The sun., 1873-08-28
still Worse.

StiIl Worse.
The secret history of the back-pay grab
and the doub inl of the Presidents salary,
with other features of that atroCious act,
yemains TO be written. 1t is still imper-
fectly understood, notwithstanding the
general criticism to which it has been sub
jccted. The moro its public aspects are
examined the worse they appear. One of
them which seems to have escaped notice
entirely is entitled to much consideration.
The late Congress passed an act limiting
the next Congress to two regular sessions
Instead OF three which the Republican
party had substituted for the old practice,
10 which they have now returned. If they
had gone stll further and Fixed the time
Mt three months for each session, positive
benefit would have been conferred OH the
country.
OF course the practical effect OF this
change is to reduce the expenses, labor and
absence from home of every Senator, Rep
resentative, and Delegate about one-third.
Yet in the face of a law intended expressly
10 relieve Congress of IA part OF its burdens,
the men who passed it-half of whom were
reelected at the time-did not scruple to
increase their pay one-half
In other words, after diminishing the
cost of living and the duties one third,
they added exactly half OF their old salary
60 the new pay. And with this fact to
Confound the authors of the iniquity, they
still have the cffrontery to persist that the
enormous Increase was necessary 10 cover
the outlay incurred at Washington.
The falsity of that pretence has already
been exposed. Only three champions have
dared 10 urge IL, and they all affect costly
living at the capital BEN BUTLER occu-
pies IA large house, with all the accessories
of man of competent fortune" as he
describes himself PoMERoY says he spent
sllO0O in one year ard considering his
mode Of life that is probably true. But hc
took good care to make the Treasury foot
the bills. CARPENTER kept up IA private
aud "A professional establishment, which
necessarily increased his expenses.
These persons have consulted their own
tastes aud made large expenditures in
gratifying them. But they and Others in
the same category are exceptions to the
rule. The very best, aDlest, and purest
men in both branches OF Congress are
those who live simply and within their
salaries. They are universally respected,
exercise deserved influence, and never sui
fer by the absence of ostentation, which
is the chief Characteristic of the vulgar
shoddy class OF social pretenders.
Mr.. CARPENTER labored hard to justify
the increased salary on moral grounds
that being one of his strong points by pre-
Cept, and by practice of course. He put n
proposition and answered it why hire u
house in Washington; If you are to have
healthy administration, ii must be ut the
hands of men living in II healthy and nor
maj condition. The laXity of life is re-
strained Ivy the supervision of a wife, and
the heart is kept alive to the better feel
ings of our nature by the sweet voices and
the tender touch Of children. Members Of
Congress will have families at Washington.
II Is better that they should have their
ouTl."
This is excellent doctrine, and comes
most appropriately from Mr.. CARPENTER.
who has some Of the qualities Of Chris
tian statesman. 1t 70 happens that more
members carried their families to Wash
ington when the pay was 5000 year
than after the increase to s5,OO0
and the same rule Will probably hold good
under the last raise to s. 5oo. They are not
all exemplary and continent like the Sen.
ntor from Wisconsin but a large majority
OF those who claim TO be moral ald who
have been accustomed to live respectfully
nt home, tnd II easy 10 support themselve
and families for four and II half months
which is the average time Of the two ses
t.ons, with far less than 5000, and carry
away material tokens besides. And they
are quite as much considered Us Mr.. CAR
pENTER OF Mr.. MORTON.
The unmarried men make "gooC
thing of their pay. Two-thirds Of then
never received half rs much from AM
profession they may have practsed, anC
would gladly compromise on much less I,
be secured a certain income. Therefore al
the defamation about the cost OF living II
Washington is mere bosh. The great bull
Of members do not average $3.50 q head fo
their outlay per month during the sittin!
of Congress. They saved much more thar
half their pay under the old system, even
when inclined TO be self-indulgcnt.
Members who gamble at the faro bank
or IN their private clubs, rs too man,
do, and who may not carry "thci
own families to Washington, as Senate
CARPENTER thinks they all should do, caI
COntlive 10 spend without much effor
more than the Congressional income II
fact, ii is well known that some of then
turned over their wholehuck pay for gam
bling ana other debts, ana that other
We're persuaded to vote for that inlamou
measure to eXtrlCate themselves from va
Ious embarIussments, ocCasiouod solel,
by excess aud extravaganza. But tho!
constituents did not elect them TO gambl
OF TO live in disgusting debauchery.
Ought senator Carpenter TO Sue tn
Tribune for Libelt
We hate mere scandal almost as much n
we hate dishonestyi ana ii is the rule o
The sun not to PRINT stories OF indie