1874. CONGRESSIONAL RECORD. 505

By Mr. LOWNDES: The petition of .John Fague, John J: Brog­ PETITIONS AND MEMORIALS. muier, David Crist, David Grogg, Jacob~· Tucker, and· _Maunce Al­ Mr. INGALLS presented a petition of c}tizens ?f Kansa.s, asking an baugh employes in the office of the. Umted States assiStant treas- amendment to the act of March 3, 1873, m relation to the growth of urer at Baltimore, for increase of pay. . . timber on the prairies; which was referred to the Committee on By Mr. MARTIN: A petition of 119 citizens of Bond County, Dli­ Public Lands. nois, aaking that the name of Sarah A. Trump be placed on the pen- Mr. ANTHONY. I present the memorial of ~acob Dunnell. and sion-rolls. Dlin · kin th others citizens of Pawtucket, Rhode Island, asking for a modifica­ Also, a petition of 1~4 citizens of, Bo~d County, . ms, as g e tion of and remonetrating against the repeal of, the bankrupt act. passage of a bill granting Nancy ~ Gmgles a penswn. 1 • • • I rec·ogruze among the signers of .t~ memorial. m:my of the ~st Also a petition of 118 citizens of Bond County, lllinoiS, asking business men of that very enterphsrng and :fiou:nshing commumty. that the name of Anna Givens be placed o?- the ~en~ion-rolls. . I move that the memorial lie on the table. ' Also a petition of 84 citizens of Greenville, illinoiS, that a penmon The motion was agreed to. be gr~ted Nancy Parrott, daughter of Edmund Fear, a private soldier Mr. ANTHONY. I also present the memorial of the Board of Trade of the revolutionary war. · . of the city of Providence, asking that Congress may, so amend the By Mr. MILLS-: The petition of the Northwest ~exas Conference bankrupt law that an application of creditors holding ih amount one:-­ of the Methodist Episcopal Church So~ th, for the relief of the .Southern fourth of the whole indebtedness shall be required as a condition of Methodist publishing house .~t NashVIlle ~ennessee. . . forcing a debtor 4Ito bankruptcy; also, the substitution of s~.laries By Mr. MOREY: The petitwn of the Umon Bank of Loms1ana. to officers of the court, instead of fees ~ now charged; also, uniform-. By Mr. O'NEILL : A memorial of. th_e National ~oard of Trade, ask­ ity: of e~emptions of property of bankrupts in the several States, ing for the appointment of a comnusSion, to coll81St of the_Attorn~y­ and the enlargement of the power of. the assignee~ with ~he right on General and seven bankers, merchants, and manufacturers, to- reVIse the part of the creditors to authonze co:mpronnses W1th debto!'S, the bankrupt law. of 1867, .and praying for the enactment of a judi- and to direct the sale of the property for such account and to make cious law upon bankruptcy. . . . distribution. I believe this memorial was adopted unanimously, and Also a memorial of the Nat10nal Board of Trade, praymg for the these suggestions come fiom gentlemen who are e~ent~y entitled. enactn'tent of a uniform national system of quarantine laws. to be heard upon this subject. I move that the me_monallie upon the By Mr. ORTH: A remonstrance from theWIndiana moves members of that committee will give it an early supervision. that the further reading of the Journal be dispensed with. Is there The motion was agreed to. objection 'I The Chair hears none, and the reading is dispensed with. 1\lr. LOGAN presented the petition of CharlM B. Signor, praying for •

506 .., .. CONGRESSIONAL RECORD. JANUARY .9,

a pension on account of the causeless shooting away of his right arm an appro~riation for the le~l~tive expenses ?f Co~orado Territory, uy a soldier; which wa r ferred to the Committee onPensions. to report 1t back and to a k for 1t present consideration, as there it:! a. He ::tlso presented th petition of Lorenzo Brentano, setting forth nooe sity for it.s prompt passage. the reasonswhythe consulshipatDresdenonghtto be sa.l.aricd;which There being no objection the Senate, as in Committee of the Whole, was referred to the Committee on Commerc .. procee?-ed to co~ ider the bill, which appropriat 20,000 for com­ pen ation and. mileage of the members of the Legislative A embly of P.&m.rnG OF A. REPORT. Colorado T01p.tory, and for pay of clerks, officers, and contingent ex­ .Mr. ANTHONY. I move that tho report of the Secretary of the penses thereof. Interim·, in regard to the pneumatic tube from the Capitol to the . Mr. MORRILL, of Maine. I will~ta:tethatthatLogislatureisin - Government Printing Office, be takou from tho table and referred to swn, and that there. w~-s no approp~ation made lMt year to pay its em­ t), e Committ.ee on Printing. rent expenses. This 18 for the ordinary and cnrront e:xpen es. This The motion wa-s agreed to. difficulty arises from the omission on the part of the cretary of that PAPERS WITIIDRAWN AND REFERRED. Territory to make his annual requisition, and so no appropriation was made last year. This is to supply an ordinary appropriation. Mr. H~llLTON, of Maryland. I move that Angelica Hammond The bill waa reported to the Senate without amendment, ordered have leave to withdraw her petition and papers from the files of the to a third reading, read the third time, and pa-ssed. • Senate. There has been an adverse report. · Mr. MORRILL of Maine. If there has been an adverse report it THE B~JrRUPTCY ACT. ought not to be done without a copy of the papers being left on rue. I .Mr. Hil.IILTO~ of Maryland. Certainly. · !ili'· _THURMAN. Mr. President, have received a number of ap­ Tho PRESIDEN± pro tempore. If there be no objection, the papers plications, and I suppo e other enators have, for copic of the banl(­ may be withdrawn, copies being retained on tho files of the Senate. rnpt bill a-s reported by the J ndiciary Committ-ee of the Senate, and On motion of Mr. LEWIS, it wa-s more than I am able to supply. As one of the objects of letting that billlio was to invite to it the consideration aud criticism of the le-gal Ordered, ThaD Mrs. Mary Ann Randolph Lee have leave to withdraw her petition and papers from the files of tho Senate. profe simi throughout the country, I think we ought to have onouo-h copies to supply the request that are macle to us for that bill. b I On motion of ~fr. McCREERY, it was move therefore that one thousand extra copies of that bill be l'lrinted. an~~~;~~ert!~~'GE::!~~e~~ ofJ:!. of John B. Bland be taken ~m the files The PRESIDENT pro tempore. That motion will bo referred tQ the Committee on Printing, unless. there be u:nanimous consent to its On motion of Mr. SARGE~, it was present consideration. Ordered, That the petition and papers in the case of Mrs. Refugis M. Bowler be . bfr. THURMAN. The Clerk will please reduce my motion to writ­ takon from the files anu referred to the CoiD..Iillttee on Claims. mg. On motion of Mr. INGALLS, it was '.rhe PRESIDENT p1·o tempo1'e. The Senator from Ohio moyes that an~r%:.f:~el~\~~ec~!!f:.:o~ PP~:ioc:!.Joseph Shelt~n bo fuken from the fl.les one thousand extra copies of the bankrupt bill be printed. Mr. THURUAN. .A. Senator sugge ts fifteen hundred copies. On motion of ~fr ·. LEWIS, it was The PRESIDENT pro tempare. It is moved that :fi.fte n hundred Orderea, That the petition and paper5 in thE! case of Mrs. Mary D. Anderson,. copies of the bankrupt bill be printed for the use of the Senate. daughter ol James Down. , deccas d, L'\te of the Uu.iLod States Navy, bo taken from The motion was agreed to. the filos and referred to tho Col.lllllittee on Pensions. '• BILLS Di'TRODUCED. REPORTS 'OF C0:\1.1\ITTTEES. Mt. SCOTT. The Committee ou Claims, to whom was r ferred the ?Jfr. SARGENT asked, and by unanimous ~onsent obtained, leave to memorial of J. Gillingham Fell, ~orge Burnham and Edwru·d :iJ;ltroduce a. bill (S. No. 266) for the protection of ociety in the Ter­ Hoopes, trustees of the Walnut Grove Gold Mining Company, pray­ ntory of Utah, and for other purposes; which was read twice by its ing compensation for depredation committed by Indians in Arizona, ti~o, referred to the Co~ttee on the Judiciary, and ordered to bo have instructed mo to report that whatever amormt of compensa- pnneed. · · . tion bo due to theso partie hould not be paid out of the Trea ury, Heal o askeU. and by unanimous consent obtained leave to intro­ but out of the annuitie due to the Indians committing such depreda­ duced a bill (S. No. 267) to aid in the execution of tho laws in the tions, if such annuities there be. The rea ons for this conclnsion Territory of Utah; which wa read twice by its title, referred to the are embodied in a written report, and tho recommendation of the Committee on tho Judiciary and ordered to be printed. committee is that this memorial, with the written rel?ort, be referred Mr. CRAGIN asked and by unanimous consent obtained, leave to to the Committeo on Indian Affuirs, and the CoiDIDlttee on Claims introduced a bill (S. No. 268) for the relief of the officers and crow of discharged from its further. consideration: the United States steamer Champion; which was read twice by its · The report was ordered to be print-ed · and the Committee on Claims title, referred to the Committee on Naval Affairs, and ordered to be was discharged from the further consiQeration of the memorial, and printed. • it was ref~rred, with the report, to the Committee on Indian Affairs. Ho al o asked, and by unanimous consont obtained, leave to intro­ duce a bill (S. No. 269) to change the titles of certain naval officers; PRE-EM.PTIOX SETTLERS. which was road twice by it title, referred to the Committee on Naval :?tfr. BOUTWELL. The Committee on Public Lands, to whom was Affair's, and ordered to be print.ed. r ferred the bill (S. No. 21) for the relief of aged or infirm pre-emp­ Mr. DENNIS a ked, and by unanimous consent obtained, leave to tion settlers, have instructed me to report the same ba~k with an int.roduce a bill (S. No. 270)making provisions for auning and equip- • amendment, and I clesire the present consideration of the bill, if there ping the whole body of the militia of the United States, and for other be no objection. purpo~-:j which was read twice by its title, referred to the Commit- By unanimous consent the bill was con iderod·as in Committee of too ori lllilitary Affair , and ordered to be printed. . the Whole. :Mr. HOWE asked, and by unanimous consent obtained leave to It provides· that in ca es where sickne s, infirmity, or great age introduce a bill (S. No. 271) for the relief of Frances A. Robin on renders it difficult for pre-emption claim..1.nts to attend before the administratrix of John M. Robinson, decea-sed; which was road twic~ localL.'hlld-offices to make affidavits in pre-emption cases, such affidavits by its title, anu referred to the Committee on Claims. may b{ made before any officer authorized to administer oaths, and, on being filed in the lana-office, shall hav the same force and effect WITHDRAWAL OF llO~"DS OF NATIONAL BLU.JrS. a if taken by the officers thereof; and ffect is to be given to the act Mr. MORTON. I ask the unanimous consent of the Senate to take by regulations to be prescribed by the Commissioner of the Genoral up a bill re1'lorled from the Committee on Finance, with a view to Land-Office. its passa~e. I think it will take but a few minutes. The amendment reported by the Committ~e on Public Lands was, Mr. CuNKLING. What is the billY in line 6, after tho word "officer," to insert " of the district," so as to Tho CHIEF CLERK. "A bill (S. No.147) authorizing national bank~ reafl: "such affidavits may be made before any officer of the district t~a·t have decided to r~d.uce the?-r capit~ stock ~o withdraw a propor­ authorized to administer oaths," &c. . tion of bonds upon retirin~t theu own crrculatmg notes} or deposit­ 1\lr. SARGENT. I would suggest to tho Senator from Massachu­ ing lawful money of the united States in the proportion provilled setts that it should read " lanu-district," not "district," which is an by law." indefinite term. }.fl'. CONKLING. Is that tho same bill that was up heretofore f Mr. BOUTWELL. Very well; I clo not object to that. ~fr. fORTO:N. Yes. The PRESIDENT pro tempore. The amendment will be so moilifted, Mr. CONKLING. Then I am against it. and the question is on the am ndment as modified. Mr. SUMNER. I observe that the chairman of the Committee on The amendment as modHi u_was a-greed to. · Finance is not in hiB s at. The bill was reported to the Senate. as amended and the runendm.ent . :Mr. MORTON. It is only a small Lill. was concurred in. The PRESIDENT pro tmnpore. Is there objection to t.he pr ut con­ The bill was ordered to bo engrossed for a third reading, read the sideration of the bill third time, and passod. Mr. SUMNER. I think we ought not to proc Cll with it'in the ab­ sence of the chairman of the Committee on Finance. [Mr.· IIEP..M:A.N COLORADO LEGISLATIVE EXP~SES. enterecl the Chamber.] There he is now. I a s l ~ the cuator from 1\lr. MORRILL, of Maino. I am instructed by the Committee on Ohio to ta,ke notice of the bill propo ed to be taken up. Appropriations, to whom wa r ferred the bill (H. R. No._434) making Mr. SHERMAN. That bill is all rjght. 1874. CONGRESSIONAL RECORD. 501

