. Watson sought to shut off debate by moving the previous question, and on that proposition the roll was again called.
 The previous question was ordered and on the vote being taken on the adoption of the Watson amendment 1t was carried l63 to 149 amid Republican applause
 The amendment will make the Pre- sidents salary equivalent to the pre- sent salary plus $25,000 appropriation heretofore allowed him for travelling expenses. the latter appropriation be- ing strickon out.
 A long debate was precipitated by MT. Bingham offering an amendment to the amendment of the Senate de- the proposed new official of the State department as vice" secre- tarY Instead of under" secretary. and reducing the salary from $lO.O00 to S7.5O0
 Strenuous objection and ridicule even came from all sides to both the titles. MT. Fitzgerald (New York). in defining the word under" said it meant. among other things. the under dog or goat, and in international us- age the nation that had been defeated In an international settlement.
 The charge having been made in several quarters that the United States was trying to ape" foreign powers, MT. Denby. (Michigan) discIaimed such a suggestion. The Idea. he said to the diplomatic usage of all the world.
 The amendment was vigorously sup ported by MT. Watson. Undianapolis) while MT. Mann. Glllnois,) in oppos- Ing the proposed creation of both the offices of under secretary and fourth assistant secretary maintained that 1t was simply another way of giving of- flee to two additional people.
 Without an opportunity being offer ed to vote on the Bingham amendment the House by vote of 9S to 134 re- jected the whole amendment.
 All remaining Senate amendments pertaining to the State Department were likewise rejected.
 The next battle waged was on the Senate amendment increasing the sal aries of Judges including those of the Supreme Court of the United States Finding themselves in a helpless min ority, the conference committee nov ed to non concurrence in all the amendments This action was taken iaod the bill Senf back to conference