, 1873-03-25

sonators md Representatives, m''st givo roturn
entertainments. For nll those tl1cro Is vast
ontlay for droBa and for houso-roon1, which,
otherwise, would bo unnecessary; md thus
1t is tint tho nyornyo Congressman with
'hfa family rosidont Mt Washington finds
that hla salary is too small; and tint,
even with MI occasional hc1p from tho lobby, ho
is unable to pay Ills way. Tho curse Of Wasll-
ington society is itu Initiative extravaganza.
Tl,oro aro somo notable exceptions. hfr. 11onry
Wilson Inns always boarded at 4 moderate hotol /;
and Mr. Boutwell,, both az Congressman and
M Cabinet officer, has avoided all oHtontatioua
display.
Tho msta1so which tho ayorago Congressman
makes is in suppostng that tho public shall 10
taxed to enablo him to 1.-Two ut Washington OIL
torms Of oxtrnvagant rivalry with Senator who
hns u private income of 100000 yonr.
In tho attempt to imttato tho vulgar
expenditure of othors, tho molnbor las
to expcnd his ontiro salary md moro,
and is reduced to that pcc,lnfary woak-
ncaa whore suggestions Of Orcllt hlobilior stock
or offors from tile lobby 1oso their diagracoful
import. It was noyor intended Tint holding
Office under tho United slatos Should 10 matter
of profit Tho original doBign Of tho American
Constitution was, tint mombors OF Congress-
aud Executive officers should rocoiyo as thcir
able expenditure. 1t WIS mover intended to pny
thom for services. It WAS intended that thoy
should havo sufficient compensation to cover
all tho aotual outlay to which thoy might 10 put.
It waH not intended to pay senator A
sum sufficient to enable him to givo
five balls each yoar, and twonty~four grand din
nora, and thtrty-two matinoo receptions If a
Senator won't to this oxponso, 1t WIS intended
that ho should pay for 1t out Of Lis own pocket.
It waB mover intondcd that oact other Senator
and Representative should have m allowance
sufficient to enablo him and his family to attend
Senator AS entertainments and to give others
in return. In short, this is Republican gov
crnmont, in which tho public servant Is to ro-
ceiyo fair compensation for tho time given to
public duties, and no moro, and III which II lo
sock notorioty and famo for oxtravagant OK
pondituro ho must do 1t ut his own and not Ut tho
public cost Tho following resolution, adopted
ut recent mooting Of farmers in this statc.
places this transaction In it's truo light:
Resolved, That tho recent notion Of Congress, i'll
crcasin tho saarcs Of portion Of the oicera Of tho
General Government, Is dangerous departure from
tho simplicity md economy rrnctiaed by tho fathorH OF
our Republic in the administration Of tho Government,
md that in view Of iargo national debt, md tho
amount Of interest must md will lay upon 1t TIL
Hqudac aud tho embarrassed condition OF tue great
ass Of tho people dependent directly or indirectly
upon agriculture for their rocuniary succcss In o by
Of tho low prices they receive for tho products
Of thor labor md capital such lcyiRlation ehoTR IN
alarming tendency toward establishing purse-proudt
olccholtng aristocracy, to rno for its own bcnet
nation Of meek md submissive eorfs and, whether
a,tch result not contemplated by the sup
portcra Of said measnre we fall 10 perceive oven m
o1cuso for Its existence, md therefore demand H
unconditional repeal.
That resolution tolls tho whole story, and at
tho same titno suggests the true remedy. Lot
the action OF the last Congress bo repealed.
The repeal it is true cannot reach the increased
salary Of tho President during tho noxt four
years, but it can reach the pny Of tho 500 men,
bers Of Congress, aud tliB demand for repeal
will bo continued in such torma until 1t is detor
mined whether Congrcaa is so fur abovo tho poo
plo that representatives aro no longer RESPONSE