· Mr. SUMNER. Very well. I saw the Senator was out of his seat, the notes thus deposited by a bank in lieu of its own circulating notes ::uulme.rely sta,ted the fact. . may be reissued. Therefore the objection which the Senator from New Mr. SHERMAN. It is a bill that was dobated here for a day or Je1·sey makes does not apply-that it would be, to the extent, of the two. reduction of capital, a contraction of the currency. The national­ .Mr. CONKLING. Is it tho same bill t bank notes would still be in circulation until redeemed. When re­ Mr. SHERUAN. No; only a p:rrt of it. deemed they can again be awarded to that portion of the country Mr. CONKLWG. If i.t is tho same bill, I am opposed to it. which would be entitled to them under the provisions of the national­ 1\Ir. MORTON. I ask to h a,vo tho bill read, a-s reported by the com- currency act. mittee, with amendment . _ I believe this answers the point made by the Senator :from New Tho Cmt:F CLERK. The bill, if amended as proposed by the Com• Jersey, unless I have failed to apprehend his whole point. mittce o:t;t Fin:rnco, will road as follows : Mr. FRELINGHUYSEN. It does answer the objection I made. I Be it enaoted, d':c. , Tha.t :my banking a.RSooiatlon that may decide to reduce its only soo this effect to the bill now-that it would produce a contrac­ capital stock as prorided in the thirteenth section of the o.ct entitled ".An act to tion, perh~ps, .in one part of the country, but a corresponding advan­ p1'0vido a national currency seonred by a pledge of United States bonds, and to pro· tage, byreiBsmng thesenotes, toanothe.rpartof the country. !suppose · vido for the circulation and redemption theroot" approved Juno 3, 1864, shall be that would be the effect of the bill. Some of the Southern States, entitJed to t.a.ke up a. pro rata portion of its bonds, upon depositing lawful money of tho Unitod. St~too, or returning it own ciroula.ting notes in the proportion required too, that have not their due proportion of circulation, would probably by law i and whenever such r eduction shall be authoxized under said section, any by this act get circulation which is now in New York and in the not-e or such bank thereafter coming into the Treasury of the United States shall Eastern and !fiddle States. · . be canceled until the amount so canceled, together with such lUI shall be redeemed, 1\fr. SCOTT. This circulation would again ha,ve to be a.pjlOrtioned shall equal the amount of reuuction authorized. . by the Comptroller of the Cnrrency to that portion of the cormtry The PRESIDENT pro ten'tpore. Is there objection to the present which, nnderthe provisionsofthe existing law, would be entitled to it. consideration of the uill f Tho Chair hears none, and it is before the Mr. ALLJSON. I desire to ask the Senator from Pennsylvania a Senate as in Committee of the Whole. question with reference to this circUlation. What is the custom or Mr. MORTON. I will state that this bill is designed to remedy an rule in the office of the Comptroller with reference t{) the redistribution omission in the law. The law nowprovidesthatwhere a bank retires of this currency 'f I understood the chairman of the Committee on its circulation altogether, it can do so by depositing an equal amount Finance, when this question was up before, to state that brokers were of legal-tender notes in the Treasury; but there is no provision that in the habit of paying as high as 3, 4, or 5 per cent. for this cur­ authorize a bank which proposes to reduce its circulation in part to rency with a view of establishing new banks. It seems to me lL.'trdly deposit l~~l;~l}der notes. - fair that bankers should be permitted to deposit legal-tender notes in Mr. CO.Nli.Lll"lG. Not "'10,000¥ the Treasury, still leaving out the circulation of their banks, and thus . Mr. MORTON. No; it has nothing to do with that at all. If a permitting brokers and.· others to buy up this circulation at 3, 4, or bank having 100,000 circulation proposes to retire its circulation, it G per cent. premium, with a view of establishing new banks. It eems may do so without depositing its own notes, by depositing an equal to me that if a bank desires to surrender its circulation, it ought to be amount oi lega.l-tendor notes-greenbacks; but if ~t proposes to retire compelled to surrender its own notes and withdraw its bonds, or else only 0,000 of its circulation, as the law now stands it must furnish it otrght to be required to deposit such premilim. in addition to the it.s own notes, and it may be impOSBible to colleot them. I simply legal-tender notes as will induce the holders of its own notes to return propo e to extend to the bank the sa,me right, where it proposes to them to the Treasury, so that if this redemption of national-bank notes rotire onl a part of its circulation, that it would have if it propo ed is to be made at the Treasury some inducement should be held out for to retire the whole of it. the return of the notes of banks in liquidation o:r such banks as de­ 1\Ir. FRELINGHUYSEN. I ask the Senator from Indiana if the sire to retire their circulation. It seems to me there ought to be some effect of tliis bill is not to render it much more easy for a bank to con­ provision so as to take these national-bank notes out of the hands tract its circulation, and thus produce a contraction in the currency of brokers who are in the habit of paying, as the chairman informed of the country It may be a very desirable measure; but it does us the other day, from 3 to 5 per cent. for them. not occur to me that it is a measure of such little importance as the Mr. SCOTT. ·• \Vill the Senator from Iowa direct his attention to Senator from Indiana would indicate. As I understand it now a the amendment which the committee has added to the bill us origi­ bank, for the privilegos of uanking underourlaw, ha.s a certain circu­ nally introduced, which to a certain extent and to a considerable ex- lation ·whioh it is bound to take care of, which is a great advantage . tent will obviate that objection. It requires that whenever any of to the country. This bill enables them to reduce that circulation the notes oi such bank shall, after the reduction is authorized, come while they retain. all the privileges of bankin~, if I understand it. It into the Treasury in any manner, it shall at once be the duty of tho seems to me thn.t that may lead to a very demded contraction of the officers of the Treasury to cancel those notes until such cancellatioJ;l1 currency of tho country. togethQr with the redemption that they are authorized to make, shall Mr. SCOTT. Mr. President, this subject was before the Senate a equal the a.mount of reduction authorized. few da-ys ago l1ecause of the addition to another bill of the provisions J\.Ir. ALLISON. - That, of course, will remedy the evil to some in substance of this bill; and the objection which the Senator from extent; but I think it is a ba,d practice to have these b:mks placin~ New J er ey now makes was then partinlly considered, and was also legal-tender notes in the Treasury and withdrawing their bonds, still consill~rell in committee in reporting this bill. Having reported leaving their own notes in circulation to be picked up by brokers this bill aud paid some att~ntion to it, I will state briefly the differ~ with a view of est?>blishing new banks in particular fn.vore(llocal­ once betwoon tho provision which was in that bill then considered ities. It seems to me that if legal-tender notes are returned to the anrl this bill a now r eported. Treasury, there ought to be some inducement held out whereby these · The bill which was then considered authorized national banks to circulating notes will be sent into the Treasury ior redemption, and make successive reductions, of 10,000 at each time, of their circulat- new banks may thon be formed under such rules as the Comptroller -in~ medium by dopositin~ in the Treasury legal-tender notes instea-d of the Currency may establish, without reference to the brokers. of redeeming their own Circulation. There was no reference in that Mr. HOWE. Mr. President, I think there is a great deal of force bill to tbe ection of the national-currency act under which the reduc­ in the su~gestion just made by the Senartor from Iowa. ; but I rise tion of capital was authorized; but in the bill introduced by the Sen­ now to suJJmit another que tion to the Senator from PennBylvania. ator from Indiana. there is a referenoo to the thirteenth section of the He argues, as I understand him, that contraction will not be result currency a-ct, under which th se reductions were previously author­ flowing from the adoption of this proposition, becau e, although a iZed; and the difference between the original act and this modifica­ bank might decide to reduce its capital and would wish to reduce it-s tion of it is, tha,t now, in tead of returning their own notes and lifting circulation, and therefore might deposit in the Treasury 10,000 or the bonds, they are authorized to return legal-tender notes to the $.~0,000 of legal-tender notes, yet the Treasury would have authority amount which they propo e to reduce their capital, and lift their to reissue those notes, and therefore there would be no contraction of bonds. The soction1 how~ver, under which they are now required to circulation. That I understood the Senator from Pennsylvania. to make this application prohibits them from reducing their capital say. I wish to ask him how the Secretary of the Treasury is going below the minimum amount a,uthorized in the national-currency act, to reissue tho e notes ; on what account is he going to reissue them ; whereas the bill under consideration a few days ago had no such what opportunity will the Secretary of the Treasury have to reissue prohibition; and the ctfect of that provision would have been to enable those notes; wh~m shall he issue them to, and what for' a nation::tl bank, by successive reductions Qf 10,000 each, absolutely 1\fr. SCOTT. I will answer the gentleman from Wisconsin by ref­ to go into liquidation, or rc.duce its capital below the minimum amount erence to the provisions of the aets of Febru..'U'y 25, 1862, July 11, an

Treasury Department for any of the purposes of the Government. It which is in circulation. Therefore, on that account, I do not see the was my objection to the bill heretofore under consideration that these objection to it. notes being deposited in lieu of bonds specifically deposited as security Mr. HOWE. Well, Mr. President, that is a very ingenious and for crrculating notes, it might be held that the e notes should be re­ very manifest-fair in one sense-justification of this contraction. tained in the same specific manner; but upon examination of the To-day your banking system amounts to just this, and no more : that various acts I find the language so broad that I have no doubt of the the United States shares with bankers the profits of furnishing a oir­ power of the Trea nry to reissue these notes for any purposes that culatin~ medium· the Governmentfurnishing one halfand the banks they may find the exigencies of the Government require, for the pay­ furnishing the other half, and the Government redeeming the whole. ment of ahy demands against the Government. This proposition, as defined by the Senator from Connecticut-and Mr. HOWE. .Conceding that they might be issued to meet any I think he defines it accurately-amounts to this: that, in addition to exigency, the question which I put to the Senator is, how is it possi­ all this, the Government proposes to borrow from the banks what­ ble that such an exigency could arise T The Treasury can only pay ever surplus of circulation they may have from time to time. It is moneJ" upon an approp:ri.ation, and to meet every appropriation you to become the sponge to absorb whatever surplus of circulation the are supposed to collect a tax. Now, when the Treasurer holds in one banks may have, and pay them interest for it until, by and by, the' hand from taxes the money to meet every appropriation which he is community needs it again and will pay more for it than the Govern- · required to atisfy out of the other, I do not see just where it is going ment pays. That is loading the Government beyond what I think to brina in these legal-tenders. ought to be done. Mr. MQRTON. Will the Senator allow me to make G suggestion to Mr._ BUCKINGHAM. It seems to me perfectly right and reasona­ himY ble, as· I have said repeatedly before, when the Government is. in­ Mr. HOWE. Certainly. debted and does not meet its obligations, if its creditors demand pay, Mr. MORTON. I suggest to the Senator that when these legal­ that the Government should pay a consideration for holding off, or, tenders are deposited in the Treasury for this purpose they are there rather, interest on its debt until it does pay it. So that the objection to be paid out for the current expenditures of the Government in any which the Senator from Wisconsin makes is not, to my mind, any way, just as if they had been collected in the way of revenue and serious objection. taxation, unless there is some prohibition of la.w that would prevent Mr. BOUTWELL. Mr. President, I will take the liberty to say, in legal-tenders paid in in that way from being so paid out. They are response to what has been said by the Senator from Wisconsin, that there for any use for which· we may have money, and they would save, this bill, practically, does not work a contraction of the currency, if they were there now, so much of the forty-four million reserve. nor an expansion. It does furnish, however, additional facilities for Mr. HOWE. Ah, yes; here would have