The Guthrie daily leader. [volume] (Guthrie, Okla.) 1893-1996, 1911-03-18
insurgents Plan War on LucTa.
tive BsTlhs Given
RG'lTIng SOl0ns
(By Leased Wire)

NJii0i Soa DC6iho'
Certain Of the insufgent Repub.
lcan senators believe that substan-
| tial progress can be made in tae di-
rection OF economy by abolshlng
scme of the commissions, or al least
reducing the salaries now paid to
former senators and representatives
who have enscouncet themselves in
these government berths 1t was
suggested in chance gathering Of
senate insurgents today that the
policy Of reducing the salaries OF
clerks in the classified service and
at he same time paying the large
salaries to lame ducks" from Cap
ilol Hill is misguided plan OF REL
trenchment which saved at the spigotI
but wasted at the bung.
Most of the economies thus far
suggested apply % government clerks
whose salaries. range from $1,000 toI
$500 a Y ear The saving to tne|
government is trifling and is more
than consumed by the swollen sal
aries given to former senators ana
former congressman who have taken
numerous commissions created BY
congress.
Lame Ducks Get Salary Boost
An instance was cited today OIL
the international Commission on
Boundary Waters, a joint commission
with Canada A lump sum was ap-
propriated by congress for this eom
mission The state department fixed
ihe salary Of the American commis-
sioners at $4,000 a year. The presi-
dent, upon the urgent recommends.
ton OF senators and representatives,
appointed former Senator Thomas II.
Carter OF Montana and former Repre-
sentative James A. Tawney Of Min
nesota as members of the commits
sion. The salary 10 be paid the com
missioners is $3.50 more than they
drew as legislators, in which capac-
ity they were much more active than
il will be necessary for them to De
as commissioners on boundary wat
ors
Another plan proposed by the IN
surgcnts looking to retrenchment OF
public expenditures involves the per
sonnel Of the Monetary commission.
As originally conceived this commits
sion was a joint affair between the
two houses, with the appointing pow
er for each house vested IN he pre-
siding officer The civilian members
OF the commission and the civilian
officers were the only ones entitled
TO receive salaries,
But through legislation the origin
al plan for appointing commission
ers has been enlarged until today M
is made up chiefly Of former senat
ors and former representatives VINO,
since their re tirement from congress
have been drawing salaries equal tol
those paid to them as senators and
representatives.
Posts vacated To Make Room
Every time q former senator or
former representative is added to the
monetary commission $500 Is added
to The aggregate Of pubic expendi-
cures.
Some OF the economists in congress
were willing to tolerate this added
expense, believing that something
was gained through the experience OF
the senators and representative
who had been serving Or the None
tary commission by re-aining them
to continue the work which they had
begun, But just prior to the adjourn
ment of congress Certain senators
AID REPRESENTATIVES, whose public SER
vice was not to be interrupted on
March T. obligingly resigned, throw
ing into the legislative discard the
results OF their patient study anu re-
search in the monetary problem at a
time when /, was most needed lll
order that some of their less forum
ate brethren who had been defeated
at the November election, or for some
other reason, We're retiring from
congress on March 1, might find
l0dgment in the NOR e.aiy commission
at salaries equal to those they had |
been drawing as legislators.
Make Berth for McLaehiln
In the senate just before the adj |
iournment The names OF senator's
Flint and Taiaferro were added 70
the commission The former is a
Republican and the latter is Demo !
crat. Among the senator's whose
terms expire March 1, who will con-
tinue on The commission are Senators
Aldrich, Burrows, Hale and Money
Two representatives whose terms eX
pired in March 4 were aided by the
house, Represe. atives Prince of IL |
Hnois and McLachlin OF California. |
Already the house membership car
ried the name of former Representa- |
tive Robert W. Bonynge OF Colorado |
and the senate membership included |
the name of former senator Henry |
NJ Teller of Colorado.
In the house place was made for
former Representative Mcl.aehlin b.
the resignation OF Representative |
Smith OF California. Air Smith was
reelected, but Mr. MoLaehlin was not
The shift was made few days besore
the expiration OF congress The
cha ge added to the publc expendi-
tures to the amount Of salary which |
will be paid 10 Mr.. Melaehlin.
Soft Snap Inquiry Proposed.
The insWgent senators believe that
the commission plan Of caring for
former senators and Representatives
is alr amiable custom, but an expeu-
siye one, ans they are talking serious
" ~ airrcfng an INQUIRY into the
matter and ey'snding il beyond the