The Washington herald., 1909-01-20


Senate yesterday increased the Presi-
dents salary from $4,000 TO slO9.O0o
The new rate Of compensation VIII be
come effective March /
Following two days OF heated discus
sion. in which veteran members and
newly-elected Senators participated with
equal tigor, the decisive action late yes
terday afternoon was a fitting climax 10
one of the most closely contested meas
ures ever enacted By the Upper House
OF Congress
Before adjournment # was decided that
the Vice President should receive s15oO
q year. and a similar amount was voted
for the Chief Justice Of the Supreme
Court Of the United states. With the
exception Of the Chief Executive. no ap-
preparation was made for carriages for
any government Official
Bailey Opens Discussion.
The second days proceedings in the
salary raising proposition vas opened by
Senator Bailey. in his favorite role as the
farmers friend.
He found the proposed appropriation Of
500 for conveying the Speaker Of the
House Of Representatives about Wash
ington. contained a clause, cor other
vehicles" after the provision for car
riage and horses had been enumerated
Evidently seeming the gasoline OF an
automobile, the Texan declared: Would
you give the stamp Of approval TO this
modern JuEgernaut?" II YOU do. Il Is
only a matter OF time when the horse
VIII be more AID the breeder Of horses
and the farmer who raises corn and
) oats viii perish OF starvation
senator Warren. OF Wyoming. who IS
fn charge Of the legislative and executive
and judicial bin, opposed Mr. Bailey
suggestion. ard in this he was supported
/ by several Republican members.
Apparently the Senate shared Mr
! Bailey's fears. but it took several hours
Of speechmaking IN supporting his amend
ment, and finally vote out the clause
permitting automobiles.
tle oCA-dit4 AADAAl AfAd< fGlttl lllE Use
Of automobiles "senseless in place OF the
noble horse. which next 70 the dog is
mans best friend He said horse breed
I ing had become an improbable business
( because Of the general use OF automobiles.
Does the Senator from Texas make
money raising horses?" inquired Mr..
Warren
s.--L. c.-.t,- r-o-,- --o-,- - ,--... -
his spare money, and much that he could
not spare. trying 10 improve horse flesh, 4"
replied Mr- Bailey
Misuse of Privilege.
Senator Dixon. Of Montana. intersposed
few remarks at this point about the
misuse Of government carriages. He in
Quired whether the carriages provided al
government expense were not marked u.
: Government"
Senator Hemenway. Of the Appropria-
tons Committee. explained that all car
riages authorized for the use OF depart
ment officials below the rank Of Cabine;
officers were marked as government prop
erty.
The Montana Senator then asked II II
was not true that government vehicles
were misused now as they were before
the marking
yes, the department officials fire.
quentIy divert money from the uses fo1
which # IS appropriated Short circuit
ing Congress is what they call It.
What does short circuiting mean?'
( inquired Mr. Bacon
1t means cheating the government u
shouted Senator Bailey.
1fr. Dixon concluded by saying he never
attended a social function in Washing
ton that he did not see a line of govern
ment carriages used by families Of gov
eminent officials.
Discussing the tendencies toward ma
tiOnaI extravaganza, Senator Money, OF
Mississippi, branched on long enough to
pay his compliments 10 Attorney General
Bonaparte.
There was a pleasing rumor around
the Senate several months ago that tI,e
Attorney. General had gone l. 3aItircc re
TO study law" said Mr Money. "Tf he
does I hope he viii get a better teacher
than he had heretofore"
The younger element Of the Republicans
found a spokesman for its opinion in
Senator Bo-ah, who demanded that the
extravaganza Of carriage hire stop. and
asserted that he would oppose "the ap-
preparation Of $4,000 proposed for. in-
creased salaries and carriage hire while
/ people were being fed IN bread line in
| thes hadoW Of ,..e Capital
The carriage hire item was not without
| its defenders. however. for Senators
Hemenway and Flint managed to get in
a few remarks in advocacy ef the plan
proposed in the amendment
Hepburn Has Solution.
'T have a solution" declared Senator
Hepburn. Of Idaho. when he finally OBJ
tained recognition. Instead Of giving
certain government officers $3.50 a-year
for carriages. footmen and coachmen.
why not establish a national livery stable
so that a public Official could call for a
rig over the telephone? By this means
Won would accomplish your purpose so
far as It Is legitimate and save a lot of
money"
Having declared that Speaker Cannon
and the Vice President might spend 5000
only for horses. the Senate then pro
ceeded to see TO It. that they should not
receive the $500 at all. The opponents
OF the bigger salaries were in the saddle
Continued on Page 4, Column s.