The Richmond palladium. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1855-1875, 1873-12-20
Der from Iowa; Mr.. Garfield, now

Der from Iowa; Mr.. Garfield, now
chairman of the Committee on Appro-
priations; and my colleague, the chair
man of the Committee on Foreign
Affairs. l also find that many did
not vote, among whom | find the dis
tinguished Speaker of this House;
the present distinguished chairman OF
the committee On Ways and Means;
three Washburns; and my predeces-
sor, Mr.. Julian. But all, whether
voting for or against or not voting ut
all, took the benefit Of the Increase
the back pay
An interruption here occurred, IN.
the form of a conversation between
the Speaker and Mr.. Lawrence. OF
Ohio, in which the latter stated that
he objected to the back pay allowance
by the act Of March :, 1873 because
it was too much.
Mr.. Wilson resumed:
There were some very distinguished
gentlemen in the Senate III that Con-
grcss, among whom | fad, from my
own State, Henry s Lane, who spoke
in it, favor; Thouias a. Hendricks,
who sat in the chair whiles the matter
was being discussed; the preseEt Vice
President; Mr.. FesscndeD, Mr.. Law
renee, and others whom | need not
name; but none OF them fli,ed 10 take
the benefits. Some OF them voted for
back pay, and they al took back pay,
as it is called.
| think l have shown that the Con-
stitution was purposely framed so as
to allow each Congress to fix its own
| salary, and that, acting within its ex-
press constitutional power. the Forty
Second Congress, in passing the act OF
March 3, 1873, followed an unbroken
line of presidents.
| Having the right to fix its own
compensation, it is, of course, imma-
terial On what day Of the session it is
done. The merit or dcmerit, the good
or bad qualities of the act, depends.
| therefore, not ON the time in the ses-
sion when it is done, but altogether
upon the amount; and upon the latter
point it is but natural there should be
a diversity Of opinion, and that may
exist between honest men.
One may think that the honors of
the place are entirely adequate to in
duce men of the requisite character
and ability to accept and faithfully
discharge the duties of the place, re-
CARELESS of the salary, and doubtless
this is true; while there are others,
equally honest, who believe that the
man who devotes his time, abilities,
and experience to the faithful service
Of the country should have & salary
reasonably in excess of his reasonable
expenses-that it is neither fair nor
just to take advantage Of the fact that
, the place is desirable for its honors
, and thereby secure the services Of
J competent men for an inadequate sal
airy. A man may entertain such az
f opinion and act upon it, and be nci-
, Their robber nor Il thief Such Z;
: man need not be seriously apprehen
, siye that he will, in the opinions o
: just men. suffer when brought in com
t parison with those who think The
same, but lack the moral courage t.
, do what they believe to be right, ant
y especially with the debauched Sian
: derer and political charlatan who ex
hausts himself with denounoing wha
, has been done as legaiized robbery.
3 | shall not argue the question
{ whether the action of the Forty-Sec
S ond Congress was i'll timed or indis
S erect, although it would possibly no
: be difficult to convince thinkin
d man that it is never i'll timed nor in
S discreet to do what is right; but thi
+ would involve the single question
! and it is the only question involved
J. whether the amount fixed by tina
e Congress was in excess of fair con-
: pensation. Those who had expert
: ence here would differ in regard to i
d and those who have not are not in
it condition to form a correct opinion.
: 1t is sufficient for us to know tia
N the people, whether wisely or III
II wisely, arc unwilling to pay til
l. amount fixed by that Congress. W
l. can not now argue that they az
: wrong. They have right to dicta'
re what they will pay. They have
right to demand that it shall b
r. repealed. They have made that d.
d mandsand we are about to accede
lie it. When repealed, we must on,
70 more fix salaries; and that, also, v
i. are about to do. Whatever we HI
10 do will be criticised; but we must
as something, and perhaps the best guie
to to us in disposing of this matter is Il
J. law as it was before, and [ trust tn
of the House will place the bill upt
ut that basis.