The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1955-03-17
That Pay Raise


Now that by a big nonpartisan
vote in both branches. the members
Of House and Senate have sue
cccdcd in raising their compensa-
ton from $4,000 a year to 500. 500.
il seems worth while to present 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 be-
cause. long ago it was clear that
this raise would 90 through. Sena-
tor 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 increase 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 eff
fort started several years ago and
some very cogent reasons can be
given in its support
Undoubtedly some members of
Congress are underpaid and others
could make more in private life
than on the Government pay roll.
But this by no means applies to
them all-not even, many assert.
to the majority. As a matter of fact.
there is hardly a state in the Union
in whose present congressional
delegation there are not one or
more members not worth the SIP
500 plus a taX-eXempt allowance of
$500 plus cakes" which include
rent-free office and Government
paid secretaries. clerks. etc, which
they now get II is also true that
the most frequently used argument
in favor of the raise. that it would
induce better grade men to become
candidates for one or the other
branch of Congress. is wide open
to debate
OF course. there is some truth in
that argument Nevertheless. con-
sidcring the method of nominating
members of Congress and the
power Of the local machines. there
is sound ground to believe that the
recent increase in compensation
will intensity the struggle of the
IoWgrade men rather more than
it will stimulate men of the better
grade to enter the primaries
which, of course. is the boss-ridden
gate to all political prcferment
This contention that an increase
in compensation would result in
raising the level of congressional
membership has been made every
time an increase was proposed.
Few will contend that such was
the result when congressional sala-
rics were raised from $4,000 to ST.
500 or from $500 to $4,000. and
then to S125OO-plus the $500 tax
exempt MISREPRESENTATION 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 shock
ing waste in Federal operations and
at least make an earnest, sincere
and worthwhile effort to end de-
ficit 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, has time and again spe-
officially pointed out how this can
be done without affecting the de
Tense 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 Recently
the Hoover group has submitted
two new reports and recommends