Ottumwa weekly courier. (Ottumwa, Wapello County, Iowa) 1872-1899, 1873-12-18

nose for many 4 year.
O~------,---
The Washington Chronicle of the
18th inst. says:
The House continues to debate the
salary bill, but interest in the subject
is rapidly passing away with its nov
city. 1t is not at all probable that any
legislation will be contaminated on
that subject before the holidays. The
discussion thus far has disclosed the
fact that scarcely single Representa-
tive thinks the pay at the present rate
too large. As an abstract question of
justice between man and man, If the
Senators and Representatives were
sitting as jurors. mot having any par
sonal intenast In -tA>--ssA5esty ahe de-
cision against reduction Of compensa-
ton would be very marked.
We, therefore, advise each member
TO vote for that sum which he conscien-
tiously believes TO be fair and Just,
without the slightest reference to his
own personal interests. This will be
the most popular in the end.
We know not positively how cor
rect the Chronicle may be in saying
that the Republican members with
such unapimity do not think the pay
too large under the present law, but
we do not believe 1t is correct. Not
stopping, however, to discuss that, we
have to say that this lie not the ques.
ton for Republican members to de-
eide upon. The pay was increased
against the protest Of the Republicans
of The country; that protest has been
put TO the strongest test for nine
months, and been confirmed in the
strongest terms, and Republican Con.
gressmen, at least, are not there to dc
their own will against the wishes O.
their constituents, especially in raising
their own salaries.
The advice, therefore, to vote fol
| that sum which each member consci
enti0usly believes to be fair is no rul,
to be governed by = ell. It Is simply
giving advice to 60 counter to tn,
overwhelmingly expressed will of til,
Republicans of the country, and Il
finally let the matter be determined b,
the parties themselves who are 10 re
ceive the money, regardless of wha
their masters, the people, have SAID
upon the subject. Such advice is sim
ply supreme folly. 1t is more; it is /
betrayal of the sacred trust committed
by tAe people to their representatives
and II strikes ne, can only come o
thoughtlessness or very blunt mora
vision.
The question can admit Of no decen
denial. that'At least In the matter o
the representatives pay, he should fol
low the dictates Of his constituency
| and not attempt to ride rough-shoi
over their Instructions, and to do thil
| tack on an increased appropriation Il
bill to provide for the necessary ex
penditurcs Of the government and pas
| It in the last ten hours Of the sitting
Of Congress.
This view may be hypocrisy, as thu
Chronicle In another place in its arti.
Gle charges upon some, but il it be, al
President Lincoln said in reply 20 com
plants of Gen. Grants reputed intern.
perance that he would like to sscer
tain what kind Of whiskey he drank IL
give it to other generals, 90 w
wouid like to have more member
| than are, imbued with II, aud the DIFF
ficulty would be nnravelled at once.
| We never have and we never would
apply the offensive term of "a steal' te
the famous salary bin, simply because
we do not think, in the light Of precc.
dents, the occasion demanded the
Wholesale use Of such u term, but We
would go very far in characterizine
the member who would not now
obey the unmistakable bebcsts OF the
people regardless of his own views
! and repeal the obnoxious law and fix
! the salary at what it was for the 41sl
Congress-, with reasonable compcn.
salon for the loss Of the frauking
privilege.
The Chronicle says, speaking oil III
advice, s'thisxilf ~ the most pepular