DEMOCRATS SINGING THE PAY BLUES

ISSUE JOINS MEMBERS ON ANNUAL RETREAT

WHITE SULPHUR SPRINGS, W.VA., FEB. 3 -- WHITE SULPHUR SPRINGS, W.VA., FEB. 3 -- House Democrats carried some extra baggage aboard a special train to their annual winter retreat here yesterday as they glumly contemplated the political fallout from the battle over the proposed 51 percent congressional pay raise.

Only the swarms of children of the 140-plus Democrats and dozens of lobbyists aboard the 19-car Amtrak special appeared gleeful -- or even moderately happy -- as the train rolled through picturesque mountain passes and down remote river valleys to the Greenbrier Hotel, a sprawling and elegant resort.

"Once a year, Democrats try to live like Republicans," said Majority Whip Tony Coelho (D-Calif.), attempting to inject some humor into an otherwise sedate trip.

The annual visit to the expensive resort, sponsored by lobbyists who belong to the National Legislative Education Foundation, is normally a happy time of camaraderie and conferences on the issues to be faced in a new session of Congress. But this year, the mood was often angry or confused or as glum as the weather outside the silver train of Amtrak's newest cars.

The House Democrats were particularly angry at the Senate's vote Thursday to reject the pay raise and to outlaw the practice of lawmakers accepting honoraria for appearances before outside groups. But under the Senate plan, honoraria would be prohibited only if the full 51 percent pay raise goes into effect.

"I think you have class warfare now between the House and the Senate," said Rep. Bill Richardson (D-N.M.). "The Senate demagogued the issue and expected the House to take the heat."

The pay raise, which would boost congressional salaries from $89,500 to $135,000 a year, will automatically go into effect at 12:01 a.m. Wednesday unless the House joins the Senate in rejecting it. The Senate's action served mostly to increase pressure on the House.

The high school band at the train station here was a stark contrast to the send-off the House Democrats received at Washington's Union Station, where several dozen demonstrators representing groups ranging from the conservative Students for America to followers of homeless activist Mitch Snyder taunted the arriving members of Congress with signs and a rap song that repeated the line, "You dirty little member."

House Speaker Jim Wright (D-Tex.), who is to fly here later, was also the target of considerable private grumbling because of his decision to schedule a vote Thursday rolling back the pay raise to 30 percent, or $116,350 a year. The original plan was for Wright to block House action on the issue until the deadline passed, but he switched strategy without consulting other House Democrats, many of whom expressed dismay at the abrupt change in tactics.

"We might have made it if he'd just stayed in there," one member said.

Coelho began setting up the Senate to take the blame if the two chambers deadlock over the issue and the larger 51 percent raise is allowed to stay in effect. If the Senate does not vote on the House plan to roll the raise back to 30 percent, he said, "we'll end up with a 51 percent increase because of their lack of action."

Richardson is one of dozens of House members who fear the pay raise issue will grow so large that it will force them from office. "It's the most explosive issue I've ever faced since I've been in the Congress," the five-term veteran said. "I've never received such vicious mail."

Rep. Tom McMillen (D-Md.) said his office is receiving 20 calls an hour. "It's driving my staff nuts," he said.

However, there were placid pockets within the turmoil. Freshman Rep. Elliott Engel (D-N.Y.), whose district includes Yonkers, said he had received only 13 letters of protest and almost no phone calls on the issue. The contrast between Richardson, McMillen and Engel illustrated the confusion aboard the train. It was clear in numerous conversations that many members are groping for a solution to the political dilemma posed by the pay raise.

"I think our attitude has to be: We go for it Thursday," said Rep. Vic Fazio (D-Calif.), reflecting current strategy to accept a 30 percent raise. Fazio said he fears that the pay raise will become a dominant issue and delay necessary legislation. "We've got to get beyond it," he said.

However, there were mixed opinions over whether Wright can muster the two-thirds majority needed to pass the bill rolling back the raise to 30 percent. Pass or fail, the issue clearly will not go away quickly.

"The opponents will try a repealer every week till Christmas," said Rep. Pat Williams (D-Mont.). "The House won't be able to resist it."

Rep. Claude D. Pepper (D-Fla.), at 87 the oldest member of Congress, had some advice for colleagues worried about the ramifications of accepting a pay raise of any amount. Pepper said he has seen the same fight at the time of every pay raise during his lengthy career in both the Senate and House. "Then the cloud passes over and we'll get the raise . . . and we'll go through the storm again," he said. "I've never seen anyone defeated because of a salary raise."

Articles appear as they were originally printed in The Washington Post and may not include subsequent corrections.