"Oh, By the Way . . ."

The Appropriation Bill for the Legislative Establishment that is Congress having been passed a week before by the House, came up one evening in the Senate. Only twelve minutes were spent in passing it but, while it was 01 the floor, an amendment sponsored by Senator Ball, lame duck Republican from Delaware, was quietly attached without discussion or a roll call.

It provided that the salaries of Senators and Representatives be increased from $7,500 to $10,000 a year, and the salaries of the Speaker of the House, the presiding officer of the Senate and members of the Cabinet, now receiving $12,000, be increased to $15,000. The whole affair was carried off in the most offhand manner, as if the Senate were remarking: "Oh, by the way, of course we deserve more pay."

Thereupon, the amended measure went back to the House. It was surprising what a large number of members were on the floor--3300. If there had been less than a quorum present, a roll call would have been automatically taken. A few speeches were made, for and against the Senate's amendment. Representative Blanton of Texas tried to force a roll call, but could not muster the required one-fifth of those present to join in the demand. So the Senate's amendment was concurred in without anyone in either House's being embarrassed by having his name set down in a roll call as favoring an increase in his own salary.

Said critics: "The question is not whether Senators or Representatives are worth $10,000 a year instead of $7,500. The question is rather one of courage or cowardice."

The effect of the measure will be to add $1,376,000 a year to the cost of running the Government.

The pay of Congressmen has had many changes: Originally it was $6 a day, then $7, then $8, then $1,500 a year, then $8 a day once more, then $3,000 a year. In 1866, it was made $5,000 a year. In 1872, by the famous "salary grab." Congress increased its salary to $7,500, making the increase retroactive over two years. A howl arose. In the succeeding election, many Congressmen were defeated and the next Congress reduced its pay to the old figure. In 1907, pay was raised to $7,500, at which it has remained until the present time.