The Washington herald., 1909-01-16
SENATORS OPPOSE
RAISE IN SALARIES
Democrats Lead the Fight
Against Increase.
BORAH STARTS OBJECTION
Spirited Discussion on Proposed
Change in Executive ApprOpria-
1t Affords Opportunity for Members
TO Express Opinions on Subject.

The Senate late yesterday afternoon IN
dulged In a spirited discussion OF pro-
posed salary increases for the President,
Vice President, Speaker Of the House. and
Federal judges
The aggregate annual Increase proposed
by the legislative, executive, and judicial
appropriation bill for the officers named
is saO45o0
Senator Borah. Of Idaho. started the
discussion by raising a point Of order
against the amendments proposing the In
creases- he pronounced them general
legislation on an appropriation BILL" and
repugnant to the rule OF the Senate.
Senator Lodge. Of Massachusetts,, argued
that the point OF order would not lie.
sir. Lodges contention was combated
by Senator Hale, OF Maine.
Clay Opposed BIZ.
Senator Clay. OF Georgia. a member
Of the Appropriations Committee, opposed
the amount Of the increases. lie de-
clared that the items OF $500 allowed TO
the Vice President and the ike sum TO
the Speaker for carriages and horse hire
was particularly obnoxious. Il would not
oppose an increase 20 $15OOo of the Speak
er's salary" said Mr.. Clay, ''but 1 do
object TO paying MIN $4,000, with S5,0Oo
additional for carriages and horses. while
We pay the Chief Justice under the bill
SlS.59o''
Mr. Clay declared that judges should
be wen paid. But he believed that $I5,Oo0
or Sl6.0o0 sufficient for the Chief Justice,
with $1,000 for the associate justices.
In closing MS remarks Senator Clay
said;
Last year II was necessary 10 ap-
propriste slS6.0o9 for the White House
expenses A simple and high-thinking
life is alone necessary for the Executive
The greatest men either in the White
House or IN the Senate that this cOuR-
try has ever known were men who did
not live luxurious lives IN my opinion
this matter OF an increase in salary
should 90 TO committee for mature con-
sideration."
Senator Culberson. Of Texas, concurred
in the view that the amendment should
go out under the rules on the point OF or
der raised by the Senator from Idaho.
He gave notice that in any event he
would have sn amendment 10 reduce
the proposed salary fer the Speaker from
$4,000 10 SlS,0o0 so that It would not ex-
ceed that proposed for the Chief Justice
Of the Supreme Court
Senator Hemenway. OF Indiana. a men,
Der OF the Appropriations Committee, in
vited attention TO the fact that the mat
ter proposed was not new legislation be-
cause the appropriation for salaries OF
the officers named was continuing item.
not new matter For that reason II re-
Quired only -to be moved By e standing
committee OF the Senate" The Appro-
priations Committee. he said, had offered
the amendment
Addressing himself 10 the merits OF the
question the Senator from Indiana de-
clared that neither the Vice President nor
Speaker could live In Washington and
meet the social requirements within their
present salaries
Whether right or wrong" said the
Senator, the custom OF having the Vice
President and Speaker entertain has
grown uD In Washington The President
is allowed a sum Of money for this pur-
pose. the Vice President and Speaker
get no such allowance
Senator McLaurin observed that the Law
did not impose upon either the Vice PresI-
dent OF the Speaker an obligation TO "en-
tertain"
Paid for Service.
They are servants OF the public and
are paid for their services" said the
Senator from Mississippi IF they are
able 70 entertain and are willing to spend
their money in that way they are for
tunate and their friends are fortunate
But that is a private matter
The debate was enlivened somewhat
when Senator Borah, in the midst Of a
brief colloquy. remarked that he did not
believe there were TWO members IN the
chamber who agreed on what change
should be made In the Presidents salary.
The discussion continued until late in
the afternoon II. was devoted mainly IN
the point OF order raised by Senator Bo-
rah- Senators Aldrich. Lodge. McCumber.
and Frye contended that the amendments
were proper. and suggested the overruI-
ing Of Mr.. Bo-ah's point
Senator Frye explained that he drew
the rule which Mr.. Borah had invoked.
and that the point Of the Senator from
Idaho would not lie
But Senator Clark. OF Arkansas. dis
the advocates OF the proposed
increase by quoting a ruling Of Vice
President Fairbanks made in the last
Congress in case exactly applicable. in
which he sustained the point Of order
against an amendment presented By Mr..
Clark
several Senator'S were seeking recogni-
ton to discuss the matter. when Senator
Warren. In charge Of the bill, asked that
It go over until Monday.