New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1873-09-27

former "just and necessary" and the
latter disproportionate and extravaganza "
have brought out from the Hon.
C. w. Willard, Republican Congressman from
Vermont, quite full history of the whole
transaction. After reading this document one
comes into clearer apprehension of the
meaning of certain remarks let fall by MIR.
B. f. Butler in his late raid upon Mas
sachusetts having a shadowy and mysterious
reference to this matter.
Mr.. Willard denies emphatically that the
increase in one case was any more just and
necessary than in the other. When the prop
osition to increase the Presidents salary was
first preached, he says it met with small favor
either in Congress or the country, and that
the scheme of raising the Congressional sal
aries was an afterthought, device resorted
to with the sole object of helping the Presi-
Dental bill through. Mr.. Willard says distinctly
that "the President favored the bill before it
"passed either House, and personally ex-
"pressed to members desire to have his own
"salary increased; and the selfish interests OF
"members in increasing their own pay was
"Only one of the devices by which the Presl-
"dent's salary was raised; III other words,
cit pulled that increase through, and
"the whole measure had favor at the
"White House on that account" MIR. Willard
goes on TO refute the statement that the in
crease of the Presidents salary was lust and
necessary by statements in detail regarding
the expenses of the Presidential office, and the
provision made above the salary In the appro-
nriation bills to meet them. Besides the
$4,000 a year, which was the salary
nreyious TO the passage of this bill, an
annual appropriation OF from twenty 10 sixty
thousand dollars is made for keeping up the
"Wbite House" establishment. The grounds
are always kept at the public charge, and
carpets, furniture gas fuel, and many OF the
servants are paid for by separate appropria-
tons. The appropriations for. the current year
1874. the items of which are given by
Mr. Willard, foot up $1,000. making, as
he says, the expense of the Executive
establishment, with the increased salary,
$4,000. Out of the salary, Mr.. Willard says
{" the President has only the personal expenses
" of himself and family, and the expense of
"his table, to pay for" Returning, after the
presentation of these very significant facts and
figures, to the discriminating resolutions OF
the Massachusetts, Republicans, he says
The condemnation Of members Of Congress who fav-
ored this increase has been the main undoubtedly
deserved but American love OF fairness ought
not to make distinctions between those voting TOT
and the one urging the passage of and APPROX
ing with his signature necessary to make the
hill a law a measure unfairly and unreasoDably in
creasing salaries Members OF Congress voted for the
bill increasing their salaries, for which they nave
been properly criticised the President urged the passage
of this bill in advance, approved 1t after IL passed. anu
thereby made law and doubled his own salary and
the Massachusetts Republicans practically approve his
course
That Mr.. Willard has given in this history
the facts concerning the Presidents cOnnec-
ton with this unpopular measure will probably
not be denied They are no doubt within the
knowledge of nearly if not quite all the Re-
publican members of the last Congress; those
who did not personally know the facts had
them from others who did. But till
Congressman Willard, in his indigna-
ton at the unjust discrimination against
Congress by the Massachusetts Republicans,
blurted out the whole history, no man of them
has dared open his head to implicate the
President These facts should have been
known absolutely instead of being only dimly
suspected DcIOfe INC hCpuDlICdn NOHfCHooho
had been held in all the States and the Pres
ident indorsed by every one of them for his
economical administration, his policy of re-
trenchment and reform, and all that sort of
nonsense.
This screed comes too late The COnven-
tons are all over and the resolutions of con-
fidence and approval passed. Congress has
been condemned as it deserved to be, though
for the most part very mildly, for its share in
the transaction, and the President who urged
it and for whose benefit, chiefly, the bill
was passed, has not only escaped censure
but has been warmly commended. This sim
ply because these same Congressman persist
emily concealed tho truth. They have allowed
the people to be deceived in this, as in a
thousand other matters concerning the Presi-
dent, saving him at the expense of truth, JUS
tice, and their own regulations. The Vermont
Congressman's little history, though somewhat
late in the day, puts the responsibility where
it belongs.