Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1922-04-24
MONDAY. APRIL "a. 1922.
The Pay OF congressman
THE DISPATCH
n n

nNEY once within half century have
~ members of Congress dared to increase
their own salaries Two decades ago they
agreed after much travail to a raise from
$4,000 a year to $500 after the House
had voted down the proposal by an over
whalmingy majority. The Senate. less fear
some of political results, put the increase
into an appropriation bill and in accepting
the Senate amendment members Of the low
er body set up an alibi on the ground that
they were dragooned by Senators into TAX
Ing more pay.
- Once more hard-pressed legislators In
Washington are quietly agitating the ques-
ton OF salaries. Many OF them having no
private fortunes and finding themselves f.
nancially embarrassed because OF the heavy
expense OF living decently in Washing ton
plus the mounting cost Of primary and gen.
eral elections campaigns, are wondering if
the country at large would punish them il
they ventured to pay themselves $4,000 or
$4,000 year. instead Of $500.
There is no positive means of knowing
whether the American people would view
with friendly eyes a raise in congressional
salaries. 1t Is easy of course, to recall
that when 90 per cent increase went into
enect twenty years or so ago, very few men
who benefited by that move were defeated on
that issue either for denomination or re-
election Certain deinagogic aspirants for
congressional honers made capital out of the
increase in pay which members had voted
themselves. but the havoc at the time was
not widespread.
1t Is our own notion that II the House and
Senate should boldly sad without apology
allow salary increase up to say $4,000 a
year, and at the same time announce with
positiveness that all perquisites of their Of
fees. including the excessive mileage would
be abolished. the country would find no
serious fault with them The average man
would object TO any sneaking action in that
direction Just as he objects TO petty rake
OFFS in the way of stationery allowances,
the misuse of money provided for clerk hire
Nd the pocketing OF mileage money.
But II these abuses were discontinued in
good faith there is little reason TO assume
that the people generally would kick against
paying their legislators enough salary to live
on comfortably. It is commonly agreed that
: $4,000 year in times like these is not a
gigantic salary for a man Of ability and of
training TO receive. Certainly 1t is not too
much TO pay legislators who give their full
time year IN and year out TO the business OF
the nation end must maintain themselves
in social station fixed for them by Gus
tom.
When legislators were receiving only
$1,000 annually, the sessions OF Congress
occupied only few months each year. It
was possible for the lawyer Congressman.
for example 10 practice his profession at
least one-halt OF his time and thereby in
crease his income Moreover, relatively
few members twenty, thirty or forty years
ago took their families with them to wash
ington.
Under present conditions Congress is prac-
tically in continuous session and has been
for more than twelve years, and members OF
that body find II necessary to remove their
families to washington during the period
OF their service or else divorce themselves
In large measure from their own house
holds. This means added expense, on the
oDe hand, and lessened opportunity to make
4 money. outside Of Congress, on the other
& feet which does much toward justifyine
the payment Of adequate salaries to Senators
and Representatives