The Wheeling daily register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1864-1878, 1873-12-19
HOUSE.
SOME LIVELY PERSONALITIES.

SOME LIVELY PERSONALITIES.
J Mr.. Hale, OF New York, rose to a
personal explanation, and called atten-
tion to the fact that in the debate on
the salary bill yesterday, Mr.. Wilson,
of Indiana, had offered an amendment
which was intended for himself. That
amendment was to compel him (Hale)
to refund certain moneys he had re-
ceived as salary as an agent of the
United States before the American and
British Mixed Claims Commission. He
said he had taken the pay as such agent
because it was voted to him, Congress
having passed an act allowing him to
continue as such after he had been
elected a member of the Forty-third
Congress. This motion OF Mr.. Wilson's
he Hale) thought was intended as
stigma on his character. 1t was de-
liberate and plsned insult, and
as such he (Hale) accepted it.
He was appointed the agent of the
United States before the mixed com.
mission in 1871, and continued as such
agent after his election to Congress, at
the special request OF Secretary Fish,
because of his familiarity with the
questions at iseue. 1t was at his own
suggestion that the law was passed
authorizing him to act as such agent
after his election to Congress. Afterward
he served as such agent, at least to the
best of his ability, and if that was a
reason for casting a stigma on him and
requiring him to return his back pay as
O congressman, be was glad to learn it.
Mr.. Eldridge, OF Wisconsin, said Mr..
Hale had on yesterday complained that
the congressional salary was too large
and he would now like to learn how
much he had received as the agent OF
the United States.
Mr.. Hale said the question was an
impertinent one and as such he declin-
ed to answer it.
Mr.. Eldrdge retorted that Mr.. Hale
had said very impertinent things, yes
terday.
Mr.. Hale in continuation, charged
that Mr.. Wilson was instigated to offer
his resolution by Mr.. Eldridge, and Mr..
Eldridce had urged him to do it at
Mr.. Buffers suggestion.
Mr Wilson said there was nothing
OF the kind.
Mr.. E!dridge said so far as the allu-
sion to him was concerned, it was all
untrue
Mr.. Butler also arose to make
denial, but Mr.. Hale declined to give
way further, and said if it WAS desired,
be would give his authority for his as.
sertion. Messrs. Butler and Eldrldge did
not themselves give him the castigation
but selected Mr.. Wilson as q proper in.
strument to castigate him. He was
very proper instrument in view OF his
action on the salary bill OF last session.
There were two classes OF men In the
Forty-second Congress- who were eu-
gagged in putting the salary bill through.
General Butler was the head OF one
class, which was bold and outspoken
in advocating the salary bill, and MIR.
Wilson was the type OF another class
who were equally anxious to pass the
bill, but who did so by indirection and
10 clandestine manner.
Mr.. Hale then quoted the record to
show how Wilson had acted on the
salary bill, and showed that he had
voted for and against it in its various
stages and once or twice had not voted
at all. With such record, he was not
surprised that Mr.. Wilson should make
the attack upon him Tor he had not
the courage or manliness to vote square
ly on the salary bill. There were men
and beasts so filthy themselves that they
were never satisfied unless they were
besmts airing others with their filth. All
in this house had no doubt
seen Is dirty cur rolling IN
the mud of gutter and coming to run
agains: and bedaub decent people.
They smeared their filth over the peo-
pie but the cur received no benefit or
advantage, he still remained the dirty
dog.
Mr.. Wilson said he hal just had
splendid exhibition of the dirty dog
T Sensation. lie thought Mr. Hale
must have been remarkably stirred up
when lie would devote so much time 10
hunting the record. He (Wi!son) was
not ashamed of that record nor had he
ever attem pied 10 dodge the responsl-
bili.y OF any one of his acts. He then
went on to explain his votes on the
salary question and said he had finally
voted Tor it for the came reason
other members votel Tor it, be-
cause it was necessary TO do go
to have an important appropriation
bill. He had offered the resolution OF
which Mr. Hale complained, and we
had in consequence his unjust attack
on the mem bers Of the Forty.second
Congress who had voted for the salary
bill. The gentleman, said MIR. Wilson,
hiss been running around here prescrib-
ing clean linen for all his associates,
and as he was making such prescrip-
ton he did not propose to permit Mr..
Hale TO wear dirty shirt. In discussing
the question OF salaries, day before
Yesterday the gentleman had said that
the salary bill was passed in an unusu-
al and cowsrdly way. AT the same
time that he was making these cha,gee
be knew that he had received SlO,UOO
per annum from the government and
al the same time he was taking his pay
az a member OF Congress. he called
attention to the fact that the bill which
permitted Hale to do this was passed at
the same time the salary bill was pass
ed, and at late hour OF the night, and
be doubted whether the bill would have
passed if it had been supposed that he
iRale) was to receive two salaries
Before the gentleman charged his a:so-
ciates with unmanllness and cowardlce
and with guilt, he should cover the
extra salary he had received into the
Treasury.
: Mr.. Eldridge said he had looked up
Mr.. Hales record, because the latter