, 1873-06-27

Constitution uRos tho word compensation
inntoad Of salary, It wnH necessary to fix
this sum as an equivalent for ser-
vicos. II tho word compensation" is
to be literally conhtruod tlon Congroan fatlod
In not voting larger amount to H,,ch monbota
aa 10 tho llnrl work, and could oarn moro money
outaldo Of CongroaH, and cutting OF tho groator
nu1nbor with small stun, and many Of them,
who actually oarn nothing, without dollar. As
1t would DO impossible to do thin, It is ovidont
TINT tho word u compensation wns intontled to
moan a lxed salnry. As matter Of fact, " COM
ponsation," In tho sonHo OF equivalent, doos not
enter into the question. Mr.. Carpenter has 1a-
necessarily matlo m exhibit Of his private bank
account. Ito says ho can eavo no money. Yet
ho saya, also, TINT ho oarnod last year $40, 500
In his 1ogal practice outade Of Congress-. Add
to this tho e7,500 ealary aa sonator, and h1r.
Carpenter had All income last yoar Of $4,000.
AB he naycB no money out Of this
amount, llo might olatm TINT $4,000 Is noces-
Rary for the support Of himself and his family,
aud, II ho is expected to dovoto Ills whole timo
mud ability to tho intoresta Of tho Government,
Othor gontlomon might domand $40, 900, $4,000,
or $50, 900 On tho same basis.
incidentally. A1r. Carpenter enlehyora to tx
upon those gontlomon who have refused to talo
tho back-pny deliberate violation Of tho Con-
Btitution, which Bays TINT they !" shall recoiue
compensation for thoir services" He thon pic
tures tho dangers of violating the Constitution
III style that would hive boon admirable as
applied to Louisiana aftatrs, md which is cor-
tainly worry humorous (na ho probably intonaed
back-pay.
Whothor Or not the SIM Of $1,000 is only
fair compensation for Congressional services is
d circumstance TINT does not affect tho retro
active character Of tho bill. This Mr. Carpenter
justi0os because thoro was no contract, under
tho law, that monbers Of tho Forty-Hooond Con-
gross should servo for $1,000. This is truo
enough. If tloro were such o contract under
tho low, Mr. Carpenter aud others who haye
takon the money might o1poot to DO sned for it,
OAk kAGkG HAH u kAEAk aEAGb4AOAtt hAGA A4oAAnoAo
Of Congress- solicited tho su1fragcs Of their con-
BtituontB, TINT they would servo for tho salary
thou fi1ol. As the first Congress fixed it's own
compensation. and as other Congrosaoa havo
that overy Congress may mako O chauge
overy day ii It chooses. Perhaps 60.
But We venture to say that future Con-
grasses will be allow to take advantage Of tho
prorogatiyo. Tho increase Of pay in 1856 and
1866, to which Nlr. Carpenter rofors with par-
ticular stress, occurred unlor circumstances that
ofTor no opportunity for comparison. Tho in
crease Of 1856 was from IS d day to $4,000
yoar. There was no popular protest against 1t,
and the incroaao was mado just prior to q prosi-
Dental election. Would tho late Congress haye
darod to mako tho incroaso before tho lato cam
paign7 Tho increase Of 1866 was from 81, 900 to
$1,000. 1t was q Just concession to tho in
croased cost Of living, aud there was no general
complaint Of itg unfairnoHs before or after.
It was madc just before Congressional cam
paign, and not just after. It was at
time whom tho country had faith in tho
destiny Of tho Republican party, and confidence
in the integrity aud patriotism Of Republican
leaders. Congress Was still engaged in tho work
Of reconstruction, aud tho adoption Of what was
not regarded as excessive pay was nh insigni1
can't avont ua compared with tho vital interests
Ut stake. Tho inoronso Of 1873 WAS at tho fag-
oud of Congress was tackod on to the general
Appropriation bill in such q way that its dofeat
would havo endangered tho whole appropriation =;
was tho supplement Of long sories Of public
abuses; was condemned in advance by tho
people and was anothor evidence Of tho eelfsh
and corrupt purposes Of tho mon in power. The
cases are not parallel. but, il they worc, two
wrongs docs not make ono right.
Mr. Carpontor's speech may DO regarded as tho
forlorn hope Of tho salary-grabbora, and it has
failed. The effort may have boon honestly con-
ceivod. but It was unfortunately undertaken.
Tho pooplo will join with him, with slight vari-
alton, in tho closing sentiment Of his speech:
Two may hope that tho present sore, ldgety,
eickly (im)moralisy will some time give place to
tho manly and hoalthy virtue taught by tho
Master Of Nazareth"
THE IOWA REPUBLICANS.
The Iowa Republican State Convention has
nominated GOV. Carpenter for recollection. It
adopted tho Maine resolution thanking Congress
for exposing tho Credit Mobilier robbery, and
urges tho punishment Of those who may hero