been an exigency; the first doii}g what upon the whole I think it is inexpedient to have done. one we have seen since the forty-four million reserve came into ex­ A practice has grown up which po ibly the Treasury Department istence. The Senator from New York [Mr. FE:'ITON] reminds me ·might stop by what would be an exercise of arbitrary power. Per­ that my memory is failing ; that there was an exigency just like this, soilS desiring to organize a new bank, or to obtain additional circu-' a first cousin. to it, in 1872. I had entirely forgotten that. I had not lation for a bank already in existence, purcha e the issues of insolv~ known of an iltstance in which any part of the forty-four million re­ cnt banks, or the issues of solvent banks, desiring to diminish their serve had been issued up to this time. The Senator from New York, circulation, at a prenuu:m varying from 2 to 6 per cent. At pres­ reminds me that two years ago $7,000,000 of the forty-four million· ent there must be deposited for the redemption of the issue of in­ reserve were issued. solvent banks United States notes; for the redemption of the issues Mr. FENTON. Font million dollars. It was in October, 1872; just of solvent banks, or for the decrease ·of the circulation of solvent prior to the election in the State of Pennsylvania. banks, the issues of the particular banks. This bill propo es that Mr. SHERMAN. That is true. . solvent banks may diminish their circulation by a deposit of United Mr. HOWE. I had forgotten the fact. States notes. Of cour e this f~cilitate the proc of diminishing Mr. SHERMAN. That issue of a portion of the forty-four million the issues of solvent banks, and increases the facility for transfer­ reserve a year or mora ago led to the controversy which gave rise to· ring the circulation of solvent banks to other ba.nks, or to banks to the report of the Committee on Finance last winter on the subject. _ be organized. · Mr. HOWE. Then there have been two such exigencies; but I There is vested in the Treasury Department a general discretion think, unless we improve our legislation in that dh'ection1 they will within the la.w as to the place where additional Circulation shall be not occur often enough to prevent this workin~ a contraction._ supplied. But when parties desiring a new bank, or desiring to add 1t!r. MORTON. I ·will say to the Senator it a.oes not require an exi­ . to the· circulation of an existing bank, have· made arrangements gency. When this money is paid in, it is there to be paid out in the through brokers for the circulation of insolvent banks, or with the way of ordinary expenditure like every other money in the Treasury, officers of solvent banks that desire to diminish their circulation, it unless you pass eome law preventing it. . • is difficult for the officers of the Treasury Department to say that that Mr. HOWE. I understood thatfrom theSenatorfromPennsylvania· particular transaction shall not be completed, althou~h, as will be but what I wish to call the attention of the Senatol" to is, that for ali seeu, it takes from the Treasury Department its discretion to "decide those ordinary expense you have other money in the Treasury derived where the new circulation shall be pl::wed. from taxes; and now if the Bank of Commerce puts one million or I think it is better when the cirqula.tion is to be transferred from three millions into the Treasury to be used by and by to retire its existing solvent institutions, or from insolvent institutions, to new notes, and taxes supply the same three millions, then you have six localities, that it should be left to the Trea-sury Department rather millions to meet three millions of l:ia.bllities; there are three mil­ than to individuals outside; and in so far a that~ wise, thi bill is lions.more than you want, whatever that is. I do not ee how thoee unwise, inasmuch as it increases the facility for doing that particular three millions are going to get out except by retarining three millions thing. derived from another source. I will take this occasion, Mr. President-not in re-ply to the Sena­ 1t!r. SCOTT. The point the Senator from Wisconsin makes is one tor from Connecticut, but in consequence of a suggestion made by well worthy of consideration. It is renewing in another form the the Senator from Connecticut-to submit an ob ervation touching an same objection which I had to the bill' which was previously consid­ opinion that seems· to be pretty common, which is that the Govern­ ered; and, to get it down to the finest point, it is simply this: that ment of the United States has a vast amount of its demand not&! in when, for instance, 10,000 of legal-tender notes are paid ·into the circulation and discredited by not being redeemed when once due. Treasury in lieu of circulating notes for the purpose of reducing the Whoever will look at a United States ote will s e that there is no capital of a bank, those notes will have to be covered into the Treas­ obligation ex:pre ed-and I think none implied-in what is written ury formally before they can again be used by the Treasury Depart­ upon the note, that it is to be paid at a particular time. It is redeem­ ment in p~yment of any expenses of the Government. That is the able at the ple.a.sure of the Government, but not payable at any par­ point which the Senator makes. ticular moment. Such was the spirit of the law. Such, I thjnk, has Mr. HOWE. Not exactly that point. I think they ought to be been the view of the Treasury Department. covered into the Treasury and be held there as a fund dedica,ted to a :Mr. MORTON. I sugg t to the Senator that the Supreme Court specific purpose, to wit, the cancellation of tha bank-notes when of the United States, in a decision delivered by the Chief Justice, de­ they come in. But whether that is so or not, the con equence is the cided that those notes were not payable on dema,nd, and that the • same. You have got twice the amount of money in the Treasury that Government was not bound to pay any part of them until it was you need for the legitimate purposes of the Treasury. The taxes ready to redeem the whole currency. supply all the money you want for ordinarry purpose ; and yet they 1\!r. BOUTWELL. Undoubtedly. I do not soo how the court will tell you you may use this money which the banks pay in for could have decided otherwise, inasmuch as there was nothing in the tho e purposes. Suppo e you do; you have then the arne amount law implying that the notes were to be redeemed at a particular locked up in the Treasury d'erived fi·om contra-ction-and that is a time; an~ there. was nothing expre ed or implied upon the face of contraction beyond all question. the notes that they were to be redeemed at a particular time. The Mr. BUCKINGHAM. I have no doubt that the Senator from Wis­ Government in reference to all these issues ta.nda precisely as it conBin is right when he speaks of this measure as being a. contraction; does in reference to the five-twenty bonds, with the exception but it appears to me that it is not pbjectionable on that account, for that there is no period of time a signed when the note are to be if it is a contraction, it is a contraction made necessary because those paid. The five-twenty bonds are redeemable in five yea~ but who arc interested in :finances have no occa ion for the money which they are not payable until twenty years. As regards the united1 they return. It is to be those instances of contraction where the States notes they re redeemable at any time, but they are payabl6 necessities of cofilmerce do not demand the amount of currency only at the pleasure of the Goverum.ent; that is to say, the Govern- 1874. CONGRESSIONAL· RECORD. ~ 509

mont will consult its own convenience-the ideas that prevail as to a the party issuing the paper did not pay it_, the courts would decide wise publicpolicy. Ionlymaketheseremarbthatimayput anend, that he should pay, and that it wa a frau<1 to evade the payment of so far as an expression of opinion can put an end, to the opinion pre­ it. Now I do not like to place the Government of the United States in yailing in the. community that the Government has for a. moment that position. I believe that it was the intention from the first to pay be n discredited in the reference or the 1·edemption of these notes. this paper at a very early moment. Whlm it was first issued there Mr. MORRILL, of Vermont. I desire to put a question to the Sen­ was a. special provision that it should be redeemed, and bonds· were ator, before he takes his seat, in relation to the point which he has authorized in lieu of the paper issued. Subsequently that part of the suggested. If an individual were to give a. note, with no time speci­ law was repealed, but the form of the obligation was not changed. fied as to date of payment-a promise to pay .five dollars or ten dol­ lt!r. HOWE. Mr. President, touching this question of the meaning lars-will he say as alawyer that any court would not enforce payment of the promise which is inscribed on your greenba-ck, I think if I were on demandf sitting as a justice of the peace or as a. judge in the Court of Claims, I Mr. BOUTWELL. I will answer that, according to my ideas, the should ay precisely what the Supreme Court said in the case which relations between individuals are determined by the laws. I S'tlppose ha-s been referred to. I would not give juagment against the United • the courts would enforce the payment of a. similar private obligation States upon one of these notes. But because your law was so framed after the demand was made, considering the circumstances, whether a-s not to make contra.ct upon which individuals could sue, as not to they were reasonable or not; but tho rnle does not apply to the Gov­ make a contract upon which a court could give judgment, it does not ernment. There is no power of making the demand. These notes were follow that we are exempted from: the obligation to give judgment for issued upon an express and general notice as to the character of the the payment of these notes whenever the United States is able to obligation, and discretion as to the time of payment is left with the meet the obligation of that contract. Government. Mr. BOUTWELL. Will the Senator from Wisconsin allow me a .Mr. MORRILL, of Vermont. Then the only difference is that an wordf individual cannot sue the Government. If the claim existed against Mr. HOWE. Certainly. another citizen of course it could be enforced; but this claim being lt!r. BOUTWELL. I take no issue with the Senator from Wisconsin a promise made by the Government, which cannot be sued by an indi­ or with the Senator from Vermont as to the obligation of the country, vidual, therefore it stands upon a different lJasis. at the earliest po ible moment, to Iru1ke all th e notes equivalent in Mr. MORTON. Will my friend allow me to suggest that the value to pecie and to redeem them. But I have yet to len.rn how Supreme Court of the United States passed upon that very point, the public credit is improved or the character of the country in­ holding that these notes were not in their nature, and were not under­ crea ed by the statement that it is living in constant financial dis­ tstood to be, payable upon demand, but at the convenience of the honor. I said what I did simply for the purpose of bringing before Government t the Senate what I understood to be the law, because nations act .Mr. MORRILL, of Vermont. I am quite ready to admit that there upon the law. The equity and the morality are to be sought for in is no obligation which can be enforced by law; but it does not destroy the hearts and the pmposes of the people; but a nation cannot be the moral obligation. charged with dishonor when it has stipulated beforehand what it lt!r. SCOTT. Recurring to a point which bears upon the bill under will do and is in the direction, a it has been for the last five or six consideration, I wish to get from the honorable Senator from Massa­ years, of performing what it has undertaken ultimn.tely to do; and chusetts [Mr. BouTWELL] a distinct understanding as to an impres­ that is, .to make these notes of the value of coin and redeemable sion which I think he ha left upon my mind, although he may not in coin. But while this process is going on, and while we are under have left it upon the minds of others, and which I think may do no obligation to bring the process to an ultimate and favorn.ble injury to the country. It is this: that where those interested in an result at a particular time, I do not hold the nn.tion to be discredited jnsolvent bank make an arrangement with others to buy up their cir­ or dishonored if it be acting in good faith towards a result which culation, or where those who WISh to decrease their capjtal and dimin­ it has promised ultimately to perform, but which it has not agreed ish their circulation make an arrangement with brokers and others to perform at a particular time. to buy up-their circulation and give it to banks already established.z .Mr. HOWE. Mr. President, the Senator from Massachusett-s has or to new banks to be established, the Treasmy officers feel bound. made one admission, and it covers about n.ll that I insist upon with by that arrarngement to give their sanction to it and to permit that reference to the character of the greenback. Ho h..'ts accompanied it by cimulation to go to the banks