New-York tribune., 1873-12-19
A SALARY STEAL QUARREL.

An ABUSIVE DERATE BETWEEN hEssRs HALE OF
NEw-YORK. WILSON or INDIANA, FLDRIDGE AND
GEN BUnER-A GREAT DEAL OF BITTER TALK
lBY TELEGRAPH TO THE TRBUNE.l
WAsInNGTON Dee, 1S-1he hard feelings and
pereonal animosities enGendered by the debate on
the Salary bill are by 20 means allayed by the dis
posal Of the biu. They promise to make themselves
felt and heard for a long tine. and Will probably
disturb the harmony Of the entire session and nu-
ence legislation 10 a considerable extent. To-day
they cropped out in quarrel between Mr.. BALE of
New-Yuik and Mr.. Wilson Of Indiana, MI Eldndge.
and Gen. Bnfer IN the cOurse Of which great deal
of hitter and abusive talk was indulged in. The
affair originated in the rather intemperate denun-
ration of the supporters of the Salary bill of last
,essio1 which Mr.. Hale had got of during
the debate Messrs. Butler, Wilson. and few
Others had made it their business to look
over every mans record wbo made himself
particularly LToinnent N the movement for repeal,
and Il they iound any weak places in his arDor they
assajled him unmcrciiully. They discovered that
AL effective attack coud be made upon Mr.. Hale,
and last night Mr. Wilson had an amendment read,
proyiding that If any meniher OF Congress had re-
.aiyed counsel iees from the Government while
drawing hrs pay "a Congressman. the amount so
received should he deducted from his future salary.
Notbinq was eaid AZ the time, and vote was taken
OI
shot war aimed at MIR. Hale. who up 10 the meeting
af Congress Lad been acting a. Government counsel
before the British anu American Claims Commis-
sion.
This morning he got the fooI for persona! expla-
nation and beginning by saving that the amend
oent was intended as an insult to him. he proceeded
II rmndly abuse Mr.. Wilson whose record on the
ld salaTy-crb he attempted TO use against him. He
then brought Mr Butler into the controversy by
paying that he got no the amendment and got Mr.
Wilson 10 introduce it by reaching his arm around
Mr.. EldrIdge." He defended his own cause IN con-
tinuing to act as counsel before the Commission
after he had been elected 10 Congress by citing a
law passed last March for the express purpose of
authorizing the Secretary Of state 10 continue TO
employ him. but eyaded replying To questions as TO
the salary he had received bv saving they were im
pertinent He ended by comparing Mr.. Wilson to a
dirty cur who wallowed in the mud and then
spattercd the filth upon decent people.
Nj. Wilson replying said the House had just been
giyen an exhibition Of dirty cur" He success
fully defended his record the salary bill and then
show ed that the bill under which Mr. Hale had been
drawing two salaries since March had been slipped
through on the last day of the session without a
word of explanation. when nobody knew what il
meant Mr.. Eldrdge declared that ne had no
knowledge of Mr.. Wilson's amendment. Mr. Butler.
meanwhile, had telegraphed TO the Treasury De-
paItment for Mr. Hales account and when he got the
floor he had the reply of the Register showing that
vince March Mr Hale had drawn over $4,000 a. Gov
srnmept counsel, all the while drawing monthly his
nav az member at the rate Of $3.50 a
scar Mr. Butler admitted that he had light
nnder the law 20 this money. aud that he had rem.
aered good service, but what he objected TO, was
hp scolding other people about the salary steal
when he was himself the greatest salary stealer OF
them all la conclusion. lie quoted the story of the
woman taken in adultery and the Saviors reply
about casting the first stone and then brought down
che House ia a roar of laughter at MI Haies ex-
pense. by saying. what "a nice leader OF ston1np
psrty the gentleman from NeHyoIk wouic make y