The Rutland daily globe. [volume] (Rutland, Vt.) 1873-1877, 1873-08-18
WHAT'S THE DIFFERENCE

George r. lloar, OF Worcester. Massa-
chusetts, is not wholly unknown to fame
in Vermont Lest, perchance, it should
happen that there might be one person.
whose duty it is to understand current
events and public men. that may be mis-
informed or Ignorant upon the subject. we
will state that he is some forty.six years
old graduate of Harvard college both
in its academic and law departments
has something of reputation as a lawyer
throughout Massachusetts. Some four
years ago, the voters of his congressional
district saw fit to send him TO Washington
as their Representative and have kept him
there ever since. re-electing him to the
next or forty-third Congress by an over
whelming and largely increased majority.
When Butler made his first raid in order
to capture the gubernatorial chair of Mas
sachusetts, George f. Hoar was selected to
preside over the deliberations of the con-
vention in which he was to meet second
Fort Fisher defeat. Thus and so much
for George +. Hoar, who has answered the
sneering question "what's the difference"
between Justin S. Morrill, and Benjamin +.
Butler? II may he said, in addition. that
Mr.. Hoar steadily and persistently voted
against the back pay and increase of
salary in every form in which it was pre-
scented. Our readers will remember that
General Butler wrote an elaborate letter
defending this measure and attacking Mr..
IIoar. in particular, because he saw fit to
devote his 'back pay for educational pur-
poses within his own district to which
letter Mr.. Hoar has replied in clear, for
chile, logical and convincing letter. Fol-
lowing somewhat in the line of argument
we have used, he shows that the measure
was constitutional and legal and that
although it twas an exercise of power so
gross, so uncalled for, so extreme, as to
constitute an abuse of confidence" yet it
was in no sense n grab or ''steal."
He says that within ten minutes after the
passage of the bill, he determined not to
appropriate the extra compensation to his
own use, but upon consultation with those
who, like himself, had honestly and con-
sistently opposed the measure, he found
that the vast majOrity of them had deter
mined to receive it. Their argument was
that if their salaries had been decreased.
they would have been been bound thereby.
and as this increase had been legally and
constitu'onally granted, without any act
OF theirs, they We're justly entitled to it
and did no wrong in receiving it, Under
these circumstances, says he, lit seemed 10
me that it was not just that while this dis
trict was to be taxed its share Of the
whole money which was drawn by the re-
representatives. of other districts. the sum al |
lotted to me should he put in the Treasury
to go chiefly to the benefit of the same dis |
tricts whose representatives had drawn like
sums for themselves Was he not right
in his course? Every one comedies that
the measure was constitutional and legal
one, and so long as the money was taken
by different members was it not fair and |
right that the district that was to pay if
should receive it, rather than the United |
States, whereby different localities would
be unequally taxed. If the United States
received 1t, the money would, in effect, be
divided pro rata throughout the Union in
the payment of these same salaries, those
districts whose members had pocketed their
back pay receiving as much benefit there
from as those whose representatives had
seen fit to return it to the national treas.
Try. This seems to us too plain to REQUIRE
argument, and shows whats the differ
'nce." Following up the subject aud al
udihg TO his own course, he says 'This
eemed to me, under the circumstances
he most absolutely just disposition of the
money that could make. A district has
no organization and no treasury. Mr..
senator Morrill,, who represents whole
state solved the difficulty with absolute
accuracy by paying over his back nav 10
he State Treasury" Does this show
what's the difference?" We tbink n
loes. We agree with Mr.. Hoar that seno
or Morrill, "solyed the difficulty with ab.
olute accuracy" and this isswhat's tho
Inference