Evening star., 1955-02-12
Some Views onHiking CongressionoIPoy
To the Editor of The Star:

Western Congressman has given
plausible reasons why he should have
a salary, increase, but I am convinced
the rank and file of our citizenry will
not be greatly moved by his portsmouth
pleadings. The latest Gallup poll in
dicates the sentiment today is more
than 2 to against an increase. Fur
thermore, if after eight years in Con-
gress man finds he can't make ends
meet, it would be an act of manhood
and wisdom on his part to look for
more lucrative employment elsewhere
rather than look to the already over
buedened taxpayers of the Nation to
provide him the sluxuries and many
advantages of living In Washington.
Every section of our country has able
and honorable men and women who
would jump at the chance to repre-
sent their district in Washington at
the present base pay Of $12,500. plus
nontaxable $4,000 expense allowance
and $4,000 income tax deducation to
cover cost Of living in the Capital.
No, Mr.. Congressman, the manly
thing for you to do in the premises
would be to resign and return to your
small town in the West where you say
a $4,000 salary will do you well, as
suming of course you have the will and
push to earn such an amount. My own
observation for number of years con-
vinces me that many of our Congress-
men are now overpaid, and if they
were out on their own resources they
would not have the ability to command
half of what they receive on Uncle
Sans payroll
And your fear of getting a ''rich
mans Congress-" unless salaries are
increased, should not disturb any
thoughtful person. There are as many,
possibly more, patriotic and able men
and women who have the good of our
fair country at heart in that group of
our citizenry as you will find in any
group.
M. w. Conn.
While agree with Western Con-
gresham" that the need for a pay raise
exists, I do not believe that the reasons
he advanced are valid.
Let's look closer at the SIS 900 figure
advanced by the Congressman as his
pay. Let's add another $2.500 tax-free
allowance to this and at least another
$500 travel pay for his journeys home
(thls at the rate of 20 cents per mile
round trip once year,. The pay now
reaches $4,000. One-third of this is
tax-free The allowances indicated
above plus another $4,000 because of
living expenses in Washington. That
figures out to $1.500 month.
Now let's look at my pay, master
sergeant with IA years Air Force serv-
ice Almost without exception do pre-
cisely what the Congressman does.
With pay and allowances, and exempt
ing flight pay. for not every one in the
Air Force draws this item, my total is
we'll under $400 month, approximately
one-fourth that of the Congressman.
OF this amount, $110 a month Tations
and quarters) Is not taxable.
The Congressman laments the fact
that his car, tires and battery wear out
through constant use in travelling back
and forth. Strangely enough. mine do
likewise when I'm forced to travel
through transfers.
He decries the upkeep on his clothing.
Mine get the same creaSes and wear
when they are packed.
He is forced to place his child in a
boarding school to prevent constantly
disrupting his education. My daughter
is presently in the fifth grade and at
tending her fifth school-and main
tanning superior marks.
He complains of maintaining two
homes. At least he has the assurance
of having home at each end when
he moves. Many is the time my family
and I have lived in hotel or motel
at rates far in excess of our allowance
until we could find suitable accommo-
dations.
In IA years. service you make great
many friends. and amazingly enough,
when they come calling, which Is quite
frequently, they. too, enjoy sightseeing
and a night on the town, and I'm
enough of host to pick up the tab, too.
In making these comparisons.
somehow find it awfully hard to SYM
pathize with the reasons extended by
this lawmaker. I repeat, I, too, think
Congressman should have a raise in
pay. but if the reasons extended oy
this Representative are the most valid
that Congress can come up with, we're
sadly in need of some new lawmakers.
I came into the service with my eyes
wide open I'm staying in the Air
Force of my own volition. feel sure
the Congressman wasn't drafted into
his position, and I'll wager he cam
paigns vigorously to retain it.
A raise in pay-yes. But really,
shouldn't it rather be because of the
Importance of Congress to our country?
M/Sergt. Harold E. Bamford.
,estp*es
The crescendU. for a congressional
pay raise seems to be reaching the
hysterical pitch. We can almost hear
Congress singing in unison. 1--WE want
a pay raise! We want a pay raise!
Now!" The most frequent argument
in favor of the raise seems to be that
a Congressman must maintain two
households two this and two that.
Sheer bunk. Working on the Hill
some, know that those who do keep
two households, ETC., are in the mi
nority.
The plain fact is our congressman
are fairly paid for their efforts. In