that.have thus arranged for it. If a statement which remains to be verified, and that is, that for five or such an arrangement has been made, either by an in solvent bank or by six years the Government has been in ·the direction of making y~or a solvent bank, is t·hOI'e anything in the national-currency act which deferred promises equal in value to coin; what you promised to do prevents the Comptroller of the Currency from apportioning that cir­ when you put them afloat. That business has been in that direc­ culation, according to the population or wealth, under the terms of tion I think is correct; that the Government has taken a step in that that a.ct; and if the Comptroller refuses to persons having purchased direction I have yet to learn. Something has been accomplished, the the circulation his sanction to the arrangement which they have Senator sug~ests. Yes, by business, a.nd in spit-e of the Government ; ma-de, ca.n _they do anything more than present the notes a;t the Treas­ not by the uovernment. That is my understanding of the case in ury and 'have them redeemed f reference to the greenbacks. Mr. BOUTWELL. The Senator is quite right 3.8 to the powers of ADJOURNMENT TO MONDAY. the Treasury Department; and I may say that while, ordinarily at · The The morning hour having expired, • lea t, four or five years since, as far as I know, there were no re~ PRESID&~ pro tempore. tiona existing in the Treasmy Department by which this busmess the Senate resumes the cons~deration of the unfinished busine s, which was controlled, yet about a year and a half or two years since certain is the salary bill, so called. regulations were made designed to limit this business in such a man­ Mr. LEWIS. If in ordert I move tha.t when the Senate adjourns ner as to ma.ke the organization of new banks concur with the gen­ to-day it be to meet on Monaa.y next. eral policy of the law. Bp.t it is with difficulty that it can be done. The PRESIDENT pro ten-tpore. The Senator from Virginia- moves When re pectable parties have obtained the currency and paid for that when the Senate adjourns to-day it adjourn to meet on Monday it, and are ready to organize a new }jank, unless there is some special next. reason adverse to the plan which they have, it is difficult for the lli. SHERMAN. I trust the Senator will 'vithdra.wthat, and let us Treasury Departmflnt to say that that bank shall not be organized in get rid of this one bill that i8 before us. If we do that to-day, I shall that particular pl:tce; and yet if the question were submitted to the hn.ve no objection to adjourning ove1· to-morrow. · Treasury Department originally, without any in:fluences at work, the The question being put, there were on a. division-ayes 28t noes 23. Mr. EDMUNDS and .Mr. MORTON called for the yeas and. nays. . opinion mi~ht be different. I do not speak of it as a great evil; but thi;J bill facilitates that busjness undoubtedly. · The yeas and nays were ordered; and being taken, resulted-yea-s 32, lt!r. MORTON. Will the Senator allow me to read an extra.ct from nays 29; as follows: · the opinion of the court on the very point! YEAS-::Messrs.fuyard, Bogy, Boreman, Brownlow·, Cameron, Carpenter Clayton, Conovor, Cooper, Crozi r, Davi.') D~nnis, Fenton, Flanagan, Gilbert, Goldthwaite, Mr. HOWE. Yes; let us hear it. Gordon, Hamilton o.f Marylanu, ffitchcock, Kelly, Lewis, McCreery,- Norwood, Mr. MORTON. It is in the ca.se of Bank vs. Supervisors, (7 Wal- Patterson, Ramsey, Saulsbury, Spencer, Sprogue, Stevenson, Sumner, Thurman, lace, 29:) · . · and Tipton-32. NAYS-Messrs. Allison, Anthony, BOutwell, Buokin~ha.m, Chandler, Conkling, Under the exigencies of the times it seenu1 to have been thought inexpedient t{) Cragin, Edmunds, Ferry of Connecticut, Ferry of Micliig-an, Frelinglmyaen, Ham­ ~ttemp any provision for the redemption of United States notes in coin. The law, ilton of Texa , Hamlin. Howe, Ingalls, Logan, Merrimon, Mitchell, Morrill of Maine, therefore., directed that they should be made payable to bearer at the Treasury of Morrill of Vermont, 'Morton, Oglesby, Pratt, Sargent, SchliTz, Scott, Sherman, the United tates, but did not proviclo for payment on demand. The period of pay­ Wadleigh, and Wright-29. ment was left to be determined by the public exigencies. A:BSE...~T-Messrs. Alcorn, Ames, Dorsey, Johnston, Jones, Ransom, Robertson, Stewart, Stockton, West, and Windom-11. And there is more to the same effect. So the motion wa agreed to. Mr. MORRILL, of Vennont. I wa a little surprised by the state­ ment of the Senator from Massachusetts, undertaking to defend, as it MES AGE FROM THE HOUSE. seemed to me, the morality of issuing Govemment paper without any A message from the House of Representative , by ~!r. McPHERSON, specified time for payment, and cl..'liming therefore that legally, as its Clerk, announced that the House had pa d a bill (H. R. No. 253) well as morally-for it must be so understood-it had the right to for the relief of Thomas Hillhouse, assistant treasurer of the United postpone the day of payment forever. Now, sir, without pretending State in New York City, and a bill (H. R. No. 215) to exempt George to understand very mnoh of the niceties of law, I know as a business M. Richards, of Pittston, in the State of Pennsylvania, from the pay­ man that in case any individun.l were to give his paper ont in this ment of $881.29 for postage-stamps stolen from his office while post­ form with no time specified as to when it should be paid, if, on demand, m.a.ater; in which it reque.!lt.ed the concurrence of the Senate. 510 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD. JANUARY 9,

OFFICIAL SALARIES. ' to vot-e for this because he ha{:l introduced it, or somethin(J' like it, at The Senate as in Committee of the "Whole, resumed the cod!idera- the commen.ccmcnt of tho s ion. I can forgive a good d~aJ to pride tion of the bill (H. R. No. 793) to establish the compensation o:f Sena- o:f authorshtp; but it seems t-o me that there was another oblicrn.ti.on tors, Re-presenta,tives, and Delegates. which I wish to suggest lrind1y to the Senator, aml that waa t!f staucl The PRESIDENT 11ro tempore. The pending question is on tho by the committee, to stand by the bill he reported, and that ob1io-a­ amendment offered by the Sen:1tor from Vermont [Mr. EDl\Imill l to tion he r~cognized when on two several occasions, when th Senntor the amendment reported by the Committee on CivilSeTvico andRe- froJ?l Indiana had brought forward amendment making this r tTo- tr nchment; as amenueu. · active to the 4th of March, he aid, "Well, this is right; if it WEir n. Mr. EDMUNDS. I ask that the amendment be reported. separate propo ilion, or came in at such a time tha.t it would Hot The PRESIDENT pro tempare. The amendment to the amendment injure the bill, I would vote for it; but I call upon tho Selh'tte to vote will be read. . down these amendments even if they be right, and I believe th y The CHIEF CLERK. · It is proposed to insert a.f-tcr the word "re- are right i otherwise the passage of the bill will be endan o-erotl.;, pealed," in line 13, the words~ Dut when comes that amendment so injurious to the Pre identof the .Aml the ~eduction of salaries herein provided for shall take effect as of the 4th United Sta,tes, injurious to the reputatio:Q. of the President of tho cla.y of M:1reh, 1873; and the acoountin"' officers of the ~sury shall.comput;e tho United State , then all this olicitude for the bill seems to vanish iu samo accordingly, ancl shall make ratable monthly deductions from saul sala.ne~ at the face of the pride of authorship. · the 111-te nece s3"TY to effectuate this provision within nine months next hereafter. I tell tho gentleman that his bill is in more danger to-day, ani'!. on So as to read: account of that course of his own, than it would bo by tho adoption And the salaries :mfl compensation of all snid officers and clerks of ev('ry nrone of the amendment of the Senat-o1· from Indiana, or almost any othor nnd clc cription shall be and romn.in as fixed by the laws in force at th timo of tho amendmont that can be proposed. Anu why f Dec:tusc thor is a p::t~:~SUgo of tho act tho J?rovisions of which aro hereby repealoo. .Ami the reduction spirit of fair play in the Senate and Congress, because we do not want of alarie herein proVIdoo for shall tako eftect, &c. to ee the President of the United State the object of the assaults of :M:r. SARGENT. Mr. President, I think it was unfortunate for the ruffianism all over the oountry; we do not want by inclirection to cir­ l.lill unuer consideration that the Senate la t ovenin~ concluded to cum vent tho President of the Unit-ed States; we do not want to un­ adopt the amendment of the Sena,tor from Marylana., [Mr. H.uiiL- constitutiona1ly prevent hi receiving the compensation which was TO:N.] I think it was nnfortuna,te that the Senator from Iowa who provided before his term CQmmenced; we do not want to inflict that h:ul charge of this bill [Mr.. WRIGHT] thought proper to depart from injustice on him. It is the sense of fair play of the Senat-e that I rely the rule, which he had announced throughout the debate, of voting upon. I know the amendment was adopted without muoh cl bate. down all amendments, for fear they might retard or prevent tho pas- Tho Senator from Mai:ne [Mr. Il.uiLIN] called attention tp itiu a fow saae of the bill, to vote for that amendment simply because in some remarks; bu~ I uoubt if it ~as generally understood, ancl I donbt if of its terms it resembled a bill which he hau himself introduced on the en a tor from Iowa himself understood that the amentlment si:n,..,.lctl the first day of the session. . out the President and separated hiin from the judges of the -Snpr~me Now, sir, I very strongly desire to vot-e for this bill. Certainly a Comt, and said the repeal should take place at the end o:f lrie torm, very serious cloubt exist in my mind at the present timo whether or and the repeal shouldnottakeplaceat theendof their term, whereby not I shall vote for the bill if this feature is retained in it; and I they would have shared the re pon ibility with him of taking th~ speak not mm·ely for myself, but think that I express the 01)inion of ·pay .which the Constitution and our laws havo provided they shaH other Senators. The amendment already nuopted ingles out the rec01ve. Presiuent of the United States alone, separates him from the Snprome Now, sir. a I voted in the negative on this propo ition, I am not in Com·t judges, from every other officer, and put him in a pillory for a position to move a reconsideration of it; but it seems to me that the four years; nails his ears to a post, to be the object of all the attacks, mattor is gra.ve enough for some Senator who did vote in the uffu·ma­ of all tho slang, which malignity and genius combineu can invent to tive to move n. reconsidertion of the amendment. I trust it will be throw at his devoted hcacl. This amendment does not provide that done. tho increased salary of the President and of· t.he supreme judges Mr. HAMILTON, of Maryland. J\.Ir. President, just ono word. I shaJl cea"Se after tho expiration of tho present term of the incum- have had no personal or hostile feeling in my a-ction ori this qnc.'1- bents of these positions, placing him in company with the supreme tion in propo ing tho amendment which the Senat-e has ao-reed to; juuges, so that any reflection cast upon him must be shared by other , and it is really the proposition of my honorable·friend fr~m Iowa,, and therein, perhaps, their injustice be shown. .But the amendment [J\.Ir. WRIGHT,] and was first introduced in this body by him. It was sn.ys that this repealing act shall ta,ke effect as to the Pres:ident from offcredbymebecauseit met myviews.z.. and was what! believed thefa.ir the tc.rmination of the pre identia,l term, and then goes on to say that sentiment of the country required. tio far a.s I am concerned every­ t.he repeal shall not now, nor then, nor at any timo, take offect on the body knows that I am a democrat, and a very decided one; but in salaries of the judges of the Supreme Court of the United States. any amendment that I p1·opo ed on this question I had no idea of I wish to know if that is the pm-pose of the American Senate. I reflecting, nor does the amendment itself reflect at all, upon tho wish to know if it is our pmpo o that the President of the United President of the United States. It is the only time we can have the States from now until his term expires shall be the object of attacks opportunity of determining this question. · which this gives fe~e occasion for. li weintond covertly :1nu cun- Mr. SARGENT. Will the enator allow me i I should like to ask nin~ly by this provision that the President shall not,·on account of a if there is not an opporlunity at any time during the next three yem·s public opinion that shall be aroused against him if he should take to pa sa provision of this character which will not reflect npon the • the increased pay for three or fom years, got what the law allows, President of the Unit-ed States I would further ask if, when he is then I say it is unworthy of us aa legislators thus to avoid, thus t{) separated from -the judge , and it is aid that he shall receive the in­ endeavor to circumvent, the constitutional provision. But if that is creaBed ~alary only during his term, that is not a reflection on him' not our pmpose, we at any rate put the President in such a position Is it not an inclication of the sense of Congress that be ought not to that he is compelled to forego one-half the pay which is his by the have the enhanced amount, and consequently that he does wrong in Constitution, or else plead what will be alleged nB a mere constitu- taking itt tional technicality in order to receive this inorea ~1 pay. Wo put him Mr. HAMILTON, of Maryland. I think not. We may as well net in a position where papers with little character, and paper , perhap , upon it now1 as it is before us, as any other time within the next three with greater, may be able to say each quarter as he goes to tho Trea ury years. We have got to do it in order that it may be effective ancl ap­ and iliaws the enhanced compensation, "The thief has been once ply to his succe sor. We are to do it during his p riod of s 1-vice. more to the Trea my and carrieu off double tho amount to which he It would be just as much a reflection, and more so, if W(\ made the was equitably entitled;" double the amount because tho Congre of provision just us hewn. going out of office. If I know the cbaractor the United States has said that he ought to havo only one-half thnt of Pre&ident Grant, if I understanu him at aD, he will care nothing . amount in effect, by saying that his succ sor should only have oue- about the action of this Congress, l)ecause he i not ro pon ibl for it half that amount and his pTedecessors had but one-half. and for our conduct here upon this subject. The law now pmvides Now I am unwilling a a Senatorr:md I run unwilling as a repub- tha,t ho shall have 50,000 a year. The Constitution of the Unitcu lican Sen.