, 1869-01-30
THE GRATUITY BUSINESS.

TIE recklcssness with which legisla-
Live bodits sometimes disburse the public |
money is strongly illustrated by Two
Instances furnished by recent action
Of the House Of Representatives at
Washington. Two years ago Mr..
Switz!er was elected member Of that
body IRON the State of Missouri. His
scat was contested. The Committee on
Elections reported in favor Of his right
to the scat. Further examination was
! asked, and the committee again, at this
session, reported in his favor. The
Houte, however, forgetting Justice in
| partisan feeling, voted that he was not
entitled to his scat, aud that his con-
testant was. Whereupon the House
sought to palliate its injustice by voting
full pay TO Swi!zler. OF course, the man
who has been voted in will have to be
psid also, and fer the full term; so the
urjust decision of the House will cost
the people $4,000 OF $4,000. We
doubt whether any portion Of the people
arc willing 10 be taxed that
much for the mere sake Of
| ejcc:ing legslly-elected Democrat to
give place to Republican who was not
| elected.
Inspired by this unjust proceeding, q
gentleman from Indiana the next day
offered resolution thst the members OF
Congress from Arkansas be paid Tor the
full term ot the Fortielh Congzess-:hat
is, be paid two years salary Of $4,000
each, with mi!esgc both ways, for each
session. These gentlemen were elected
last spriug, and were admitted TO seats in
July last. We think that outside OF the
House Of Representatives there is q
pretty universal opinion that when the
mcmbcss IRON Arkansas arc pasd tor the
full time they have actually beer
members Of Congress, they will be mos
, literally compensated for their service Il
the country. In this metter public opiu.
ion msy be wrong but We do not thinl
: that these services have been, or are now
or will be, Of such trsnscendsns valu
s that an exception should be made to tn
: extent Of ro:ing them double psy, II
: which purpose the government mus
! raise the money by an increas
= Of tax upon the salt and othe
: tocd of the people. The acs Of CopgreE
y increasing the pay OF members Of Con
gress to $1,000 was commended by il
= stipulation that no member should +
q pad fer services not actually rendered
~ but this proposition is to pay them II
l. term which was two.thirds spent bctoI
Is they were elected or BECAME mcmbe
~ of Congress, and before Arkansas II
IS declsrcd to be entitled to 1eprescn:aut
: al all. Both Of these propositions q
nj unprecedented, even in the numerous cas-
IL Of reckless expenditure Of public mon'
IN by Congress; and yet men who wou
sc shrink from forcible abstraction
8n money from the Treasury, consider it
al! no way discreditsblc to take the pub
az morey under the form OF 'rcsoluti
NJ against law, against precedent, q
ny seainst every principle Of honesty q
nu justice. 1.-THE gentlemen from Arkan!
'eu sre in such need OF money, and if th
er- are personally such meritorious pe1so
MS let the members who favor this reso1
ter lion tax themselves twenty or forty d
'aY lars each and raise the sum propos
MS That would be much stronger eVidel
NY Of the esteem in which they hold Ii
Arkansas brethren than to vote that
'"a money be raised by q spccial tax ~
VI the homesteads and weekly earnings
'l tie whole people. When this prop
eoi ton comes 10 a final vote let the yeas'
Anu a. nays be takep, that the country I
us know which Of their Representa-
Aso vote 10 raise money by taxation to
rite. o,a,pit;ps,o gentlemen trom h,ten
and a. INV o,hrr State