Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1918-07-01
TRUANCY STIRS
CONGRESS AGAIN
Penna. Members Draw Pay
for Many Days They
Did Not Attend
DOCKING TRIED ONCE
By n star Correspondent

Washington, July |.
Each Pennsylvania Congressman has
received the salary due him in full for
performance of service for which he
was elected to the House of Representa-
tives, in spite of the fact that many
of them have been in Washington only
a few days during the session and
have missed in some instances seven
out of every eight of the rollcalls
taken on important legislation.
To date CJuly y each Pennsylva-
MIA Congressman has received $3.50
since January /, or half a years full
salary.
This is at the rate of s20.55 a day,
including Sundays and holidays, and is
paid to them in twelve monthly install
ments of $625, whether they spend their
whole time on the floor of the House,
at Atlantic city or cavorting about
their States running for some other
office.
There is an old law on the statue
books which provides that each Con-
gresham shall he docked for the time
he is not attending the sessions. But
/
never been enforced.
Once Tried to Dock Bryan
| Some of the oldest members of The
! House recalled today that only once
| had an attempt been made to enforce
| it, and then it failed This attempt oc-
! Cured about IS years ago, and an
! effort was made TO deduct from the
salary-of William Jennings Bryan, then
Congressman, pay for four or five
days he had spent campaigning, ii is
! said.
| The Sergeant-at-Arms deducted from
the salary of the Commoner pay for
sthe days he was absent. The situation
, caused big row, which resulted in the
money being returned to Mi. Bryan by
a resolution adopted by the House.
To have a Congressman docked for
days he was not in attendance ii would
be necessary to file with the House a
charge that he had been absent without
leave and then to prove that he was
not performing his official duties.
Every few years abssnteeism becomes
so fragrant that it results in agitation
for legislation to deduct from the sal.
aries of the offenders for time absent
without leave.
Underwood Had Trouble
The last wave of this agitation oc-
Cured three years ago when Senator
Underwood then Democratic leader OF
the House. was unable to keep a quorum
. present during the summer.
Only by a deliberate theat that he
would have the roll called several times
each day and have members docked fol
absenc, was Mr.. Underwood able to brins
the truants back
Majority Leader Underwood anC
Speaker Clark at that time threatened
to compel every member make atiidaNi
that h was present so many days befor'
drawing any salary and then perml
him to draw only for so many days a!
he swore he was present
But the members came pack one d.
one and the agitation died down.
! 1t has been a well-known fact ahou
Congress for many years that member
from Pennsylvania, Delaware and New
! Jersey are absent far more than mem
bers from any other States.
r Almost all the members from thes
, states make it rule to begin a week
. end vacation each Thursday evening
a lasting until the next Tuesday morning
on Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday
r about half the members from these thre
h States are usually present, althoug
: some of them put In an appearance onl
" once or twice a month.