·1.tor root cert.ainly7 to put the President of the United Statcssaysthatheshallhaveit, and wecannottakeitfromhim. lean­ Stat-e, and again I say the President cho en by the party to which I notblamethePro·identfortakingtho$50,000. Idonotblameanybouy belong, in the position of being an object of the abuse that can be here foT returning his. 5,000 or keeping it. The argument of tl1o bon­ heaped upon him by the reckless papers of the United. State . I do omble Senator from California would apply to our action on tbis bill 1 not characterize-them all by that term; but Senato:L know to what and he might as well say that by the repeal of this lu.~ wt! reflect I refer, andlmow that there are papers of this de cription which will upon every member of the Senate who has dra·wn the incrca ·eu pay gladly seize upon thls or any other occa ion to besmirch the fair rep- prior to the 3d of March, or what is commonly called the back pay. utation of tl;w Pre ident of the United States, and· we by this amenu- This legislation reflects as everely upon tho e gentlemen as it can mont provide that he alone, n.nd simply because he is shieldeu by po sibly npon the President of the United States. There is no r flee­ what they·well declare is a constitutioual technicality, o'h::ill retain tion upon either, in my judgment. I do not intend to reflect upou Iris increased compensation and his successor shall not have it. I President Grant for taking th alary. It was his right to do it. We ask, can this as it stands, singling him out from the Supreme Conrt gave it to him as the representatives of the pOOJlle, and, as the Execu­ judges of the United States, bear any other con truction, and does it tive officer of the Government, he signed the bill. not make the Pre ident a mark for the arrows of abuse cluring the So far as I am cone rued, in oftering the amendment I lle ignell no remainder of his term f . · reflection upon· anybody, and it reflect& upon nobody. The amend- The Senator from Iowa, when this amendv:lent was proposed, vary- ment only does this : it carries out what I believe to be n. faiT ax­ ing the terms of the bill, arose and said thatitwas nece ary.forhim pression of the public sentimentof the people of this country; and in .1874. CONGRESSIONAL RECORD. 511

the expression of that sentiment it has reference alone t-o the provis- It provides for aJ.l that the law of the 3d of March provided for, o:s:cept­ • ions of the llill, and to no individual that may have taken the advan­ ing the President of the United States and the judges of the Supreme tage of it. Dut we are not to remain here ·and undertake to combat Court. the u~gestions of newspaper , or the criticisms of newspaper . It is J.Ir. BOREMAN. I should like to have the amendment reported their nght to criticise the conduct of the President and to criticise our again.- I h ave misapprehended its terms, probably. conduct , and it is their duty at times. to do so. Are we to make laws The Chief Clerk read as follows: to suit that criticism at all times or are we to control and direct our .And the reduction of salaries herein provided for shall takooffectas of tho 4th day legislation to avoid that criticism Y I think the honorable Senator has of March, 1873; and the accounting officers of the Treasury shall compute the same not tated the que tion fairly. He says that he has ollserved that accordingly, and shall make ratable monthly reductions irom said salaries at tho some newspapers are already making suggestions about the President rate necessary to effectuate this provision within nine months next hereafter. of the United States-that he has already been the subject of abuse 1\fr. BOREMAN. Then, Mr. President, it includes Senators and all and criticism. ·Sir, members, too, have been subject to abuse and criti­ other officers except the President and the judges, so that to that cism. We cannot help that. We desire to do what is right; and I am extent I have misapprehended it. It is the same proposition, how­ sure I do not know that I can say so positively, but I am sure that over, only that it is broader, which we voted down yesterday. I trust amidst all the newspaper criticism, and amid all the reflections that this will also be 'voted down. some people may cast upon the President of the United States if this Mr. WRIGHT. I have nothing to say upon the amendment now m ea ure shall pass both Houses of Congress, he is well able to stand pending; and what I may have to say upon the other qllestion would it, and will stand it. _ . · hardly be appropriate at this time. When the question shall again .Mr. EDMUNDS. I do not rise, Mr. President, to debate this amend­ come before the Senate touching the amendment offered by the Sen­ ment. It is perfectly well understood, and I suppose has been de­ ator from Maryland I may, perhaps, then make a response or answE\r bated at sufficient length already. ' My single observation is, not that to the very kindly and friendly lecture which has been read to me bv public opinion is for or against this refunding of rthe accruing pay the Senator from Californin,, [Mr. SARGENT.] Of course I recogniz'e during this time. I do not know that we are bound to know what the right of that Senator and of others to question my action and pulllic opinion is, and I do not know that we are bound to act upon my conduct here. Of com·se that Senator understands very muoh it if we do know, llecause a public opinion that grows up suddenly better than I do what should be my course of conduct in the control m~y chan~e as suddenly; and I believe that our terms were ma.Ue long of a bill. Of course, by reason of his larger experience, he is able in order tnat we might not ·mistake that for a public opinion which to tell much bettter than I can what .is to be the effect of· the bill, at the moment seemed to bo such. I offer the proposition now pend­ the amendment having been adopted which was adoJ?tecl yesterday; i~~ llecause I believe the passage of that clause in the appropriation and of course I should hardly be expected to que tion tho correct­ bill relating to our salaries wa wrong in itself-first, because it was ne of the conclusion at which he has arrived. I think there is a attached to an appropriation bill; and, second, because we forced our­ very clear distinction, however, between the position I occupied yes­ selves to pass it for the reason that we thought, either rightfully or terday upon the one amendment and the position I occupied upon wrongfully-! think wron~fully-that we could not vote it out of another. It may arise from a mi take on my part, he understandin 0" the appropri::ttion bill, or direct our committee to insist upon taking the subject involved verymuch better than I do. If I had believed wh~ it out, without defeating the whole bill. ·The bill having passed, the amendment was offered that it would endanger the success of the either under a wrong interpretation of onr rules, or, if under a right bill, I should certainly have occupied the same position upon it that one, under a rigorous interpretation that prevented us from voting, as, I did upon the other amendments. If I could be led to believe that, presumably, we otherwise would, I think that such vicious legisla­ I certainly should occupy the same ground that I did before; for, as tion as that ought to be wiped off the statute-book and matters put I have said on more than one occasion, what I want is results, and I in Btatl£ quo. The way to do that is to put this matter where it stood do not care to wrangle and quarrel and controvert over the matters on the 3d of March, as far as we have the power to do so. Having intermediate or questions which may arise that do not affect such dono that, I shall be quite willing to face public opinion, when our general results. I say if I believed the amendment -would have the affairs are in as good order as they were on the 3d of March last, by effect indicated by the Senator from California, and he doubtless votiu~ for a proper increase of the salaries of members of Congress, understands it very much better than I do, I should certainly not and other officers of the Government who seem to deserve it, to take insist on the amendment. · effi ct in the future-and not in the past. I ask for the yeas and nays But it was not my purpose at this time to speak of the amendment· on the adoption of my amendment. adopted "yesterday, for there is an amendment now pending before Ml·. CHANDLER. Mr. President, I am somewhat embarrassed as the Senate that raises an entirely different question. I will, however, to my action on this bill. I had assured the honorable Senator from now that I have the :floor, say one thing. The Senat-or from Ca.lifor­ Iowa [Mr. WRIGHT] that if he would introduce a bill simply restor­ nia seems to intimat.e that I, by the amendment adopted ye terday, ing tho compensation of members of Congress and the employes of singled out the President of the United States. Does not that Sena­ the two Houses to the exact position that was occupied by them llefore tor know that the amendment of the Senator from Maryland includes the pa ~age of the bill of the 3d of March, 1873, I would stand by him other officers as well as the President of the United State 7 The and vote down with him every amendment offered, and I did stand by question involved is simply this: whether we as Senators here will him and voted against amendments of which I was really in favor, eat humble pie and confess that last March we were wrong in increas­ because I considered myself bound in honor to do so. But when the ing our own salaries, but·right in increasing the salary of everybody Senator who had charge of t~e bill abandoned that position, I did not else. I am not prepared to do that. vote on the last proposition which was added to the bill. I did not Mr. SARGENT. Will the Senator name the other officerst believe then, and I do not believe now, that any other bill will become Mr. WRIGHT. It increased the Assistant Secretaries of the Treas­ a law than the bill which I pledged myself to stand •by with him. I ury Department; it increased the Supervising Architect of the Trea&­ do not believe that this bill in its present shape will ~come a law if ury; it increased the solicitor of. claims in the State Department; it we pa s it through tbe Sena.te. Hence, as I said before, after the increased some four or five or six other officers besides those named abandonment of the position taken by the honorable Senator having in the Senate bill. charge of the bill I felt myself very much embarrassed, and am still Mr. SARGENT. The increased salary of all of whom is repealed so. I should be very glad to vote for several of the amendments that . by this amendment Y . I voted against because I considered myself bound not to vote for Mr. WRIGHT. Yes, sir. them. I hope the Senator from Iowa will reconsider his action and Mr. SARGENT. Very well; then the President is the only· one stand by his original proposition, and give us a. bill that we are sure whose salary is continued during this term, with the intimation that we can pas , which will restore matters precisely as they stood before it shall end by and by. If the Sepator will allow me a. moment, the the pas age of the act of the 3d of March last. . point is simply this: that if there were con titutional power to repeal Mr. BOREM.AN. As I understand this amendment, it proposes to the salary of the President at once, so that he could receive the make the last amendment that was attached to the bill, so far as the smaller compensa-tion, and thereby be on an equality with those othor employes and