The Republican journal. [volume] (Belfast, Me.) 1829-current, 1873-04-24
Gen. Farnsworth on the Salary Steal.

.SR-The enclosed Treasury draft, No 49,
Sat for the sum OF $4,294. 40, dated March "a,
1873, upon the Acknowledgements at New
ork, has been handed to me by the Sergeant
at-ArmS Of the House of Representatives Of the
United States. 1t is the precise amount of in
crease Of my compensation as 4 member of the
FoWy-Secpnd Congress, provided in the l.egiS-
lativc Appropriation bill which was passed.
and approved by the President on the Sd of
March, the evening of the very last day of that
Congress. | opposed this increase of salaries,
both OF members OF Congress and OF the Pres
dent. At the time the bill passed the House of
Representatives used his language
Sir-l appeal if not to the manhood. to the
sense of Justice Of members of this House not to
adopt This report 1t is disoracetul, and viii
greatly help TO render this Congress infamous
Congress already without the confidence of
The people. Let us have the manhood and
decencv TO stamp upon this scheme for raising
oar own salaries, and purchasing favors of
President by increasing his, in clear violation
Of the spirit if not The letter of the Constitution.
And. on former occasion. when The subject
was under discussion in the House. 7 declared
thGt a President who should sign bill ncreas-
ing his own salary would deserve impeach-
men. Entertaining such sentiments. | cannot
accept this money without feeling that should
thereby become party to a conspiracy to en-
bezzle the Governments money.
MUTUAL BRIBERY.
I am not surprised that the people are indis-
nant and wrathful over this act Of mutual
hfihefy by an expiring Congress and a recently
reelected President: indeed, We're they not so,
il would be cause for real establishment. With
immense public debts. National and State, and
local; with increasing taxes. and decreasing
prices for our productS; with the rapid en-
crOachment of rings" ;;nd m0nopolieS who
hae gor@ea themselves and grown rich upon
the bio ~ of the war, and the toll and sweat of
the masses; with such reckless waste and ex-
traNagancc in the use Of the public money as
has been seen at Washington during the last
few NeafS-no wonder the country is agitated.
OF its attention arrested at last But it should
he remembered that, without the approval of
The salaries could moi have been accomplished
Indeed. without the c0-OpPr0tiON and fdGOr of
the President. CONGRESS- itself would not have
adopted 1t. This was well understood at the
time. Neither would Congress consent to in
crease the Presidents salary, standing by itself,
upon its own merits. This was shown in the
House when. IN Committee of the Whole. Mr..
sargent tir-t moved to inclease his salary The
| COMMITTEE refused to entertain or consider it,
actually ovefrung a correct decision of the
chairman (Mr. Dawes, OF Massachusetts, to
heal il, 50 obnoxious WAS the proposition when
Standing by itself. It was only by coupling the
line two together, Compress 0nd President .
| that either had amy hopes of success. The Con-
-tiluti0m says;
"I1y President shall at stated times receive
Tor ms services a compensation which shall
neither be increased nor diminished during the
period for which he shall have been elected-
Mar the language =" .NuU not he increus-
~ "HriJ1G the PERIOD for ~hich he shall hare
beeA @"cied." In a preceding clause the Con-
-iitUt.On defines Il 'Irrm'' TO he four years: and
I the trainers of thar Instrument intending to
limit the prohibition Of the power to increase
he Presidents salary to Il single term, why
Id hey not use that word instead of the word
''pGRIOD% The latter word covers the whole
iim", whether it he one term or two. or half a
Jpzrn. that man "shall have been elected
| President.
HOW THE BILL PASSED.
When there is doubt about the correct inter-
probation of Il law we look to the object or rea-
son Of the provision, Was not the object of that
| provision in short, TO prevent I President from
helping to make law increasing his own COM
penS1jOn? During the discussion in the House
/ inquired of Mr., MAYNARD, Of Tennessee. and
also Nv. But'er, Of Massachusetts (both of whom
Voted for the bllD wha the object of that
provision Of the Constitution: Mr.. Maynard
| replied that II WAS TO prevent Congress from
| brIbir@ the President: Mr.. Butler answered
| that II was to prevent the President from using
| h- power to increase his own salary. or. in
| other words. from hrbng Congress. Such be
| ing the opinions Of the friends and champions
| Of increased pay. (Whether they locked at The
Constitution straight or crOokeC) it was diff
| cult to understand why it was not AS much a
| violation If the spirit and intention of the Con-
| sttuton 70 increase the compensation of the
| President by bin passed and approved BY him
! II II o'clock at night, on Monday, the Sd of
March. a. by a bill passed and approved by the
same President on Tuesday. the 4th. Congress
| could as well bride him. and he could AS effect
| utV use his power and influence upon Con-
| %ress on one day rs the other In either case,
| The President helps to make the law which in
| crea~p> bis own salary ''dNrtNg the periOd for
| srhjch hc has teen dected." The excuse that
| the Legislative Appropriation bill would have
| been lost, and an extra session of Congress
| necessary. if the conference report had been
| defeated. or if the President had vetoed the
bill. is mere pretense. l have already said that,
| without the favor OF the President, the amend
| nent increasing salaries could never have
| passed Congress; and if he had vetoed it, the
| bill would have been promptly passed with the
| obnoxious provision left out. 50, too. Il defeat
! Of the conference report by either House would
/ simply have had the effect to recommit the bill
| TO another Conference Committee.
ENTRAVAGANT EXPENDITURES
| The plea that larger salaries are necessary to
| enable Il President and members of Congress to
live At Washington. is not true. No other
! President has asked tor more" Mr.. Lincoln
| saved half his salary, and that too, when gold
was 200 and over And yet the allowances
"ncidentals,' and Contingencies for Mr.
Lincoln were less liberal than for the present
occupant O. the White House. The following
| appropriations, made in 1864 and 1878, are ] be-
iieve fair examples. and may be regarded as Il
pretty far sample of our rapid growth of expen
ditule, Of late:-