Evening star., 1925-02-18
Higher Congressional Salaries.

Yesterday, without debate and with
out a record vote, the Senate adopted
an amendment to the Legislative ap-
preparation bill ''reclassifying' the
salaries of Congress. The compensa-
tion of the President of the Senate and
the Speaker Of the House would be
increased from $4,000 to $4,000 a
year, and that of members of the
House and Senate was raised from
$500 to $4,000. The amendment in
cluded the salaries Of members OF the
cabinet, also increased from $12, 900 to
$4,000 This amendment now goes to
the House. where 1t Is expected it will
receive favorable consideration.
There will be no disposition on the
part Of the country to criticize this &C.
ton. The Federal salary scale is low
That in the higher range Of official
positions has not been increased for
many years. Since the last advance all
costs have risen. Members of the Gov
ernment feel the effect of the high cost
of living as do others, and those in the
upper ranges of the pay scale feel it as
keenly as do those at the other end of
the line.
In recent years Congress has sat in
almost continuous session. The busi-
ness Of the country has grown to the
point that requires an average Of nine
months a year of legislative service.
Members of the two houses are COM
PEELED practically to devote themselves
exclusively to their legislative duties.
Few Of them are men of large private
means, and many Of them are depend.
ent upon their salaries. They have
found it. difficult to maintain them
selves and their families upon the
compensation that has prevailed for
more than decade.
1t required courage on the part of
the Senate to vote this increase, as It
will on the part of the House to con-
cur. For a self-granted raise Of pay is
always subject to criticism. Undoubt-
edly regard for this feeling has de-
tered Congress for some time from
proceeding as it is doing now to ad.
just the salary scale, 49,. = .-s--
Question has already been. raised
whether self.granted increase. can be
enjoyed by members of the next Con-
gress who are now participating in
this proceeding. There is no adverse
statute, and there is likewise no con-
stitutional bar. The only constitu-
tional provision on this point is that
which provides that no member OF the
House or Senate shall during the
time for which he was elected be ap-
pointed to any civil Office under the
authority of the United States which
shall have been created, or the ernolu-
ments whereof shall have been in
creased during such time Under this
provision it would appear that no
member of the present Senate whose
term continues beyond the 4th of
March can be appointed to a cabinet
position at the increased salary during
the remainder Of his senatorial term.
This was the case of Senator Knox of
pennsylvania, who was appointed Sec
retary Of State after the increase of
salaries in 1907, and was not permitted
to enjoy the larger pay until the ex-
piration of the period represented by
his unexpired senatorial term. Mem
bers of the House and Senate, how
ever, may vote themselves salary in
creases at any time to take effect, if
they so determine, in the middle of
their terms Of Office,
This present increase is to take ef--
feet March 4, 1925, not at the begin
ming Of the fiscal year, which is the
usual date for salary changes. 1t af-
1scts, therefore, all members of the
Sixty-ninth Congress, the newly elect
ed Vice President and all members of
the cabinet as it will be constituted
two weeks hence.