, 1873-12-08

LIE FAE6AULN1'6 daIAhf+
American writors and orators have always
found staple topic for criticism in tho oflioia1
pension system Of Groat Britain. That forty
second cousin OF tho Quoen's, or romo!o do
scondant at George Ills butler, or lucky dog
to whom the namo Of Wellington or Marlborough
has come down, should bo entitled to eharo Of
the public moneys wroat6d from tho earnings OF
tho people, las struck tho democratic American
mind Us suporlatlvoly vicious. THO dotelmina-
tion Of tho Special Committee on tho Repeal Of
the Salary BILL however, Leaves 1t an open qucs-
tion whether tho people Of this country havo not
something Of tho Hame sort In thoir
own beautiful eystcm. Tho outlines OF
tho bill which ia to be reported fo1
tho repeal Of tho salary-grab show that 1t has
boon framed with tho oxproBs purpose Of socur-
ing to Con. Grnnt tho s25, 900 extra pay voted to
him by tho last Congress, tho scntipcnt Of tho
people to the contrary notwithstanding.
In the opinion Of tho majority Of this Commit
too, who presumably roprosont tho majority in
tho House, Con. Grant ought to receive $50, 200
a year in these hard timea for tho services no
rondors tile people. Tho Bum Of $4,000 il q
fortune. Its possession, properly invested, as
suros largo family all tho comforts and many
bonda and mortgages Of absolute security
at tho not profit OF $4,000 year. It will
carry On q business OF $250,000 yoar, and
afford, aside from tho profit it earns, employ
ment to q score of men. 1t is what thousands
Of educated men toll for as tho result Of con-
sciontious and 1aborous ltvos, and thon do not
attain. It would furnish tho menus OF sup
port for 500 fa1nilios during tho hard
wintor coming upon US, who will actually
suffer for want Of proper shelter, fuel,
and clothing. Yot, in these times, when cvory
individual feels tho necessity Of economy moro
than ever before. when tho President himself
recommends rotrenchment in public works,
and whom the Government must con-
bonds to pay tho interest On tho dobt
it already owes, the majority In Congress,
through their Committee, decide thnt tho prosi-
dent ought to receiyo this Hum OF $40, 0,000a year,
-iust twico ns much as Lincoln received for
services In comparison with which tho services
Of any subsequent President hayo boon insig-
nit1cant.
There aoems to have been no discussion in tho
Committee on the authority Of Congress to
restore tho Presidents salar; to what it WAS be-
foro the increase. We have already examined
this feature. The Constitution nays TINT tho
Presidents pay shall not be increased or dmin-
ished during tho period for which he WAS elect
cd. Con. Grants pay WAS increased during the
period for which he had boon elected, though
not for bis frat torn. It WAS the purpose Of tho
Constitution on the ono hand to prevent Con-
gross from subjugating tho President by docreas-
ing Ills salary, aud on tho othor hand to
prevent the President from making uBo of hia
patronage to aecuro the increase Of Ills own pay.
Both Congross and tho President were in tho po-
aition to do these things at tho timo when ha
pay was Increased, because it was during tho
ret'iof} for which lie was elected. Tho increase
in his csso was, therefore, violation OF both
tho epirit and tho letter Of tho Constitution.
Though tho Committee recommend, in Difference
| to public sentiment, tho ropoal Of tho increase
In the pay Of tho Yico-prosidont, which increase
WAS only $4,000, they desire that tho Presidents
iucreasa, which was ten times that amount, ba
allowed to remain. It will be hard to convince
tho people that it is right to take away tho Vioo-
President'a $4,000 increase and leave tho Presi-
dont's $25, 600 incroaso a1ono.