Year: 1862




ten cents mile, making saving in that one item OF
over $500 000 The bill framed upon the supposition
that the franking privilege would be abolished and
makes an allowance for postage, abolishing the al
lowance for newspapers and stationery, reducing
the pay Of employees about twenty per cent and
abolshing a number OF supernumerary Offices, and
greatly reducing the contingent expenses OF Congress-
The BILL as framed does not propose change IN the com
pensation Of members Of Congress. Upon this subject
there was difference Of opinion in the committee. IL
was urged that the compensation was not too hgh
as member compelled to leave his business, proba
bly, sacrifice it, either bring his family here be sepa
rated from them. If the salary was decreased would
tend 10 prevent from coming 10 Congress and
give monopoly to rich men. But VIII not repeat the
argument, but simply it is question for the judy
ment OF Congress. In my opinion more noble act could
not be done than for Congress promptly 10 apply the re-
duciion to their compensation which must be
applied other officers OF the government. If members
ofConess would now Voluntarily either for the time Or
for all tme surrender twenty or twenty i've per cent OF
their pay tho act itself would be equivalent to victory
IL would show spirit Of determination TO prosecute
the war and TO apply all the resources Of the country
10 its prosecution; and will heartily vote for such
q proposition whenever it is offered. (Mr. s. then
explained the bill in relation 10 the army which sub
sntes fixed salaries for the allowance OF rations, &c
changes the rate OF mileage from ten cents 10 SIX and
retains officers sxtytwo years old who have served
forty five years unless in exceptional cases making
ucon about fifteen per cent saving from So 600
$40 900 900, army of 500 000 reducing the pay OF
chaplans TO abOut 81 900 year No change is proposed
in the pay OF soldiers. They were enlisted at $13 month
and they cannot resign officers The bill Of the
Senator from Massachusetts son) proposes 10 reduce
the pay Of soldiers and officers alike by arbitrary per
centage. He the autn0r OF the Dill increasing ther
pay before enlistment, and Immediately after decreasing
il to about what il was before enlistment The bill in
relation TO the navy corresponds in its lain fea-
lures to the army bill. ! am happy TO say that
among the numerous letters ! have received
from officers of the army and navy, most Of those
whose opinions are entitled TO respect have promptly
responded the demand for tho decrease Of their pay
They desire only that the rule applied to them shall
be applied to all the other departments Of the govern
men and they perfectly willing to bear their share
Of all necessary reduction. Other bills will be framed to
extend all other departments Of government-cours,
custom houses land Offices, your police system-indeed
to every officer whose Office is to be found in the
blue book. II these bills adopted you will half
the interest Of the public debit yon win win the hearty
respect and confidence Of the people, and you will have
their acquescence any scheme Of taxation which you
may adopt you will have the respect OF foreign nations
and you would belle the reported declarations Of the
rebels now in arms against the government, who con-
santly attribute the large army in the field affect
ell and brought together by the consideration of high pay
and not by patriotic devotion to their country.


Mr. DooIrIR (rep.) Of Wis, suggested that there be
added to the amendment that all mileage be computed
by the most direct mail route, and chat the mileage Of
members OF Congress be reduced nifty per cent.


Mr. SHERMAN accepted that part Of his amendment.


Mr.. pooiITTlE said that he wanted TO correct the
abuses OF the present system OF mileage especially the
sysem which had grown up Of late of computing mileage
by the old routes


Mr. FoMERoy, (rep) of Kansas, perfectly willing
to have his mileage reduced but there no direct
mail route to some places. How could the mileage OF
tho Senator from Tennessee his own for instance be
computed? He thought better to have mileage COM
puted by any safe and competent route for Senator TO
travel.


Mr.. SHERMAN modified his amendment so as to com.
pute mileage by the most direct travelled route.


