Evening star., 1950-02-19
Many Senators Supplement Pay
With Private Income, Poll Shows
By Edword A. Harris


By Edword A. Harris
A majority of Senators who re-
sponded to a survey have disclosed
that they are forced to rely on
private sources of income to sup
plement their SIS, 5,000-a-year Gov
eminent compensation.
A total of so Senators replied
to QUESTIONABLE on the subject,
comprising So per cent of the
total membership of 96. The poll
was undertaken by the st. Louis
Post-Dispatch. in view of in
creasing concern over the ques-
ton of compensation for top Off
cials. While the survey was con-
fined to the Senate, the financial
problem is believed to be equally
applicable to others high in Gov
ernment service.
Results of the survey are ex-
pected to stimulate public discus
sion of this important issue and
bolster contentious that many
qualified men cannot afford to
stay in Office under present pay
schedules.
The overwhelming majority of
those replying to the poll said
they are serving in the Senate at
financial sacrifice compared to
what they could be earning in
private life, or what they actually
were earning before they entered
the Senate.
Agree on Living Costs.
Although so Senators answered
the QUESTIONABLE, in many in
stances they omitted replies to
certain specific queries, with the
result that the final box score
does not show so answers to any
single question. The highest total
was reached in response to the
query: Are your living expenses
as a Senator higher than they
were in private life?" OF 46
Senators who wrote replies to this,
all but three said living expenses
were higher and many added ex-
pressionS of strong emphasis.
Here are the other question:
and-anSwer totals:
Do you find your compensation
from the Government as a United
States Senator entirely adequate?
No, "a; yes, 10.
Are you forced to rely on other
sources of income to supplement
your Government pay? Yes, "a;
no, 9.
Could you give more attention
to your senatorial duties if not
forced to supplement your Gov
eminent pay? No, 26; yes, IL.
Are you serving as Senator at a
financial sacrifice with respect to
what you think you could earn in
private business? Yes, 40; no. 5.
Is your Government compensa-
tion actually less than you were
earning before your election to
the Senate? Yes, 20; no, Is.
Asked to state what salary "a
Senator should receive, the re-
plies on this point varied widely.
The top figure given was $4,000
year, figure selected by 13
Senators. Eight Senators said
$4,000. Three said somewhere
between $4,000 and $4,000. But
10 said there should be no increase
in pay. The balance either gave
noncommital or conditioned an
sWer or did not reply at all.
Supplement Income.
1t is noteworthy that most Sem
ators. while, acknowledging that
they are compelled to turn to
other sources of income to main
tain their standard of living, re-
sisted any suggestion that this
interfered with their effectiveness
as public servants. It was pointed
out in many instances, sometimes
rather sternly. that they could not
possibly devote more time and
energy to public affairs than they
already are doing.
There were II dissents on this
point. The dissenters were equally
positive that the necessity of fall
ing back on non-Government
sources of income does lessen their
effectiveness as lawmakers.
The "a Senators who said they
are forced to rely on other sources
OF income were asked to designate
such sources. Most of them indi-
Gated more than one source, with
these results:
Cd Fees for speeches, IA.
Cd Writing articles for publica-
ton, 10.
90 Legal work, 10,
"a Private business, 16.
60 Income from investments,
81.
Two Senators explained in this
connection that their wives owned
income property. One Senator,
who did not identify himself, said
he supplemented his congressional
pay by drawing funds as solicitor
for his city and county.
Senators and Representatives
receive a salary of $12,500 a year,
plus $2,500 annual tax-exempt
expense allowance for which they
need make no accounting. In