The Rock Island daily Argus. [volume] (Rock Island, Ill.) 1872-1873, 1873-03-10
THE LAST nnrRAGE

The two Houses Of Congress. on Mon !
day. perpetrated an outrage without pal
Eatiou or excuse The members Of this
Congress were elected with a full knowl.
edge that their compensation was fixed by
law That compensation was 5000 "a
year, and mileage computed at the rate OF
a. for each twenty miles The mileage If
Congress from Illinois, computed at loo
miles, would amount 10 800 each way
each session. The actual cost is $50 each
way each session. The emoluments Of n
member Of the late Congress, therefore,
were Salary, two years, $4,000; mile
age three sessions, 81, 400 total, $l2 100,
or 5000 each year Congress. however,
in fixing the salaries Of future Congresses,
increased their own pay, and voted them
selves Slj,OOO each for the two years,
5000 more than they had agreed 10 serve
for Taking this money will be nothing
more or less than an act Of robbery Of
from 5000 30 5000 for each member
who pockets it. IL was an impudent raid
on the Treasury for spoils IN he divided
among the members Of an expiring Con
grcs-. The advocates Of this measure
gave a. an excuse that their receipts did
not pay their expenses, meaning thereby
their necessary expenses. Ii is false
Five thousand year will pay-has paid -
their necessary expenses in more expeu-
sive times than these
No apology can be offered for this ac-
ton. II was claimed that the mileage OF
members from the Pacific Coast exceeded
that Of members from the Atlantic States
and that, therefore, the California mem
bers got greater compensation than the
others But members from New Eng
land knew very well that this inequality o.
mileage existed when they sought the of
hce Not one of them would have dared
before election 20 have stated his purpose
~ vote himself 5000 extra pay. To take
advantage Of his position, and at the close
OF his term, IN vote himself 5000 nd
ditlonal back pay is a glazing exhibition Of
selhshness and a wanton breach Of faith
IL Is possible that some members may
have voted for this provision under com
pulsion, that IL, had to vote for II or de
feat the Appropriation bill All mci
members can prove the honesty and jus
tice Of their purpose by refusing 10 accep
the money. There is no law n compe
them to receive any more money for thci
services than their contract authorizes
They are not Obliged n accept the shaG
Of the plumber voted 10 them. They cal
best display their personal integrit
by allowing the money 10 remain in tn
Treasury. How many Of them will d
this? How many of these Congressman
even Of those who voted against the bill
will refuse TO accept their shares Of tn
plunder2 We shall see.
There we're some fifty members Of tn
House who absented themselves when tn
vote was taken. They cannot hope to es
caye responsibility they must show thei
Goihpheity in the robbery which they coul
have defeated by their votes. or their hoU
est objection N Il nv accenting or ref1sin
the money Which will thew do2 Ever
man who accepts the money whether h
voted ior u or not, must be held, enuall
responsible for the outrage nc ,hoso VII
dared place themselves ON record T. ;,s e
gor. -- Chtca0O Tribune. III i'' 10