officers other than the President are concerned, to take officers whose salaries are repealed, I should raise no objection, except effect from· the 4th of March last, and it would withdraw from the the one that his salary is not too great at the increasell rate; but officers and employes in effect, although not in term , a portion of the theu it would be on an equality, and the Senator says plainly he is salaries which they have already received. The Senate voted down no;t now on an equality. a proposition like this applicable to the members of this bodyLand I Mr. WRIGHT. Mr. Presiclent, it is only a question of names after apprehend they will not now attach to this bill and make applicable all. Suppose we should pass this bill and say nothing about the to other officers and employes a propo ition which they would not President, or suppose we should pass it and except him from its oper­ impo e upon themselves. It would be a. singular course of legislation ation, and fix no time when it should take effect upon him, I ask if for us to say that a proposition of this sort was good for other officers, the moral effect of it is not the same as by the amendment that is but wa very ina.ppmpriate for Senators. I shall vote against it upon proposed here~ We say to the country, according to the Son at-or's the samo principle that I voted against tho amendment yesterday, argument, that we do not touch the President's salary, because wo which was to make the law itself operative from tho 4th of March, cannot in the case that I have supposed. . But, sir, it was not my pur­ taking away a portion of the salaries, as I understood, of the mem­ pose to argue this question at this time. At the proper time I sh::tll ber of this body. attempt to give the reasons more at length for t..he course I havo taken. Mr. EDMUNDS. My friend from West Vn:ginia I think misappre­ I have no question as to it. hends the scope of my amendment. It does not operate retroactively :Mr. SARGENT. Mr. Pre ident, it was veryfar frommypurpose to -as to the officer and employes of the Senate and leave the enators instruct the Senator from Iowa in his duties, and it is very f a-r from to have their llack pay between this time anu the 4th of March last. my purpose, either, to be'deterredin the expr sion of my OWl.l senti· '

512 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD. J .ANU.ARY 9,

ments upon this floor by the aasumption of that Senator, oT any other . Mr. CLAYTON. Is it in order to move to recommit the bill with one that I have not a full right and liberty so to do. I am not to be instructionsf - deterred from the expre ion of my sentiments because I am not, aa the The PRESIDENT pro tempore. Snoh a motion would be in order. Senator implies, more than a young Senator on this floor. I shall en- Mr. CLAYTON. Then I make the following motion: That the bill deavor, if 1 can, to express them modestly and properly; and express with the proposed amendments be committed to the Committ-ee on them I certainly shall, whenever in order under the rules. That is all Civil Service and Retrenchment, with instructions to report a bill that I desire to ay in reply to the Senator's remark-perhaps sneer- looking to a general reduction of all salaries, both civil and military, as to the comparative age of himself on this floor and my elf. as far as the same can be lawfully done; said reduction to be appor- Now, sir, .so far as related to the change in tactics of the Senator · tioned so as to equalize 88 near as may be the salaries of all officers in the conduct of the bill, it was so obvious to every Senator around in accordance with the nature and with respect to the amount of hlm that, it seems to me, it was a proper subject of remark. When service rendered by them. there were amendments offered which he himself stated on the floor- Mr. P:resi.den t, I do not offer this motion for the purpose of defeating as a reference to the RECORD of yesterday will show-that he be- the measure now before the Senate, but for the purpose of perfecting lieved to be right, he suggested that they, and all amendments, should it and facilitating its pas age. I am impressed with the opinion that be voted down, because otherwise the passage of the bill would be this is avery important subject. !~arrive at that conclusion from the imperiled. But when there came an amendment which he himself fact that we were told before the late recess by many Senators that had drawn a.pd introduced in the form of a bill a.t the commencement the bankrupt law was a question that we could not possibly allow to of the session, or something resembling the bill that he then intro- pass unacted upon during the time we proposed to occupy in the re­ duced, although it is not the same, he said that he wanted that to be cess. We were told that the whole country was clamoring for action adopted; and the only reason he gave was that it was a bill of his on that subject. We were told that the people were groaning-umler own introducing. If all amendments were to be voted down because the evils inflicted by that law. -We were led to believe that unless they would imperil the bill, then, by the same logic, that amendment something was done, everything would go to rack and ruin. Now we should have been voted down lest it should imperil the bill, and the find tha.t question for nearly one week has been allowed to slumber Senator should not have voted for it. here unacted upon, and this measure, which seems to be of such vital It is true that, under the legislation of last session, the salaries of and paramount importance to all others, is thrust upon the attention a number of officers were increased. .All of them, except that of the of thES Senate. · President of the United States and the judges of the Sup:reme Court, I cannot, therefore, agree with what ha.s been said by many Senators can be constitutionally repealed as om'S is repealed, to take effect, as on this :floor, that we ought not to discuss this question, that we the Senate insists the repeal of ours ought to take effect, from the ou~ht · to a

• I have now a few words to say on this question of mileag-e, as it them here it costs him money to do it; and all this is because of the seems to have attracted the attention of the Senate to a considerable duty imposed on him as Senator. extent. Objection has been made that the mileage is altogether too So much for the question of mileage. I did not intend to say much large, that twenty cents per mile should not be allowed. I admit that on the subject, but while I am up I will refer to the position which I twenty cents per mile will more than pay every member of Congress shall take and the vote which I shall cast when this bill comes be­ for his actual expenditure in traveling from his home to the capital fore the Senate for final action. and returning; but I do not look at it in the light of mere compensa­ As I said, I voted against the increase of salary last year. I shall tion for traveling from the home of a Senator to the capital, but as a now change that vote, and I will state the reasons why. Among provision to compensate for that necessary travel which every mem­ other things, we know that the franking privilege has been abolished. ber of Congress is required to do in order to transact the business I asked Mr. Merchant, the superintendent of our document-room, devolved on him in a fair and reasonable manner. There is not a what would be the expense of postage for a Senator translnitting to Senator here who does not at times go home and attend to his huffiness his constituents the various documents which were given to us at the and then come back here . . Business necessarily calls him away some­ last session of Congress. After figuring it up he says it will be nine times. If traveling for this purpose is a necessary part of his voca­ hundred and twenty-one dollars and some cents. "This," said he, tion, why sho~ld he not be compensated for it to a certain extent' "does not include the sp~eches that may be sent, nor does it include The ConstitutiOn provides that Senators and Representatives shall such seeds as may be sent from the Agricultural Department. It is "receive a compensation for their services." What does "compensa­ simply the postage on the documents that each Senator is entitled tion" meanT It means an equivalent. If a Senator has to travel to." So there is $921 postage on documents, ' and when we include from his home here and then go back to spend the holidays with his other things which we may send from the Agricultural Department family, and-returns h ere again, why should he not have a reasonable it would certainly bring the postage to over $1,000. . compensation for that f If this amendment should prevail and the salary be put at $5,000, Take the Senator from New York, [Mr. CONKLING.] He resides in that would deduct $1,000 already from our salaries, because I suppose Utica. He is at times necessarily called home to attend to his profes­ every man here will send these documents to his constituents, as is sional business there. Is it expected that he should do that at his own expected of him. The voice of the country demands that they shall expense? I say it is no more reasonable to require that than that he receive these documents, which are published for public use. should have his p ay stopped when he leaves the S(}llate until he Now, what are the expenses of a Senator or Member of Congress comes back. here' Suppose he brings his family; and every Senator, I ma,intain, Again, take a member of Congress from the Pacific coast, and es­ should, and so the President himself thought when he suggested the pecially I will say a Senator who comes here for the term of six years. propriety of each State providing a residence for its Senators. I say He has to separate himself entirely from his family, ignore for the every Senator should have his family here who has one, unless he time being all family ties, or else he must bring them with him here; lives in the immediate neighborhood, as some do. Every one who and let me say that no man coming from that coast, or from any dis­ knows the price of rents knows that no suitable house cau'be rented tance, should come here without those with whom he is so dearly and furnished for less than 1,800 or $2,000 a year, and most of the connected as his wife and children. He must therefore bring them Senators live in houses that cost more than that. Take the coal to this pla-ce. It is true he gets enough to defray the actual cost in bills and gas bills alone, and they are $500 more. Now make that mODl' _v of bringing them here; but still it is an expense that is im­ simple deduction-$1,000 for postage, $2,000 for house and furniture, po l'd 11 pon him in the discharge of his duties as a member of Con­ $500 for coal a-nd gas bills- and what have you to live on 'f Fifteen gress. If a member of Congress chooses to allow his family to remain hundred dollars to support the family of a Senator or Representative! at home, he can, with the mileage that is allowed him, when the holi.! Fifteen hundred dollars for all things that are to be bought in the days come, return to them and spend those days with his family, as market at the same high prices as rent, coal, and gas. How can a he oufo-ht to do, instead of idling his time away in the capital. Senator lay up anything against the time when he shall leave here Y So can see nothing wrong in allowing a reasonable compensation, It is not pretended that he can. The Senator from Delaware [Mr. and I do not think twenty cents a mile is unreasonable when it ap­ BAYARD] stated that he could not live on his salary, and every o~ plies to a man's coming from his home h ere and returning there occa­ knows that he is a prudent man, given to no spendthrift habits, and sionally during the ses&ion to attend to his business. I think that i so Senator after Senator has made the same declaration on this floor. the principle which has always controlled; that the mileage is not With all this before us, can it be expected that we shall satisfy the a mere compensation for traveling one time, but for the necessary country that a reduction would be timely and proper now' I do not travel during the s_essions of Congress. think it requires any great amount of talent to satisfy the people at Again, look at it in another light. Travel to the Pacific coast is no large that living in thiS place, perhaps the most costly place in the light thing. I know that my friend from Indiana [Mr. PRA'IT] and whole country, we ought to be compensated in a reasonable way. It you, Mr. President, (Mr. STEVENSO~ in the chair,) have both intimated is true we might live on the cheapest pay ; we might live on Poto­ that the allowance of actual expenses would be really enough for mac herrings; we might imitate the example of a frugal member of every one. Now, suppose you were both to go with me to my home. Congress some years back and bring our Bologna sausages in our Suppose you and I and my brother from Indiana should start on that pockets here and eat the)Il. We know that that has been done; and journey. We commence here; we go for seven days by rail, travel­ yet with all the economy of that member from Ohio, one of those ing day and night, to the Pacific coast. Then we reach San Francisco, nimble-witted Bohemians who are so ready with