The Rock Island daily Argus. [volume] (Rock Island, Ill.) 1872-1873, 1873-12-04
A BONE OF CONTENTION IN THE
REPUBLICAN CAUCUS.
Back-Pay Repentance Gushing Out
copiously.
A TERRIFIC ROW ABOUT IT,
A Conscience Fund TO be Provided Out Of Fu-
ture Salaries.

WASHINGTON, Dec. THE back-pay {
caucus Of the House Republicans tonight {
was lively affair. It's session was pro-
tracted and the discussion at times red hot.
There was general feeling that something /
had got to be done but the point of differ
ence was, how to do it. The members who
attended il are very reticent as TO the de-
tails of the scramble, and some Of them
are grum and savage over the result. Free
indulgence was had in elimination and re-
elimination, and several quarrels were be-
gun which promise TO recur to the surface |
in Congress from time 70 time during the
session Il was found that while few of
the members were disposed 10 ignore the
popular clamor against the measure, the
majority wanted TO slide out Of the diem
ma through some small hole, and the small
err the better, so that it was large enough
10 let them take the swag along with them.
II was finally concluded that some regular
action must be taken and taken as party
measure Then dispute arose as 70 who
should introduce the requisite bill Every
body wanted the personal eclat that would
accompany the introduction Of the meas
urc.
THE BACK-PAY ADJUSTMENT.
No definite information could be gained
as % the settlement OF this point, but II Is
probable that Coburn OF Indiana willintro-
duce il The retroactive clause of the sal.
ary act will be repealed The repeal will
provide for Withholding the future pay OF
members sufficiently 70 cover the back pay.
The fellows who have drawn the back-pay
and then stayed athome are, otcourse, out
Of reach Of the present congress but they
will be declared indebted 10 the United
States in the sums they have drawn as
back pay. II will also include a revival OF
the franking privilege in some shape OF 9th.
err. A lively fight is anticipated over this
matter.
BUTLER RAGING.
The back-pay agreement will provide tol
the practical reduction Of the salaries o
members TO IS, 900 year, until the back
pay amounts shall be iuuidated by th'
surplus OF the raised salary over that sum
The fight in the caucus was mostly between
Ben Butler, kasson, Of Iowa, and Hale, o
Maine, while the lesser lights Clipped i,
as they could get opportunity. The boil
and bilious benjamin was in his element
lie sturmed up and down and ripped an
roared. He called his colleagues a pac
Of Internal pOltroons, aud said that Will
they might be intimidated and brow beate
by a few beardless boys and superannuate
dead beats in newspaper row, he would moi
He possessed manhood enough to BRAY
any storm, and he never had weakened
the face Of clamor, but had always proud
shouldered the consequences OF his acts.
KAssoN's REPLY.
Kasson not having been interested
the bcak pay, rose TO champion the caus
OF honesty and economy He would nj
be brow-beaten by the arrogance Of an
member. He had, he was glad TO say,
respect for the wishes of his constituent
which had never been blunted by ten thol
sand.dOllar fees He should see 20 it tn;
the records Of the Republican party wei
cleared OF the stains Of the last session.
Thus the quarrel waxed hot, and whe
the caucus adjourned 1t was amid ours,
loud, long and deep 1t was fine row
a BITTER ALTERATION.
As further facts about the back-pay ca,
Gus tonight leak out the interest increase
The arrangement mentioned in earlier iii
patches is in the hands of a committc
which Is 10 report 10 future caucus bl
the bill reported will be substantially rs
first reported. The quarrel between Blu
Ter on the one hand and HaleOf Maine al
kassOn on the other, was the bitterest tht
has occurred in a caucus for many years,
ever. When kasson threw out hisinsinr
alton about the ten thousand dollars Blu
Ter rose in a rage and said that no ma
who stood branded as a seducer and vi
later Of his marriage VOWS, should be pc
mitted to assail his, Buffers, character f
virtue and probity When Hale, of Main
who is Zach Chandler son-in-law. rose
protest against such unsecmly persoualtie
Butler retorted that he would not bestc
any consideration on any man because
was the sun-in-law of his father-i n-law al
the mouth piece Of another man (meanir
Blainel This alteration was partly
the caucus debate and partly in the natu
of a personal collision afterwards Mu,
excitement was created by it, and the fe,
ing that has been aroused is very bitter