American citizen. [volume] (Canton, Miss.) 1864-1890, 1873-07-26
The Salary-Grab, Etc.

There was never more dishonest
piece of electioneering humbug than the
ridiculous talk about the repeal of the
grab-law. The theft is consummated, and
the only legitimate and practicable way
to satisfy public justice and appease pop
ular Indignation is by Furnishing and hui
initiating the political party that is re-
sponsiblc for this disgraccful swindle.-
Xil,rdpkee Ne,cs.
Tile Register is in favor of any nom
nations made by any body of men, called
Democrats or by any other name, who are
opposed to the salary steal, railroad cNtor-
tion, corporation monopolies of all kinds,
and in favor of free trade and equal rights
to all, and special privileges to none.
This is our platform, and the Register
will only support candidates who stand
on it--INin0is State Register
1t is noticeable that Il large number
of Republican newspapers are gradually
moderating their tone when speaking of
the salary grabbcrs. They used to con
denim their Congressman in unmeasured
tones, but now they freely use such ex'
pressions as these: 1--WE do not object to
the increase of salary, but we do not like
the back pay feature" The trouble is, the
party shoe begins to pInch.-Laporte (IndD
AIyus.
The universal demand for the repeal
of that act is thus defeated by the money
being handed over before any service is
rendered. 1t is shrewd trick to pocket the
funds before the rising trumpet of public
| Indignation forces the law to be abrogated.
The people can now see for themselves
what manner of men they have set up for
rulers. Not satisfied with two years back
pay, they anticipate year in order to get
the money ahead of time and before there
| Is any pretense of earning it.-S. PAU
| Pioneer.
| Members of Congress elected last
year, but who have not yet rendered any
| service, nor even been sworn into office,
are drawing pay at the rate established
by the salary-grab law, $625 IL month.
The Dubuque Times says the Republican
party takes no step backward, and as the
law under which such things are done
was passed by Il Republican Congress,
and approved by Il Republican President,
the presumption must be that this law
will not be repealed by the Republican
party. VIII the people not see to it that
| some party does repeal such laws ?-Du-
6uque (Io,co) Telegraph.
| The Republicans are everywhere
warning the farmers against office-seekers.
Is there greater horde of office-seekers
anywhere in civilization than the news
paper editors and leaders of the present
Republican party. They are all bending
their energies in that direction. They
never have word to say upon any ques-
ton, until they investigate the opportuni-
ties of advancing, or the liabilities of en-.
dangering their chances for official pre-
ferment. 1t is these fellows, whose every
breath is longing for office, if they have
not one already, that now with uneXam
Piled effrontcry are warning the farmers to
beware of iceseekers.-Peoria IH'
Democrat.
The recent Republican State Con
vention of Iowa resolved against the
CreditMobilier swindlers, but they didn't
apologize to the people for telling them
last fall that it was all Greeley lie
They resolved against back-pay and de
nounced Congressman who voted for it,
but never a word of censure for the Presi-
dent who signed the bill. They resolved
that Rankin ought to have been punished
and his bOndsmen sued, and then renomi-
mated Gov. Carpenter, who had been one
of the bondsmen, and one of those who
knew of the deficit in his account months
before it became public. The best reso-
luton they passed was that giving Re
publicans liberty to scratch the ticket as
they plcase-a liberty we think a great
many mean to take-Wt. Pleasant Qo,co)
Press.
john d. Baldwin, editor of the
Worcester Mass) Spy, was six years in
Congress, and therefore speaks from en-
perience when he denounccs the idea
that "cost Ofliving in Washington justifes
the 'salary-grab. He says:
This talk of the cost of living at Washing
ton, used an argument for eNtrlvagant pay,
| is an empty pretcnsc, considering that Con
grcssmcn do not live there half the time, while
| the officials we have named, with much small
CT salaries, live there constantly, and find no
trouble in paying all their expenses. The
authors of the late increase of salaries began
with the intention of making them $4,000 a
year. We will wait TO what they will at
| tempt next Congress has a legal right To
make the salaries of members $4,000 or $780,
600 each, or any other amount; but the
trainers of the Constitution did not suppose
| there ever would be Il Congress capable of
| abusing this right.