their pens gave him and we stop perhaps in a hotel, waiting there for the steamer three the name of ''Sausage Sawyer," and it has clung to him from that or four days, and by and by we get on board. We go about per­ day to this. It shows that however men may economize, this thino­ haps in a chopping sea, a little rough, or it may be making headway of "poor but honest" \\ill not pay in the eyes of the public. They against the northwest breezes that blow there in the summer time. expect their representatives to live decently; they expect them to Presently we shall see our brother from Indiana sea-sick and looking live as a member of Congress should; they expect each Senator and forward wistfully. A sailor will come aJong and tell him, '' Oh, you Member to receive his constituents, when they come here, in a reason­ land-lubbers, go to the lee side ; don't be heaving over here." I think I able and an honorable way. They do not expect their Senators to go then look into my brother's face and say to him, "Brother PRATI, are into th e snbllrbs of the city to reside; and if they live in a proper actual expenses sufficient for this'" And he would look up and say, way, as I ha Ytl sltown, it takes every cent of the salary that they get. "I think twenty cents a mile is little enough for it all." [Laughter.] I do not think the public sentiment is such that the people are cry­ We go on; we reach my home in Oregon; we stay there, and we re­ ing out for this repeal knowing these facts. It is simply because they tm·n perhaps by land, unwilling to come back the same way we went. do not know the situation in which we are placed that this clamor "A life on the ocean wave" once is enough for us. We determine to is raised. I think when the subject comes to be understood it will ' r eturn by stage-coach. Three days and three nights we ride in the all pass away. body of that coach, rolling along in that way, dusty and dirty, way­ Now, let us look at the duties of a Senator; let us look at his labors. worn and wearied, without sleep and without rest, consuming one The labors are not tho e which take place simply in this Chamber. month of time, because it will take at least two weeks to come and This is nothing but, as it were, a dress parade. The work is done else­ the same length of time to return if we expect to travel as men rea­ where. The work is done in committees. And let me say further sonably will. There is one month lost; one month of our precious that I believe the Judiciary Committee, on which is my friend from time is lost ; to say nothing of the hardships that we endure on the Ohio, [Mr. THUID1Al'f,] has just as much work while it is in session as • journey there and on the journey back. the Supreme Court of the United States. Its labors are just as hard, I merely instance this to show that this question has two sides, and consta,nt, and unremitting. Questions of great importance are pre­ that there is a hardship involved; but I put it on the other ground sented before it. That is but one committee. Every member has to which I referred, that it is necessM"y to pay the ordinary expenses othm· committee duties to attend to, and every one here knows that of Senators and Members when theyj~O to attend to their necessary every morning until the time when the session of the Senate com­ busine sat home. Yon might as well, on the same principle, say to mences h e is busily engaged in the discharge of his duties. Then my friend from Ohio [Mr. THUR1t1AN] that when he goes to Ohio to there is correspondence at night. Every member must answer tht) attend the courts, if it is necessary for him to go, he shall have a inquiries of his constituents. .It consumes his time to answer le.tters deduction from his pay here, and bear all the expense necessarily on public business. He cannot do it unless he employs a clerk; he involved himself. Why should he pay it out of his own pocket'f His cannot do it, at least, without ~reat inconvenience to himself. If he actual expenses for travel in a year no doubt amount to more than employs a clerk, that is so much added to his expenses, and tha.t is his mileage. I dare say if his family were living in Ohio he would one reason why the salary should not be reduced. return to them two or three times during the session, and if he brings Again, Senators are bored continually by office-seekers to go :md 33 514 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD. JANUARY 9,

see some one through whom they may get a situation either here or referred to that committee. I know there is no such committee in in some of the Departments. These things are to be attended to. It existence now, but it seems to me it could be readily created; and is true that those who belong to my party are not much troubled in having the subject of officers and their compensation constantly in this way now, but my friends of the majority are annoyed by appli­ view, every petition for an increase of salary could be referred to that cants for office. All these annoyances a Senator has to endure, ~don committee; they would understand the whole subject; they could the small compensation I have mentioned. report, not only what would be a proper compensation for official but But, again, a Senator is elected for six years. After that he goes when it was necessary to dispense wi1ih any officer-and I hav~ no out of office. He may be re-elected, it is true; but this is not like doubt there are many that might be dispensed with now- they could other offices. Officers of the Army are in office for life; the judges so report. of the Supreme Court receive their salaries while they are in office Again, there are inequalities in the compensation of officers- glaring and while they live. and gross inequalities- some doing the same amount of labor as others Let us look now at some of the other salaries- at the salaries of, and receiving only one-half the salary. I do not see why women shoulu say, the heads of the different Executive Departments. They do no not have the same compensation, when they perform the same labor more labor than we do; their labors are not so exacting as ours, for a-s men. There are a great many of them living on half the salary they can employ clerks for everything they do. We must attend to and doing the full amount of work of others. I think that is unjust oa.r duties ourselves unless we pay a clerk out of our own pockets. and unequal, and it ought to be remedied. Therefore I say, while our duties, if we discharge them aright, are I would prefer to have this whole matter referred either to this more onerous, our compensation is far less than that of members of committee or to another, say a select committee, and let them examine the Cabinet. tho whole question of salaries; let them see what officers are nece - Then look at the military. What does the General of the Army sary and what can be dispensed with. If there are any officers that ~eceive T Thirteen thousand five hundred dollars. General Sheri­ could be displaced the committee could attend to them. Suppose a dan's salary is $11,000. Every major-general of the Army receives month or tw~, or even a session, should be consumed by this com-se $7,500; every brigadier-general $5,500. Every brigadier-general re­ how much would be gained by it. I think the people would not cen~ ceives more than any Senator is expected to get. They are also paid sure us if we should dispense with the consideration of this bill for ten cents a mile for every mile they tmvel, and their offices are for the present and refer the whole question to a committee, to investi­ lif~; and when they retire from active duty the United States still gate, and to report a bill fixing the salary of every officer of the Gov­ pays them their salaries. So much for the military. ernment, as I said, from the highest to the lowest·; and then let us 'qle judges of the Supreme Court are paid $10,000 a year, and consider and act upon it. Then every one would know what he was theii; offices are for life ; and they can provide their homes here and to receive. live ~ ease and comfort all their days; and when they retire from For these rea-sons I shall vote for the reference which has been sucr­ office they still receive their salary, as when they were on the bench gestedif the motion be made. I would prefer1 as I said, that it should discha"ging their duties. · go to another committee unless this com.rmttee has ample time to We ought to look at these things. Why is it that the members of attend to it among their duties. I would not wish to take it from this co-ordinate branch of the Government shall be paid less than their consideration if they have time to attend to it fully. I know it either the executive or the judiciary T Have we not the same dignity would take quite a long time and close investigation and constant to mainta\n T Are we not a co-ordinate branch of the Government T attention. If they can find this time, I will certainly vote to refer "\Vhy should we give every one a higher salary than we vote to our­ it to them. If they find it impracticable, or if they cannot attend to selves f The Congress of the United States hat~ the right to decide it properly, let it go before a select committee, or create, if yon please, upon the questions of peace and war; it has the right to decide upon 'an additional standing committee, as I have suggested, and let the our internal and our foreign policy; and yet we are to work for a matter be discussed as a whole; and the people, my wora. for it, will be bare living! ·It is not just, and is not reasonable. If our salaries are satisfied in the end. · to be lesse~ed, why shall not every other one beT Ah, no; that Mr. CRAGIN. Mr. President, I did not think it was po sible for would be destroying, gentlemen tell us, the dignity of office. Well, this bill to get into such shape, or that the. discussion should be o 1 do not see why Senators and Representatives should lessen the posi­ long protra{Jted, that I could be induced to say one woru in relation tion that we hold in this Government-one of the co-ordinate branches to the subject. But, sir, I have been reflecting this morning, and I of the Government. We ought to maintain its dignity. There is no have come to the conclusion that the Senate of the United State has use in our getting down in the dust of self-abasement and saying now for five days been acting the play of "How not to do it;" and it that we are unworthy of being on the same planA with the other is a question that we should consider, in my judgment, how long this branches of the Government. I think we are certainly equal to any play is to be continued- whether we will let other interests sufter by one of them. prolonging the discussion upon this question. For these reasons it seems to me that we should not lessen our sal­ When the committee reported the bill to the Senate I made up my aries, or, if we do, others should be reduced in proportion. I do not mind that they had met the average sentiment of Con~e s; that think the American people desire that we should come here and work they had reported a bill upon which we could stand, those of us who for a bare living. Why, some of the ablest men that ever sat in this had opposed the salary bill in the last Congre s, and tho e who had Chamber, princes and potentates of the realm of thought, have voted for it and yet concluded it was now better to repeal it; and I given their life-labors to the people here, and retired poor at la-st. I believed that we might get a vote in a single day upon that plain, say if other officers are to be paid as they are, these old brain-workers, simple proposition demanded by the people, the simple repeal o.f the when they retire from public life and go to their homes to die, should salary bill, especially so· far as it related to members of Congres . have something more than the bare honor of having been a Senator. But the friends of the measure were not cont-ent to stand upon that They should have some compensation by which they could live at proposition. My friend from Indiana, [Mr. PRA.TI]-and I know that ease at the close of their live . I do not think the country demands he was honest; I know that he meant well-came in here with a this reduction. I know that I am not insensible to the public appro­ proposition that those members of Con~ress, some three hundreu and bation or insensible to public condemnation. I dislike a-s much as seventy of them, who had been receivmg a compensation unuer the any one to have it said of us that we are not doing our duty; but law at the rate of $7,500 per annum, should restore one-third of the "\Yhen these things are presented in a proper way to the people I compensation they had received since the 4th of March last, or have think they will see them as I do. It has been said here by a dozen it deducted from a reduced salary hereafter. I voted with him on Senators on this floor, " The salary is too little, but let us yield to the that proposition when we reached a vote; but I very well knew that public clamor; let us yield to the public demand; lessen our salaries it could not carry; I very well knew that we could not find a ma­ now, and we can raise them hereafter." It seems to me that that is jority in the Senate and in the House of Representatives who had not the proper proceeding. It is only postponing