Belmont chronicle. [volume] (St. Clairsville, Ohio) 1855-1973, 1873-03-27

I
ton had been already paid, will GER
tainly be matter of surprise to the
country at this time, and ultimately,
unless we are mistaken, will come
home to plague the men who have
contributed to such result.
The salaries provided by the act in
question are as follows:
The President $50, 900
The Vice-PreSident 10000
Chief Justice Supreme Court 10,500
Justices Supreme Court, each 10000
Cabinet officers 10000
Assistant Secretaries of the
Treasury, State and Interior. 5000
Speaker of the House, after the
present Congress +. 10000
Senator's, Representatives, and
Delegates, including the pres
ent Congress 7,oOO
In this we raise no question as to the
increase in the salaries of executive
officers:
1st. Because they did not participate
in the legislation;
I'd. In regard to these the act is pros
pective only; and
Sd. Because for this class of officers
the advance will be more generally
approved.
That exact justice may be done we
present the record:
Vote in the Senate For the 6M.-36.
OF the yeas, thirteen are Democrats
or Liberal Republicans, being four
more than the majority for the bill.
Ten were outgoing Senators, being
one more than the majority for the bill.
Five outgoing Republicans and five
outgoing Democrats voted for the bill.
Twenty-three Republicans and thir-
teen Democrats voted for the bill.
Twenty-six Southern Senators and
ten Northern Senators voted for the
bill.
against the 6iU.-N.
Twenty-one Republicans, six Demo-
Gratis, three Southern Senators, tw enty
four Northern Senators, two outgoing
Senators only, twenty-five Senators
whose terms continue.
Vote in the House For the increase. .-102
Fifty-two Republicans, fifty Demo
Gratis; fifty-five outgoing members;
twenty-fsur Southern. Republicans,
thirty Southern Democrats.
Against the iacrease--95.
Sixty-two Republicans, thirty-three
Democrats.
The united vote in the two houses is
as foliows:..-
For the bill.
Eighty-five Republicans, sixty-three
Democrats; sixty-five outgoing MEM
bers and Senators; eighty Southern
and members.
against the bill.
Eighty-three Republicans, thirty
nine Democrats.
Keeping this analysis of the vote in
view, it will not be difficult to fasten
the responsibility of the measure upon
the proper persons, and to find the con-
trolling reason of its Objectionable fea-
ture-back pay to retiring Congress.
1t is fair to state, that there were
those who sincerely belived the COM
pensation of Congressman to be inad-
equate nor do we think that, in view of
the abolition of the franking gratuity
and mileage, the cost of Congressional
proceedings under the new law will be
greater than under the old system.
But this fact-should it prove to be a
no;excu.e whatever for the
seizure of large sum by the retiring
Congress beyond their stipulated and
lawful compensation.
On this subject of salaries for public
services there is wide difference of
opinion, some contending that Govern
ment pays an inadequate compensation
for poor service; others, that the COM
pensation is sufficient and the service
well performed.
A careful observation of many years
leads to the conclusion that both these
contain some truth and
some errors; that in the aggregate the
employees of the Government are as
we'll, not to say better, paid than any
others in the country, as compare with
theservice rendered, and that for eff
cheney, regularity, and integrity the
service will not suffer by comparison
with the personal. or corporate man.
agement ofany extensive private busi-
ness. But there are inequalities in the
service which are incident to. the lapse
of time and the growth of the country.
These should be remedied by consider
ate, but never by retroactive legislation.
And it is suggested that, inasmuch as
the salaries of Legislators, ifraised at all,
must be raised by their own votes,
decent regard for their own good names
and the judgement Of manki nd would
require the act to be prospective, and to
become operative only after its sane /.
ton by a popular vote.
No Congress in recent years has been
SO much maligned by the partisan press
as the one whose acts are under consid-
GRAFTON; and. possibly, few would have
withstOod the ordeal better but for this
last act:of consummate folly contempo-
raneous with its dissolution.
During the term of the Forty-second
Congress nearly the whole field of ma
tional affairs has passed in review be-
fore it, and much that is good and rro-
per has received considerate and appro-
pirate sanction. The peace of the cOun-
try has been maintained, the prosper
ity of the people advanced, and all the
necessary and ordinary provison made