The Fairfield herald. [volume] (Winnsboro, S.C.) 1849-1876, 1873-08-20

ference between appropriating money
for the bencft of others, and appro.
priating it to oneself, and Gccondly,
that the services rendered the gov
vernment by soldiers was far different
from that rendered by Congressman.
Tho Congress that has just adjourned
wao nosoriously worthless. Even by
administration journals it was de-
olared that Congrass had done moth.
ing for tho country, that it's whole
time was spent in manipulating pr;.
vatu jobs. So TINT if strict justioo
wore done, aud fair compensation
given them fnr their services, their
salaries should have been diminished
one h,.lf instead of being increased
by that amount.
The New York Herald replies to
Butler in long article giving his
tory Of the back pay acts of Con.
gress upon which the "politician Of
Essox," relics for precedent.
At the time Of the adoption Of Tie
Consultation, Madison pronounced it
Il dangerous thing TO allow Congress-
men to regulate their own salarics.--
lie also proposed au amendment to
the Constitution that no increase of
pay should take effect until tho Sc
cond Congress aftcr the one making
the increase. This was not adopted.
In 1916 Col. r. Nj. johnson recon-
mendod that instead of So per day
and mileage, members should receive
$1,000 year, and providing that a
pro rata reduction should be mado
for absence. This provision is not
found IL the act Of 1879. This in
crease amounted to $ll3,OO0 q year,
while the present back pay abstracts
$l,5oo,00O, for two years. During
that debate Clay expressed his prefer.
cnco Tor The Per diem salary and Cal,
houn declared that "milcagc was ono
of the strongest links binding the pco.
pie together"
This bill WAS violently denounced
by the people. The finances Of the
union were embarrassed by tho war
with England, and could not bear
this demand. 1t was said that men
who went to Washington to get rich
and live fast livcs had better bc left
at homo, and their seats filed with
men who would serve at the old
price. Public meetings and Legisla-
tors denounced the affair. No Car.
penters and Butlors we're found to
defend 1T. Even Clay was compelled
to call upon his war record to save
him from defeat. In South Carolina
| Calhoun and Middleton alone we're
re elected, and six new mcmbcrs were
seat to the succeeding Congress. At
tho next election, Of 81 members
voting for tho act; only Ii were re-
elected. OF the 81 opponents Of tho
measure, A9 were rc-clcctcd. Of the
rejected members only l3 wcro ever
alter elected to either house. The act
was repealed by tho Same Congress
at its next session, leaving tho whole
question to DO decided by the new
Congress. This established tho
per diem basis, $s day and So for
every 20 miles of travel.
In 1856, Senator Butlcr Of South
Carolina proposed an increase of pay
which had remained the samo for
forty years. Seward opposed the bill.
Senator Lane said either pay NOM
bcrs enough, or not at all, as in tho
british parliament whcro members
have not drawn their allowance of u
guinea day for two hundred years.
The bill passed tho Senate by vote
of 80 to IL. Mr.. Orr engineered it
Ch. eugh the house, mentioning that
the salaries of other officials had been
Increased and that allowed by Con-
gressmcn was not enough. by a vote
of 100 to 80 the pay was increased
to $4,000 and ono mileage q year Of
IS for cvory 20 miles.
In 1866 Senator Riddle of Della.
walo moved, in consideration cf the
doprociatcd currency, to raise the
salary to $4,000. This bill passed
both houses. But tic salaries were
not really increased. $4,000 in 1856,
could purchase moro than $4,000
could in 1866,
The act of 1873 increased tho an
nuaI salary to $1,000, and substituted
actual travelling expenses for mileage.