The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1855-01-02


P. LKws JAMES o. Lawns, and SAMUEL D. LEwIs
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In notice Of democratic ratification meeting in Cul-
pepper county Virginia the of W Bell esq incor-
recy appeared Mr.. Bew
THE INCREASED COMPENSATION OF LEGISLATIVE
EMPLOYEES
II is stated proprietor Of the Washington Union
lately applied TO the Secretary of the Treasury for sl500
which he claimed public printer by virtue OF the reso
passed the last session of Congress allowing an IN
compensation to the tune of 20 cent TO all EN-
ployees the legislative department OF the men Mr.
Guthrie rejected the claim the ground that the law never
intended include in its provisions the pubhc printer
who is commonly supposed be in the receipt Of comorta
BILE margin OF profit all the work he does However,
Why if the letter Of the law be regarded there
should be any such discrimination The truth is these APP
preparations Of money by resolution of Congress part o
bad and loose system prevailing at Washington and we
incline believe the part Of the present aggregation
wrong practices there which hns gradually grown to what
| it s-Haryord Times.
The claim referred to in the foregoing article has been
the subject Of series of gross Misrepresentation which
have received notice from us because ofhe we-known
magnity of the correspondents who originated them and
of the journals which they have been written AS these
calumnes are aimed at others well oursef it may
be proper in order that false construction may be
placed on our silence state briefly the facts of the
case.
As far as the statement as to the claim in the article
above goes it is substantially correct but that the case
may fully understood and the baseness of the misrpe
sensations may be distinctly seem it is necessary to give
the facts more in detail.
In consequence Of the great increase in all the expenses
in Washington it was deemed right by Congress, at its
late session. increase the compensation of the govern
ment employees the of twenty per cent So far
/
cerned the act for their relief and benefit passed the
/ goth of July, 1854 was follows:
Joint resolution the compensation of the employees
in the legislative department of the government and to
prohibit the allowance Of the usual extra compensation to
such receive the benefits hereof
Reolped By the Senate and House of Representatives Of The
United States Of Amcrieq Congress assembled That the Of
cers clerks messengers and other employees in the leg
latve department Of the government shall be paid in
creased compensation of twenty per upon the
saton received by them respectively and the
gers of the House of Representatives shall not receive less
than is allowed to messengers of the Senate of the
class Such increased compensation from the
day of july eighteen hundred and fifty three and that
sufficient to pay the to the thrteth OF June,
eighteen hundred and five hereby appropriated out
of money in the treasury not otherwise appropriated
Proed That person whose compensation increased
by the approved April twenty two, eighteen hundred and
-four shall be benefited by this joint resolution Aad
propided further, That the usual extra compensation shall
|
this joint resolution.
Approved July 20, 1854.
The language of this resolution is plain and unambgu-
II embraces erery officer, clerk messenger and other
employee engaged in the legislative department The pub
lie printers of the two houses occupy the relation of officers
and employees to Congress- and hence they construed the
resolution TO be for their benefit well for all others
occupying like relations The which rendered
increase of the compensation of other employees just
and right applied with equal force TO them; and they
could conceive Of for making them exception
and such discrimination against them made by
the language Of the resolution the two public printers in
formed the Secretary of the Treasury of their claim under
the law and asked his construction of it. The malgnity
OF the attacks to which have referred is shown by the
fact that the House printer alone arragped for making
the claim when the assaants knew that 1t made
alike by the printers of both houses Whether the claim
founded upon right of the resolution or
not cheerfuy submit to all impartial minds without
word Of argument comment SO well satisfied
that our eein was legal that did not deem it necessary
to iortfy il by any argument when it presented to
Mr. Guthrie 1t examined and decided by him without
word from When his opinion communicates to ps
believed that he had rejected the claim upon grounds
that not tenable and under that conviction OBJ
tanned hg consent TO examine such arguments might
be able to addue WITH REV reversal of his opinion
We submitted the resolution for construction to several
able awyer and laid before the Secretary The treasury
their opinions together with argument by the Senate
printer and by ourself Mr.. Guthrie returned them
with n second opinion in which he adhered to his first
decision Whilst he did deny that the public printers
ebrEced by the terms Of the resolution he satisfied
himself that il not the Intention of Congress TO extend
its benefits to Them and upon that gFougd rejected the
claim Although his reasoning failed entirely change
opinion the legality and justice OF the claim, deter
mined acquiesce without prosecuting appeal No
outside Of the arguments befoauded to made to nu
epee Mr. Gutlries dacision The Attorney General
consulted nor did he ever examine the subject give
any opinion. All iptimations or charges pyoiyirg him
the President any else in attempt change
the decision matter OF voritism US gratutous
and false Those only could entertain such idea who
base enough make such considerations the grounds
~ their actions Mr. Guhres character for stern
tegriy Is TOO well kpowG 10 require to be boered
up BY the hypocritiea commentators Of men who have
heretofore pursued him with heartess calumnes So "a
from expecting him to favor claim because Of zal
GUS support of him heretofore have apprehended that
this circumstance night have contrary influence on his
decision But whilst DO q the correctness