The Cairo bulletin. [volume] (Cairo, Ill.) 1872-1878, 1873-12-10

bhat SonBress nhu bot Iotethcu sheH
back pay.
ents Of the bill 10 put further questions |
to Lawrence, but the latter, amid much |
confusion and laughter, refused TO yield
for the purpose.
Mr.. Kellogg asked Lawrence whether
the members Of the 3y,h Congress had
net taken double milege for themselves
and reduced il one-halt as to tho future
Congress.
Mr.. Lawrence replied that he did not
recolloct precisely a. 70 that. Laughter.]
Mr.. Randall asked him whether
he had taken the increased pay
replied that he had, but had returned the
difference to the treasury.
Mr.. Kendall, Of Nevada, opposed the
repeal. While no had the utmost respect
for the will Of the people, whom fairly cx-
pressed, he made q clear distinction be-
tween popular will and popular clamor.
lie claimed TO be able TO show that the
salary As il now stood WAS less ,thsn the
old salary, especially in tho case OF NOM
bers OF tho far west, and he undertook to
do 30: That they Loaf by the abrogation
of milesge, the repeal OF tho Thanking
privilege aud the withdrawal OF allowance
for stationary and newspaper. He was
not here TO attempt to defy tho popular
will but ho repeated that he drew vide
distinction between popular viii fairly ex-
pressed and popular clamor, led by dema-
gogues, aud by a corrupt and partisan
press.
Mr.. Negly made some remarks in allu-
sion TO what he called the extreme sensi-
tiveness Of the gentleman from New
York, Mr.. Coz, and referred to his having
10 pt HE back pay some time before. re-
turning IL to the treasury. The gentle
man, he said, appears on this floor i'm
mcdiatsly on tho commencement Of this
session IS conspicuous figure of tho
group OF gentlemen anxions and xealous
10 arranging their associates for commit
ings great wrong against the public
treasury and public sentiment; and de-
sire 10 refer TO the gentlemsn's own acts
in order to put him In position in which
he has put himself. From Juno 4th 20
November 9th, the gentleman drew ga
OF Congress, till the 9Th OF November.
| l25, although not elected asa member
Mr.. Cox-Is the gentleman aware OF
the law on this subject
Mr.. Negly-In am aware Of the lava nd
90 10 the gentleman.
Mr.. Cox-The law 10 eIgress ia regard
to II.
Negly-I am aware Of il.
Mr.. Negly-rhs gentleman has only
| served nine days in this congress, and yet
he has drawn over 5000. If that 10 not
drawing baek-pay, appeal to the com
mon sense Of the house.
Mr.. Cox-Hss the gentleman served
| any longer in this compress than 1T
Il - - 49, hn
Mr.. Negly-But ! am not showing such
| a disgusting amount of virtue as this gen.
tlemsn, and consequently ! am not here
making my own defense. II this moss-
ure had been introduced in the interest OF
economy, IL would have commanded my
vote and my earnest support. II 1t had
been introduced out OF respect TO public
opinion, by gentlemen who had the most
right 20 intr oduce:it-I mean those who
had favored the inereAse--I should have
been willing 10 give 1t
nv support; h, on the contrary
it has been introduced by . number Of
gentlemen who have just escaped from
the follies Of their youth, and Who have
como here for the purpose OF earning
some new reputation. Laughter
Mr.. Wilson, OF Indians, said II was not
his purpose TO argue against tho repeal Of
tho salary bill nor 20 argue that the sal
airy was not hxed too high but he de-
sired 10 show that thsrs was nothing in
that action unworthy or dishonest that a
man might vote for il and still DO pur"
In Integrity. He repeated to Lawrence
tho question whether he had not drawn
back pay in 1866.
Mr.. Lawrence replied that every mem.
Der ;;of that Congress, except members
from West Virginia, had taken the pay
Axed by tho act Of 1866. Ho condemned
the salary act Of March 3, 1873, not so
much because Of back pay as because
both back pay and front pay was too
high.
Mr.. Wilson Of Indians, reminded Law.
renee that no had condemned it q while
ago because 1t was back pay.
Mr.. Lawrence, Because II was back pay
to much in amount. Laughter.]
Mr.. DAwes,-I want Lawrence to tell
us how much back pay he would go for,
Loud laughter He says that in 1866
no took his back pay because every mem.
bsr Of Congress did so. He returns the
increase Of pay because he says the poo
pie condemn it. SO he goes with the null
titude Whatever way tho multitude goes
Loud laughter q! the expense Of Law
renee.
Mr.. Lawrence desired TO mako . 70.
ioindsr, but Mr.. Wilson, who had the door
declined TO yield 10 him.
Mr.. Wilson, OF Indians, continued hii
argument. He said inen might differ al
20 proper salary without being either rob
bers or thieves. Tho people, however
had Q right to demand that the act OF this
last congress should be repealed. Th'
people had made that demand and con
greis was bound 10 sccede to il. What
ever congress would do would DO criti
cised but perhaps the best way OF dis
posing OF the matter WAS to placsh as !
was before and no trusted thst tho hous'
would put the bill on that basis. t,.-
Mr.. Townsend advocated tho amend
ment proposed BY himself, fixing the sals
ry Of mem bsrs at six thousand dollars.
Mr.. Lynch argued that Whatever chang
Was TO be made, whether OF increase o.
deoress, IL should not take eGe:t during
tho present congress.
Mr., Hale, OF Maine, gave notes tina
he would try 20 get in bill tomorrow.
The House adjourned.