Mr. STEWART. As to the matter of congressional salaries I can speak without the slightest embarrassment, becauseby the amendment on that subject my compensation is reduced about $2,000 a year by cutting down the mileage. I think the bill ought to pass, and I do not think anybody will complain of this Congress for paying themselves $5,000 a year. I do not think any man is fit to be in Congress who cannot earn that amount elsewhere. believe the people are willing to pay and desirous to pay what it costs an economical man to live. If you pay less than that you must necessarily have here one of 2 classes of men; you must either have men in Congress who are willing to become dependent upon others, which will destroy their usefulness, or you must have rich men. You must reserve these places for the rich or give them to the unworthy. There are many of our best men who cannot afford to spend their time here unless they get enough to support them. The peo 10 do not want men of moderate means excluded from Congress. They are willing that members of Congress shall have what it costs them to live here. As to the bounty question, I have simply this to say: the country should know that the finances are not in such a condition that we can equalize the bounties this year without disarranging the whole system. The SecyTreasury has so assured me. Besides, we have not yet had a bilfthat did equalize the bounties. It has not been matured. There is plenty of time in the future for such a measure. I believe it is better to give what we have to give away in the shape of increased pensions to those whohuve been wounded. That is more immediately necessary. I do not think any great harm will come from a.failure to pass a bounty bill at this session. The soldiers will not distrust the Union party that has endeavored to do so much for them, and is willing to db all that the finances of the country will permit, and is anxious to accomplish the grand result as early as possible. They will not distrust the Union party, but will trust it, believing that justice wilfultimately be done as soon as the finances will permit. The benefit of an equalization of bounties goes to well men; men who can get along; can manage to live, at any rate, until we meet next year, when justice will be done. We have not been able to obtain snliicient facts upon which to adjust the bounties so that every man shall be served alike; and rather than have a crude measure passed, I believe the people would irefer to wait until we prepare a thorough and complete bill and do all justice.