The state rights democrat. [volume] (Albany, Linn County, Oregon) 1865-1900, 1873-10-10

THE cUsroM-noUsn no THE RESCUE

THE CUsT0AH-HoUsE TO THE RESCUE
The Bulletin, endeayoring TO
smooth matters over for the Presi-
dent, says that it is well known that he
took no back.pay; admits that he
did sign the act increasing the salary
of the Presidential office; but thinks
the salary fixed in Washington's time
was not sufficient.
General Grant accepted the candi-
dature Tor the Presidency and was
elected at time when the compensa-
tion was $25,000 per annum. He
should have felt constrained, not only
by the implied agreement that his ac-
ceptance placed him under, but by
sense of decency not to accept nor
conspireto get more, Yet he signed
a bill giging himself 100000 extra
compensation for the term to whichhe
had been elected nearly four months
before. This was taking "back-pay"
in every Objectionable sense which that
term implies 1t does not make parti-
Gle Of difference in the moral aspect of
the question, whether the act by which
he gave himself extra pay, was per-
formed at the end or the beginning,
or before the beginning, Of the session
for which the pay was appropriated,
so long as the title to the Office for
the term in question had already been
secured to him. He signed bill
which was to have the direct effect to
give himself 100000. He thus voted
himself that amount. Presumably be
signed the bill because that was to be
the effect OF 1t, since the measure can
be justified on no public ground. 1t
is not attempted to be denied that
Congressman took back-pay in the
most literal sense. No more can it
be denied that the Presidents sigma.
ture gave force to the act which en-
abled them to do SO. Here, then,
the President supported the back-pay
steal. There is no pretense of justif-
cation Of the members of Congress
who voted for the measure; what can
there he tor the President who could
have defeated, but consummated Il?
Suppose the salary of the Presiden-
tial office was too small, is that any
reason why there should be whole
sale robbery Of the Treasury, to the
amount of millions, merely to get the
Presidents salary to the right figure I?
Certainly notl Manifestly there was
conspiracy, in which he whose inter
est was biggest was not least The
adequacy or inadequacy of the Presi-
dents salary can have nothing what
ever to do with the question. 1t is
no more to be considered in the pres.
ent case than it would be if brought
forward by the President or any off
Ger of the Government, to Justify him
self in taking funds from the public
by the assistance OF crowbar or a set
Of burglars tools. But the President'O
salary is not, as a matter of t@ct, too
low. 1t is proportionalIy as large, or
larger, than tho salaries Of Cabinet
or members of Congress,
Of the Supreme Court and other high
officers in the Government. These
rave all been found ample in an expe-
'ience of great many years. 1t is a
act well known to people in Oregon
hat Attorney General Williams, upon
lis election to the Senate was poor
nan. He is to-day reputed wealthy.
lie is known to own real estate in
Washington City worth some $4,000,
lpon which an elegant mansion is in
curse Of erection. General Grant
vas admittedly man of no means at
he time Of his accession to the Presi-
ency. 1t is a matter of public noto-
iety that he is the owner of an ele-
ant cottage at Long Branch that
is stud comprises many celebrated
nd valuable horses; that he rides in his
wn elegant coach and is attended by
ootmen in livery. The manner in
'hioh these men live shows an afllu.
nee that is inconsistent with the no.
on Of inadequate salaries Its splen-
or does not comport with the sim
licity of our institutions, and argues
le propriety of reduction of sala- !
es, il anything.
Look at it in whatever light you
ay the salary grab IL a monstrous a
ltrage, iG ,ghich the President took
principal part. Every attempt to L
ofend him by his appointees only n
axes their degradation and his guilt
% more apparent. "