Evening star., 1950-02-19

effect this gives them a $4,000
annual salary. of which $4,000 is
tax-exempt. Their office expenses,
within limits, are paid separately
by the Government.
Taxes Are Factor.
Cabinet officers, in contrast, now
receive $22,500 year, a recent
increase from $4,000 granted by
Congress. Members of the Su-
preme Court get $4,000 with an
extra $500 for the Chief Justice.
House Speaker Rayburn is an out
standing exception to the compen-
sation norm in Congress, receiving
100000 annually plus a limousine
and chauffeur. President Tru-
man long has urged a substantial
increase in congressional pay, and
supported the $4,000 tax-exempt
allowance.
A number of Senators said their
$4,000 total compensation would
suffice if the entire amount were
tax-exempt; or if they received
that amount after Federal income
taxes were deducted; or if their
expenses were deductible on in
come tax returns. Others under
scored their conviction that public
service cannot be reckoned in
terms of money.
"The difficulty is that com
pensation' for a Senator and the
services he performs cannot be
measured exclusively in dollars"
wrote one distinguished Repub-
lican Senator. Indeed, I would
almost say that a man who comes
to the Senate solely in quest of
his salary probably does not be-
long in the Senate at all.
A Democratic Senator wrote:
Public service should not be COM
pared with private employment.
Any one primarily interested in
high income should remain in
business or the professions. A
member of Congress should expect
part of his emolument to come
from the satisfaction of render
ing service to his country"
Senator Douglas, Democrat, of
Illinois, who had no objection to
being identified, also emphasized
the Intangible" compensation
found in service to ones country.
These compensations outweigh
any financial sacrifices that we
may make" he said.
Cost of Campaigns Cited.
Senator Douglas went on to ex-
plain that he could live on the SAL
airy of $12,500, plus $4,000 for
other expenses were it not for the
cost of political campaigns, travel
ing expenses during the year to
and from his home State, and
contributions to charities and Or
ganizations. Many other Senators
emphasized the great drain on
their pocketbooks through chari-
table and political contributions.
Senator Douglas said he is
forced to rely on fees for speeches
and the writing of articles to sup
plement his Government pay. But,
he said, salaries of Senators
should not be too high" A
$4,000 basic salary was suggested
as an amount which would enable
Senators to break even" if cam
paign expenses did not increase
proportionately and if other ex-
penditures could be held down.
Called degrading"
Another Senator wrote in
dignantly that inferior pay de
grades" Congressman. I'm my
opinion" he said. neither Su-
preme Court justices, cabinet of
f1cers, or any other Federal Off
cials except the President and
Vice President should receive SAL
aries in excess of Representatives
and Senators.
A contrary position was taken
by Senator who thought present
congressional pay is about as
high as the public will accept" "
But he went on: "It seems to me,
however, that allowance should be
made for reasonable living ex-
penses in Washington. In other
words, the same deductions al