Dodgeville chronicle. [volume] (Dodgeville, Wis.) 1862-current, 1873-04-04
OFFICIAL SALARIES.

We have been asked why we have so
unsrarngly condemned the 42d Congress
Why have fine-minded legislatures, and
everybody that wished to show his politi-
cal integrity, united in the unsparing con-
demnaton of that Congress in respect to
the increase of official salaries? Do we
condemn the majority of that Congress
merely because they voted to increase
their own pay for a term that had nearly
expired OF do the indignant people mean
to condemn the entire business of incress.
ing the salaries Of Members of Congress,
judges CT the Supreme Court and Presi-
dents, whether for past or future services !?
The Presidents salary has never been
varied since the commencement of the
government No body objected to an
increase of his salary. The salaries of
Members of Congress has been repeatedly
raised until it reached the SUM oil $4,000
exclusive of mileage. The salary Of the
Judges of the Supreme Court had reached
the sum of $4,000. Comparing these sal
aries with the average success and accum
ulation of men of equal talent and Industry
in other walks OF life, We regard them at
least as a fair compensation. If the edit
ors, demagogues and Legislatures which
have sentenced the 42d Congress to eter
nal infamy in this business, only intended
to censure their enlargement of their own
salaries, We think they have wasted great
deal of virtuous madness upon relatively
small matter. The members who voted
to help themselves certainly acted in very
bad taste; but if they were fairly entitled
to $4,000, per year for their services and
they perhaps earned as much as their sue
cessors will earn-a generous government
ought not to be niggard,y in paying its
public stewarsd a fair, compensation.
But we condemn the act and call
for its repeal, because we believe the
increase of salaries Except that of the
President}, Tas an outrage OH the people,
perpetrated by men corrupted by long
years of official service, and who have no
conception of the toll, labor, disappoint-
ment and frequent poverty of the people,
whose hard earnings they were reck1vssly
voting away.
The people are willing to pay their
scrvants a fair compensation, but they
repudiate every other measure for official
salaries They know that money neither
purchases ability nor integrity. The Brit
iSh House Of Commons lacks neither Of
these qualities, ard yet its Members are
not paid q cent. And what is more
remal kable, the most active and promi-
nent members Of that body do not belong
to the Weather classes. They are men
of heart, brain, ambition; that is their
entire stock in trade. Well knowing that
positions Of honor and power, in Repub
lie will always command talent and ability
yet the people will ever scorn gratuitous
services. and adjust salaries according to
the value Of the services rendered
But the standard adopted by most per
sons on this subject admits of no possible
limit The official and his family must
not only be enrolled in what is called
respectable society" but they must give
tone to it, and represent the wealth and
power of the nation. Nelly Grant must
shine in as costly jewels as the daughter
Of Queen Victory, and the wives and
daughters of cabinet officers and Members
of Congress, in the splendor of their tros-
seau, must shame the display Of ladies of
noble blood, imported Fl ON foreign courts.
in such vane there is no limit to the
money which will be demanded and
required, and salary of $4,000 per year
will stimulate social extravaganza which
will soon demand SIG, 600 per year. Alas
Have we not forgotten the simplicity OF
Republican institutions, ard Of the better
days of our fathers 70 navigate with
credit the inrushing tide Of extravaganza,
the fl >od gates of which have been opened
by that 42l.Congress. will require more
corrupt sale Of official influence, more
Credit Moblier stock than Cakes Ames
ever thought necessary to issue.
Again, with $4,000, Members of Con-
gress have the. means, to some extent, of
perpetuating their official hfe--they can
afford to pay something for second or
third term to their friends or mercenary
newspapers, to uses Of influence in their
several districts. Many of them are fast
lvers, and the gambling saloons and
drinking palaces in Washington will thrive
and multiply from this unexpected nation
al bounty. Excess Of money, not en-
ployed in business, like. excess of man.
ma among the Israelites. always corrupts
those that gather it.
And this augmentation ofsalaries by Con-
gress must. unless repealed, be followed
by like consequences in our own Southern
States. Every salary of every official, civil
or military, State or National, ought to
be increased, or their importunate and
criminal legislat on, ought to be repealed.
High salaries do not give US better off.
GERS, but they corrupt and demoralize