Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1955-03-06
Congress Pay Increases
Critically Considered
Writer Soys High Grade Men
Will Not Be Attracted
By FFonk R. Kent
By FFonk R. Kent

By Fronk R. Kent
Now that. by big nonpartisan vote
in both branches. the members OF House
and Senate have succeeded in raising
their compensation from $4,000 year
to S22, 500, it seems worth while to pre-
sent a few reflections upon its merits
and dement's.
OF course, it will be said that these
points should have been raised before
the final vote. But that is not valid
objection: because, long ago it was
completely clear that this raise would
60 through. Senator Smoot Of Utah.
now long dead, used to say no general
soldier bonus or pension bill was ever
permanently defeated. The same can
be said of the various efforts to in
crease congressional pay. They may
fail in one session but they are sure to
succeed at the next or the next or the
next. The present successful effort
started several years ago and some very
cogent reasons can be given in its
support.
Undoubtedly some. members of Con-
greSs are underpaid and others could
make more in private life than they
do on the Government payroll. But this
by no means applies to them all-not
even. many assert, to the majority. AZ
a matter of fact, there is hardly 2 State
in the Union in whose present con-
gresSional delegation there are not one
or more members not worth the $12,500
a nj
plus "cakeS" which include rent-fres
Office and Government-paid secretaries.
clerks, ETC., which they now get. 1t IL
also true that the most frequently used
argument in favor Of the raise, that 1t
would induce better-grade men to be-
come candidates for one or the otheR
branch of Congress, is also wide open
to debate.
OF course, there Is some truth IN
that argument. Nevertheless. consid-
ering the method Of nominating mem.
bers of Congress and the power Of the
local machines, there Is at least some
sound ground to believe that the recent
increase in compensation will intensity
the struggle of the low-grade men
rather more than it will stimulate men
of the better grade to enter the pr1-
maries, which, of course. is the boss
ridden gate to all political preferment.
This contention that an increase IN
compensation would result in raising
the mental and moral level of congress
sional membership has been made every
time an increase was proposed.
Few will contend that such was the
result when congressional salaries
were raised from 5000 to $500 or
from $500 to $4,000, and then to
$12,500-plus the $4,000 tax-exempt
not-to-b e-accounted-fo gift. However,
a great many voters in the country
could regard this most recent boost
with more amiability if the members
of this Congress, now that they have
raised their pay, would settle down to
the vital business of cutting out the
shocking waste in Federal operations
and at least make an earnest. sincere
and worthwhile effort to end deficit
financing and balance the budget.
There is no sense whatever in saying
that this cannot be done. Senator
Harry F. Byrd of Virginia. the most
consistent and sincere advocate OF
Federal economy in Congress and the
beSt-informed man on the subject in
the United States, has time and again
specifically pointed out how this can
be done without affecting the defense
program or any vital Federal function.
Both the first and the second Hoover
Commission clearly indicated the way
in which billions of dollars could Be
saved by the mere adoption Of common
sense in governmental operation. Re-
Gently, the Hoover group has submitted
two new reports and recommendations
which. If followed. alone would put the
Federal finances in the black instead
Of the red.
One concerns the almost incredible
waste Of paper which Federal red tape
and general idiocy involves. Literally
this runs into billions of dollars and.
if reasonably controlled, would not
only save vast amount Of money but
greatly increase the efficiency Of the
Government. The other deals with
the amazing duplication Of the Fed
eral health effort and the completely
indefensible amounts which are annu-
ally expended thereon The facts and
figures. now fully revealed for the first
time, are shocking. There exists no
possible excuse for Congress to ignore
these Hoover Commission recommen-
dations now. Nor is there any excuse
for ignoring the Byrd recommended
tons about Federal housing and other
channels through which Federal funds
are being recklessly poured. In brief.
the only possible way the members Of
Congress can justify their votes is by
fierce and unrelenting efforts to pull
this country out of the exceedingly
dangerous financial swamp it is in, in
stead of devising new ways to push it
In deeper. 1t can be done. For the
first time in % years there is man
in the White House who will help do
1t. 1t is to the interest of every man.
woman and child in the country that
it should be done. And If it isn't done,
the members Of this Congress who
voted themselves this handsome in
crease-Republicans as well as Demo-
crats-ought to be defeated at the next
election.