Mr.. CowAN, (rep) OF Pa, thought 1t would be better
10 abolish the whole system Of mileage He (Mr Cown)
always considered il q sham by which man got more
than he entitled. II would be better TO abolish IL
and provide that q disbursiDg officer should pay
bers their actual expenses and no more


Mr. PsARtr. opp Of Md, said that mileage was no
part Of the original compensation OF members Of Con-
gress They used to be Allowed only eight dollars day
their salary and eight dollars day while travelling.
Mr. WnsoN (rep.) Of Mass said he hoped the amend
ment would be adopted. He (Mr. Wiison) was in
favor in the MAN. OF the bills reported from the Com
mittee on Compensation, SC


travelled route from the Pacific coast was not safe
for to travel at all HIS illIstrous predecessor Mr.
amount OF $5,964 and then when Oregon admitted
and he was elected Senator. he drew SIS ,964 again
mileage for walking from the House OF Representatives
TO the Senate Yet he (Mr. Nesmh thought that
thing due to the mcmbes Of the Pacific coast He


Ir. Nesmth) brought his family here last year, and il
cost him 5000 TO get to New York He might be told
that he conld leave his family at home. That was some
times inconvcnicnt and, by the laws or Oregon,
il absent year from his wife she enti
tied a divorce. Iaughter.J He willing, how
ever submit to anything to any reduction TO enable
tho government 10 prosecute the They could take
away all his salary II need be.


M. SUMNER, (rep) OF Mass. thought the subject ought
to be considered in q military bill


Mr.. DooITrG was in favor of finishing the abuse OF
mileage and would finish now We ought to make the
very first reduction here in the expenses Of the govern
men by beginning with ourselves Then we will be able
TO meet the officers Of the army when they come here to





Mr.. SHERMAN again modified mis- amendment so as 10
read what be first offered.


Mr.. HOWE, Qrep) Of Wis, moved to strike out the
whole section He thought the of the people
sufficient.


Mr. wilson said the people might have resources, but
the government had none The government was in debt
forty millions OF dollars to-day, and there was
not a dollar in the Treasury TO pay IL with
We are here today complaining Of want Of progress
in the army, but II made any more progress than
the army did. no mr. WILSON, would ike somebody To
point ont. The government was reduced TO the cond
tion Of issuing paper money and Of making IL legal
the country that we willing 10 make some sacrifice
Why, the view the world has OF us is, that we
nation be had almost said of thieves" but he (NIr
WILSON, would say Of "punderers in the midst of
for the life OF the country. Even yet committees OF the
House are reporting on great frauds, &c


Mr. DIXON, (rcp of Conn, thought that the credit OF
the country not so bad though he agreed with much
the Senator Mr. Wison) had said He (Mr. Dixon) be-
oved that IL patriotic appeal made 10 the people
they would raise one hundred millions Of dollars
He believed we should begin within ourselves first. He
would bc glad TO vote for reduction Of twenty five
of the pay OF members Of Congress- The public ought
TO DO satisfied that we are willing 10 make sacrifice tie
believed tho resources Of the country ample, but
some scheme must be Devised TO raise a SUN.
Great Britain, in times OF peace, raised
$3.50, 900 COO.


Mr. HOWE was opposed 10 the ninth section on the
ground that employees Of the government II their salaries
high, ought not To he taxed any than
other persons II their salaries too high then they
ought to be reduced for all time, not merely during the
rebellion.


Mr. SIMMONS (rcp) of commanded that the resources
of the country abundantly able TO support the
pendture He had faith in the people and they able
aud willing to meet all expenses. We resorted
any other branch Of taxation except customs. The
try was full OF immense resources. II would only
borrow Of own country would never be impove.
rished He had no idea Of submitting the country 10
irrcdeemable paper currency. He did not believe
there any necessity The banks OF the country had
been very patriotic 80 far but the main reliance
the people the masses OF small ncsns


Mr. WILSON said he had an abundant faith in the re-
the country but the government had not yet
drawn those


Mr. TRuMBuIL, (rep) of H., said here was bill cor
rectng great abuses and saving $15 900 900, carefully
considered and how 1t metz ny propositions TO
ducc twenty per cent and the questions Of mileage
and taxation, and told that Congress to blame. II
you raise money, tell the generals to 20 forward
and give victories Has not the had
and money and did not God Almighty give such weather
as never vouchsafed bcforcS Taxation Is not what
we want. We want strong and somebody TO lead
and put the rebellion down. He hoped they would
pass this bill and then make other reforms. We do
one thing at any rate; we cannot do all at once.


Mr.. DooLTrIE said II the first duty 10 reform
own abuses and then look the officers o the army the
face.


Mr.. DIXON thought the people demanded taxation aud
victory BOTH that Congress would proceed TO taxation
and leave fighting alone and lot the army do the fighting