The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1873-04-09

The Ex-M. G. OF the Fourth New York
District Hands His Back Pay Over TO
the Schools Of the City-The Interest to
he Given to Scholars in Prizes-The
Four Ways tof Congressional Consci-
entiousness.
Mr.. r. b. Roosevelt late Representative to the
Fortysccond Congress from the late Fourth district
IN this city, was one of the Gideon's band that
voted against the back pay steal After revolving
in his mind the various modes by which he could
dispose of the back pay without approprating it
his own use, he has arrived at the benehcent
luton forth In his letter to the Commissioners
OF Education. The two letters suboined will ex-
plain themselves:
10 THE EDITOR OF THE HERALD
VIII you oblige me by giving your readers the
ouge TO % be- sa worth tsat Yours rny INC
ROBERT Il. ROOSEVELT.
THE SCHOLARS HOPE.
160 BROADWAY, !
NEW YORK, Marc 90 1873
To the Honorable COMMISSIONERS OF EDUCATIoN:-
GENTLEMEN-I have the honor OF proposing to
you plan for, appropriating my extra salary, as
member OF the forty-second Congress, which
hope will meet your approval, and which, for the
reasons that | herewith submit, appear to me the
best disposition ! can make OF IT, propose TO
transfer the amount-which Is about 81, 1Oo-to you
In trust to be invested by you, the interest to be
divided annually into prizes to be given
to the best scholars Of the public schools Of
this city; and to explain my reasons Tor preterrng
offer the following snggestions:-
The city OF New York pays a very large proper
ton Of all the taxes raised by the United States
government; nearly, II not quite one tenth Of the
whole. Of the entire amount necessary to pay the
extra compensation to the Forty-second Congress,
some one million six hundred thousand, she viii
then have to contribute 100000. The constitu-
ents OF the members who do not draw their
salary are taxed equally with the constituents
Of those who do. II ! lett the money IN
the United States Treasury only an indni-
tesmal small portion would accrue to the benent
OF my city, which would be taxed all the same to
raise the entire amount. Justice would therefore
dictate that ii the money should be applied to any
public use that should be one connected with
the locality or district represented by the
member, and no one will doubt that our public
schools are the most deserving institutions in our
CITY, and that any assistance given to them Will be
most heartily approved by the community. II 1t
might be said that on this principle the money
should go to the Fourth Congressional district that
being the one which L represented it must be
borne IN mind that the limits OF that district have
already been changed-that it has permanent
boundaries, ana that in time with the progress OF
population up town, 1t Will probably be left
now the case with enc OF It's wards-the
Third. Moreover, there might be legal difficulties
in the way creating such trust, but the Board OF
Education OF this city are expressly authorized by
the statutes of state to become the trustees OF
any fund donated to them for the benefit OF the
schools under their charge. And lastly, IL must
not be forgotten that the money legally belongs TO
the member OF Congress entitled to 1t, and may be
disposed OF precisely as he shall think most advis-
able and that else has the slightest legal
claim upon it: Only three modes OF djsposing of
like myself opposed the passage OF the law,
and who did not feel inclined to
take the money personally, have been adopted.
One was TO leave the amount in the United States
Treasury the objections to which have stated the
other was to divide 1t pro rata among the menu
ber's constituents, giving each one few cents.
Plan not worthy to be seriously discussed, and the
third has been to donate 1t to some charity. far
prefer to any Of tnese and hope you will coincide
with me In my conclusion, to so use II that 1t Will be
stimulus to Jry among our youths In sell-im-
proyement a. ndacement, II q small one, to
ia hR HAf m
republican fora. OF ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS educa-
ton.
II these views meet your approval-and In max
ing the proposition do not want TO cast refec-
items on other members or Congress, many OF
wnom were actuated by conscientious motives IN
sustaining an increase OF salary-and II you are
Wiling In addition to your other duties, TO assume
the labor and responsibility of this trust, Will
complete all matters OF detail execute the proper
conveyance aud Will draw the money ana transfer
IL 10 your BOARD as soon as can conveniently do
30. Yours very respectfully,
ROBERT. B. ROOSEVELT.