The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1873-08-13

LII OaUUl..
on gold basis, for gold was then the currency Of
the country, ana the cost OF living was much lower
was only about equal to $1,000 In gold, and the
$4,000 in 1855 could obtain more OF the necessaries
cedng is short history Of the legislation OF Con-
gress and the action OF the convention on the sub
itives The act OF March 3. 1873. increased the
annual salary to 500 and substituted actual trav'
cling expenses for mileage.
WHAT MEMBERS SHOULD HAVE DONE.
Different opinions have been expressed as TO the
proper course that should nave been taken by
members after the passage OF the bill. or course
those who voted for the increase OF salary pocketed
it, but few have had the temerty to come for
ward since and defend their conduct. The mem
bers who voted against the grab should have, 1t
has been urged refused all share In Its proceeds,
drawn the money and returned it into. the Treas
ury. This was the only consistent and honorable
plan. Ffty-two members OF the Senate and House
or Representatives are IN this category; I9eey
plumber, and 1t is not likely the balance through
either the force Of public opinion or compunctons
extra pay. But the man who, having voted against
the measure and then took the money, IL
ncer ntyn Of the motives Which led him to resist
and proves that his virtue was OF that kind which
was ready to yield the temptations !. S could os
OF men who took the money and proceeded TO
seek some outside method OF disposing OF II. BY
this action 1t is confessed at once that they had
no moral right to Its possession. and also that
their sense Of duty was not firm enough to bring
them up to the mark OF performing the duty which
The last class and its number Is not yet correctly
known, are represented by Senator Sherman he,
taking high moral grounds, proposes to leave the
money where 1t Is, and where no one should know
better than MIR. Sherman it can be reached at
draw 1t. Senator Sherman admits that 1t Is stolen
property, but he, too, avoids performing an obli-
gatory duty by returning bis share into the urea
sury.
TIE RACK PAY ALWAYS AVAILABLE
The money, appropriated by Congress for the
salary grab has been long since paid over to Or
Arms OF the Senate and House nj Representatives,.
The back pay not drawn remains permanent a0aa
tary Richardson and Hlty years hence the heirs Of
members who have not returned to the Treas gry
their allowance of 1t can claim and collect 1T The
records OF the government show many Instances
Of years, Thomas i. Benton drew back salary
nounced the bill providing FOR It's payment as pub
tic robbery and notified the dlsburslng oicers that
would not ks IT. the sS aa @
terly condemned on the stump after he had lett
! and had subsequently returned as another member
Of Congress. Robert J. walker, after the close Of
mileage for attending special session of the SEN
ate during Polk's administration, which, at the
tine he had reused to take from the
with the law on this subject, as he must be- should
| draw the money from the Sergeant.a at Arms and
In the same boat with him they should follow his
example-that is, IL he gives them the chance.
| THE OUTSPOKEN DEFENDERS OF THE GRAB.
Six members-Messrs. Carpenter and Brownlow,
| of the Senate, and Messrs. Butler (Mass.), Blair
o aamson o1io and flatt ya a have come pa
son Brownlow, not being physically able to stand
up and address meeting, wrote letter, In which
| pay was not made greater; but he took what he
got with great deal of satisfaction. Senator Car
ysr tSe sensr SeS Only n
| ton against the receivers Of the plumber.
He made one remark. however, which rs Is worth
| recording. Senator Carpenter declared that men,
bers would have families anyhow In Washington,
and 1t was better for the people that they should
and legitimate children, and to enable them to do
| 80 back and increased pay was absolutely right and
father Of the Salary bill. but he defends 1t while
| seeking the nomination for Governor OF Massa-
us amy % he e wSS e
with by sending three cent stamp, sometimes en-
closed and sometimes cancelled outside the letter
after passing through the post
RESIGN BE DAMNED.
There was political convention few weeks since
by Hon. q. r. Lawrence, and at which that gentle.
| man was present. Resolutions were adopted de.
tine az act a Of
T VI, sok pa D9 eas
would see you in hell first" The meeting broke
piration OF ais term that Mr.. Laurence win be re.
elected. Mr.. Blair, of Missouri in speaking to an
assembage OF his political S, friends stood by ms
treated the objections made rather as something
amusing. He showed pluck, for he was willing to
Jr, who completes the list, is late emigrant from
Vermont to the Ola Dominion. AT the state Re- Re.
publican Convention, held at Lynchburg on the
3lst ult., he declared that he had no apologies to
Salary bill. He had voted for 1t six times and
circumstances. He had never voted on any
Justice and proprety. Mr.; Platt Is evidently Of
Madison Patrick Henry, Randolph and others In
the Convention that framed the constitution OF tho
United states desred 70 guard aSanst Inc VIZ
resolution cOndemning the measure.
PUBLIC INDIGNATION IN PRACTICAL FORM
| Every California member, except Senator Cas-
serly, drew back pay, though the amount was not
large, owing to the heavy mileage paid for travel
ling from the Pacific coast to Washington. The
people Of the Golden state, indignant at the act OF
turpitude performed by nearly all their representa-
tives insist that at the next session Of the Legis-
fund to the United States the amount taken by
their delegates and II their wishes In this respect
are not complied with they propose to raise tao
The Supervisors OF Tama county, Iowa, have taken
steps to refund to the government the BACK pay
" the in Of me
an appropriation out OF the county treasury OF
their proportion with this object in view, and the
shiek, Jasper and Black well-are about appro.
pratfng their shares. AS far as they are con.
cerned they are unwilling to have stain attached
| to them, and take this method OF regulating the
! conduct OF their representative.
| WILL THE LAW BE REPEALEDY
Iowa wa and Minnesota have condemned the back pay
| grab and called for repeal OF the law. This was,
as has been seen, the universal sentiment in 1917