that which we taken this compellSation, as they were entitled to do by existing law, ought to do to-uay. If our present salary is right, let us stick to it. who would vote to pay it back. Of course· "unconstitutional" objec­ If we can give good reasons for it, the public will be satisfied. If tions would be found, as well as uncomfortable objections. It was we cMlnot, of course we must be condemned. This is the view I useless to present that amendment. It only tended to embarrass the take of it. I think it is a proper one; and I think we should do bill. It only tended to defeat the pa-ssage of the bill. It was not so what we believe to be right now. Do what is right, and let the con- intended, but such was calculated to be its result. . sequences take care of themselves. The people will be satisfied in Then, after that amendment was disposed of, the Senator from Mary­ the end. land [Mr. HAMILTO:N] came forward with an amendment which has There is another thing. A motion has been made to refer this been adopted by the Senate, which, in my judgme:pt, greatly embar­ bill back to the Committee on Civil Service and Retrenchment. I rasses this measure. I felt myself obliged under a sense of duty to had thought of that myself. I shall favor the motion, but I would vote against that amendment. It was a different proposition; it not rather senu it to a new committee. I have no doubt the Committee only proposed t.he repeal of the salary bill so far as members of Con­ on Retrenchment is overburdened with labor; it has much to do all gress were concerned, but it went to the employes around the Senate through the country. It seems to me that if we had another stand­ and House of Representatives, the men who do the labor here, and ing committee on officers and their compensations, or something like said, "We will also repeal their compensation and put them back that, it would be one very much needed; and this matter could be where they were before." referred to that committee, and they could take into consideration the Mr. WRIGHT. Mr. President, will the Senator from New Hamp­ salaries of all officers of the Government from the President down to shire allow me to correct him 7 a page, and have the subject pre ented in one systematic, comprehen­ :Mr. CRAGIN. Certainly. sive whole.. That would certainly be better; aud then, when any Mr. WRIGHT. I call his attention to the fact that the bill as re­ increa-se of salary was desired, let the petition for that purpose be ported by the committee had the very effect h e now speaks of ; that 1874. CONGRESSIONAL RECORD. 515 is to say, it reduced the compensation of all the employes of both Mr. CLAYTON. I shotl.ld like to ask the Senatorwhet.her there are Rouses, as well as that of members of both Houses; and the amend­ not other officers in this Government whose salaries should be reduced; ment offered by the Senator from Maryland did not reach that ques­ and if so, whether they will not, during all the time that elapses tion· beyond what it had already been reached. hereafter, have the benefit of their enlarged salary Y Take the .Army Mr. CRAGIN. I think the Senator from Iowa is correct; but the officers, if you please. Will it not cut both ways Y And so far as the amendment did go to repeal the law increasing the salary of the as­ public Treasury is concerned, and the reduction of taxes, will it not sistant secretaries of three of the Departments, which was not in­ amount to about the same thing, if you recommit this measure and cluded in the committee's bill; audit also went to repeal, if I recol­ apply the pruning-knife to all alike 'f lect aright, the increased salaries of the heads of Departments and l\Ir. WRIGHT. All t hat I have to say on that is, that I propose to reduce them to their old salaries, whereas the committee's report reduce these at present, and not let them all run on for .five or six placed them at $8,000 per annum. months. I trust the motion to recommit will be voted down. Mr. WRIGHT. I am not certain whether that is the same amount The PRESIDENT pro ternpm·e. The question is on the motion to it was under the old law or not. I have the impression that it is. recommit with instructions. Mr. LOGAN. It is the same amount. The question being put, a division was called· for; and the ayes Mr. CRAGIN. Then there is no change in that respect. were 22. But, ~Ir. President, the main objection I had to this amendment was, l\Ir. CLAYTON. I call for the yeas and nays. as has been stated by the Senator from California, [Mr. SARGENT,] 'l'he yeas and na:vs were ordered. . that it singled out the President of the United States and said to him Mr. FRELINGHUYSEN. I hope after we have spent a week over in plain words, "We believe that the salaty as fixed by ln,w for your this unpleasant subject, putting aside subjects of vastly more impor­ office is too great, but as we cannot repeal it until the close of the tance, we shall not now, by recommitting this bill, have it before us present term, we will enact that after 1877 the salary of the President again for discussion for another week. Let us stay here to-day until of the United States shall be $25,000 ; and you shall be hung up for the bill is passed. three years aud challenged to take the salary now provided by law, or Mr. FERRY, of Michigan. On this question my colleague [Mr. to take simply ·25,000 according to the sal;lTY as it was before, and as CHANDLER] is paired with the Senator from Delaware, [Mr. BAYARD.] it will be after your term expires." It was placing the President in a lli. WINDOM. My colleague [Mr. RAMSEY] is paired with the most embarrassing position; it.was, in my judgment, an insultto the Senator from Georgia, Mr. GORDON, on all questions connected with President. Although not so intended, I have no doubt but the e:ftect this bill. of it was to humiliate him and put him in a position where he would The question being taken by yeas and nays, resulted-yeas 19, be most embarrassed; and for that reason I voted against that amend­ nays 41; as follows: ment. YEAS-Messrs. Bogy, Cameron, Clayton, Cono~er, Cooper, Davis, Dennis, Dor· Now, sir, this morning we have another amendment proposed look­ sey, :Flanagan, Gilbert, Goldthwaite, Kelly, Lewis, Merrimon, Norwood, Patterson, ing in the same direction as the one offered by the Senator from Indi­ Spencer, Stevenson, and Tipton- 19. NAYS-Messrs. .Allison, .Anthony, Boreman, Boutwell, Brownlow, Buckingham, ana, only going further and providing that the employes of the Senate Carpenter, Conkling, Cragin, Eumnnds, Fenton, Ferry of Connecticut, Ferry of and House of Representatives shall also pay back out of their salary Michigan, Frelinghuysen, Hamilton of Maryland, Hamilton of Texas, Hamlin, what they have received additional since the 4th of ~larch last. Hitchcock, Howe, Ingalls, Logan, McCreery, Mitchell, Morrill of Maine, Morrill of That amendment was voted down, as was the other offered by the Vermont, Morton, Oglesby, Pratt, Ransom, Sargent, Saulsbury, Schurz, Scott, Sher· man, Sprague, Sumner, Thurman, Wadleigh, West, Windom, and Wright-41. Senator from Indiana. · · ABSENT-Messrs. Alcorn, Ames, Bayard, Chandler, Crozier, Gordon, Johnston, Now, sir, the bill stands before the Senate with the amendment Jones, Ramsey, :Robertson, Stewart, and Stockton-12. offered by the Senator from Maryland, and I am not disposed to join So the motion WJlS not agreed to. with those who criticise the chairman of the committee for voting The PRESIDENT p1·o tempore. The question recurs on agreeing to for that amendment, because I think he was attached to it. It was the amendment reported by the committee as amended. only a choice with him between first-born and the second-born, and Mr. LOGAN. Is the .amendment now to be acted on by the Senate he chose the first. That is human nature, and we should not ques­ amendable¥ tion too closely his motives in this matter; but I will join with those The PRESIDENT pro tempore. It is. who say that he ma-de a mistake. I think so. I think that if he had Mr. LOGAN. I then ofl:er the following amendment to the amend­ stood and voted against that amendment, this bill would be in a ment: Strike out t he word "President n in line 9, and strike out all much birer way of becoming a law than it is at present; it would of lines 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 2"2, and 23, and line 24, to the words "and have become a law much sooner. provided," and also insert the word "President" in line 26 before the Mr. President, I rose deprecating the delay, deprecating the con­ words " Chief Justice." sumption of time upon this bill. So far as my own recora goes I have 1\Ir. SHERMAN. I subinit that my friend is anticipating the time nothing to say. I have no apologies to make. · It will be remembered when he can offer t.hat amendment. I think it is not in order now. by some that at the last session of Congress, when this original measure The PRESIDENT p1·o ternpo-re. The amendment before the Senate was passed, when we were all exhausted physically, and I especially, in its present form is only amendable by adding to it. It cannot be I made some intemperate remarks, perhaps, in protesting against the amended by striking out what has been already inserted by vote of passage of the bill, and made certain predictions; and I am not happy the Senate. , to say that those predictions are verified, although such is the truth. Mr. LOGAN. I asked the question of the Chair, and understanding I hope that we may without delay, without unnecessary delay at any that it wa-s amendable I offered the suggestion. I see the force of rate, dispose Of the bilL I hope we may not run this subject into the decision now. I will reserve the amendment until the bill is next week and consume all the next week. I predict, however, that reported to the Senate. ·we shall, unless wiser counsels and a determination to stand by this The PRESIDENT pro tentpm·e. It will, be amendable in the Senate. measure and sit out, prevail. Unless we can dispose of this bill to-day Mr. SARGENT. I suggest to the Senator from illinois that the I have no hope that we can reach a vote before a week from this object he bas in view can be reached by having a separate vote on time. I trust that we may reach a vote to-day, and that we may, so the Hamilton amendment when the bill is reported to the Senate. far n.s we can, satisfy the public demand upon this question. Mr. LOGAN. Very well. I merely desire to accomplish the object Mr. WRIGHT. I understand the question is on the motion to re­ I have indicated. commit. Mr. H.Al""\ILIN. The first question will be on striking out that part The PRESIDENT p1·o tempo're. With instructions. of the House bill which is included in brackets. Mr. WRIGHT. There is one very good reason, it seems to me, in The PRESIDENT p1·o tempore. The question will be on striking out favor of recommittal; and th:tt is, that it will extend the time of the that portion of the Honse bill and inserting the amendment already increased pay four or five months probably to members of the Senate agreed to by the Senate. and the House. Inasmuch as I do not propose to be influenced by :Mr. HAMLIN. It is in order, then, to perfect the House bill before that con~:sideration-- · that motion is put Y Mr. CLAYTON. I ask the Senator if he regards this measure as The PRESIDENT pro tempore. Certainly. a measure of economy or of a different character ¥ Is this a measure Mr. HAMLIN. Then I move to amend that bill where the compen· of economy and retrenchment alone, or is it a measure to punish mem­ sation is made at $6,000 by striking out "$6,000" and inserting "$5,500." bers of this body or cast reflections upon them f I take it for granted Ur. MORTON. Let the House bill be reported. it is a mea ure of economy. Now, I should like the Senator from The PRESIDENT pTo tempm·e. The question is on the amendment Iowa to answer me whether it is purely and strictly a measure of proposed by the Senator from Maine to the original bill. economy and retrenchment Y The PRESIDENT pro tentpm·e. The Clerk will read the bill as it 1\f r. vVRIG HT. I do not know w het.her it is in the nature of economy or not. It depends on our action how far we can go ; but I do not would be, amended as proposed. The CHIEF CLERK. The first section of the House bill, if amended propose by this bill to correct all the evils of the time, and if we now proposed, would read: undertake to do too much my fear is that we shall not be able to do as anything. · That from and after the passage of t.his act the compensation of Senators, Repro. sentatives, and Delegates shall be at the rate of $5,500 per annum, payablelDonthly, I only rose to- say that there was, as I have stated, a very excel­ and in addition thereto, the actual individual expenses of each Senator, Represent~ lent reason why this bill could be recommitted; and that was, that we tive, and Delegate in goin~ to and returning from the seat of Government once ill should have the increased pay, and all these officers would have it, each session, to be certifioo in writing by each. for four, five, or six months, because we probably should not get a 1\fr. ED:~1UNDS. I move to amend the amendment of the Senator report·uefore that time; but inn.smuch us I do not propose to be influ­ from Maine by ma1.'ing that clause read ''$5,000" instead of "$5,500." ence