New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1873-04-19
THE SALARY GRAB.


ROBBERY OF EIGHTEEN MILLIONS ny coNGREssMES'
TO he EditOr OF The tribune.
SIR: The million and half OF dollars stolcn
by COngressneu. and pocketed under inc he'u VI III
creased salaries docs not at all represent tho rear "sSe
gate of that robbery. This million ana nan Is rea.y
only the biennial Interest of the amount taken ion 'no
rockets OF the people In fact not quito that Because
the nex ress by virtue OF the robbery OF this viii
IN entitled TO receive on extra slS0)0Jo tho number of
IFS members being increased by the new apportonmen
The real sum sOen therefore, Is ssO)oOOo The act OF
increasing the salaries from 5000 TO $500 imposes
perpetual annual charge the Treasury and the people
of 100000 This is exactly five per cent on SlSOO0Oo
which Is the rate at which the Treasury borrow
ing money The effect Of the increase Of the salaries is
precisely that therefore. which would have been pro
duced IL Congress had issued bonds for sOOOOo sold
Them and stolen the proceeds and left the people TO pay
the interest them. That act would have com
PEELED an annual tax of just 100000, and this
is lust what the people have had added TO their
taxes. by the swndling operation OF their represent
atves 1t would have been cheaper for the Treasury
and the people, in the end, If the Tascals had voted
themselves plump sum of $4,000 a piece, and gone
home with the plumber. This would have takon only
little over Sl6O0lOoO out Of the Treasury instead Of
slsOOOOOO the thing stands. The upshot Of this
whole operation is therefore, in effect that the national
DEBT has been increased 100000 in order that parcel
Of besGary legislators in Congress might pocket
ST. 100000 of 1t.
The question to be considered is whether that ad
dtion the debt shall be allowed TO stand whether
the people will not insist upon abrogating the law by
which it was saddled upon the country. say, repeal
the law. As to the men who originated and accom-
plished this despcablc robbery of them should
be allowed TO show his head in Congress again. If
men who have hitherto stood well choose to make idiots
of themselves by indOrsng such knavery, they
must take the consequences. They knew better.
They knew that every dictate Of manly
honor and integrity forbade it. They knew
IL forbidden by the express ruO Of Congress- which
declares thai shall vote n measure in which
he has personal interest rule at all times enforced
II law raising Congressional salaries is to be passed. t
only honestly apply TO future Congress. II is
brazen theft in members make II apply TO themselves.
Public indignation has been aroused recent pub
lie events here t never aroused before. There is
danger OF its being dspated because OF party ties But
IN this it can be and ought 10 be concentrated with
out party prejudice, for all parties are alike Implicated
1t j. of 70 try 20 individuals ut the expense
of public Justice They have made their bed and must
lie It. III IS the bOdcst robbery heard OF. In
view of the public excitement over recent developments.
DO is like thief undertaking TO steal under the glare of
IL Drummond light OF an the Infamous things done by
Congressman, know Of none which approaches this.
Washington, D. O., April s. 1873 Yours. P