National Republican., 1873-02-11
THE COMPENSATION or HIGH OTFI-
IIAIh-

Tho House yesterday by decide vote de-
feated the proposition to increase the com.
peusatlon of the Justices Of the Supreme
Court, members Of Congress md other high
officials. We arc certain that a majority of
the gentlemen who voted In the negative
must have voted entirely against their CON
ylctlons; for We do not sec upon what ground
they can reconcile what mast be their belief
with their action. No Que knows better than
the gentlemen themselves that the salary paid
them Is entirely lnadclultc when the demands
Of official aud private life, necessarily incl
dent to tho position, are taken into considern-
ton. The cost Of living in Washington has
enormously increased during the last tea
years. Rents arc higher, the hotels have all
advanced their priccs-in fact, what was =
comfortable salary some years ago is a ride.
ulously low one at the present time.
Wccan easily understand the motive which
led to the defeat Of the Llll. Members are
afraid Of what will b, said about them at
home. They 20 upon the theory that the
people are so many galgrinds, who arc de-
tcrmlned to pinch and screw their public
servants, aud get as mach work and service
out Of them for the smallest amount Of money.
There never was more mistaken idea.
The stockholders Of banks, railroad cDmpa-
MES aud Insurance Offices do not object to a
generous compensation TO their presidents,
secretaries aud counsel, provided they are
fitted for their positions. Tn, publlc do not
desire that those who serve them faithfully
and honestly shall do 50 at u sacrifice. As
an evidence Of the drift OF public opinion on
this subject we quote at article from the New
York Herald Of Sunday last, Us 70 lows:
"The report Of the Committee on the Judiciary
| OF tho House OF Representatives, presented by
| General Butler on Friday, calls attention To a
subject that Is Of deep interest to Americans. Il
| 10 therein proposed 10 increase the salaries Of
certain high servants Of the people to an amount
| supposed 10 he adequate 10 their position. For
| many reasons We recognize II rs move In the
| dght direction. u Is prepusteTuus on the part
| OF great nation to expect men appointed to itA
| highest positions 10 accept pgGunlary recon-
/ pense below that Of the income Of the moderately
| successful business man, and at the same time
| compel him TO meet eNpenscg which would ruin
| his salaried equal. In such positions the sal
| AIRY Is always small part OF the sum necessary
/ TO go decently, not 10 say with dignity through
| term Of Ofiice. When the deficit cannot b.
/ supplied from means accumulated before
| hand, where Il II TO come frOm1 This ques-
| ton Is suggestive, but we do not propose to
| answer 10. We know that jefferson, whose SEN
sitiye soul would not permit him 10 gain the bal
| ance necessary to his expenses while In power,
| returned to Monticello overwhelmed with debit
| NlCtlHl 10 IL HhN kIullIN
certain rude pride that we can afford 10 make
| our public men pay for their blushing hOnOrs
out II Is very poor logic TO the student OF poor
human nature as II Is, not as II ought TO be-
Gen. Buffers bill proposes 10 increase the Prcsi-
| dents salary from twenty-five thousand to nifty
thousand dollars. The change would, no doubt, be
welcOme but Is 1t enough TO cover the cost Of the
| entertainments expected Of hlm7 The increase
Of the Vice Presidents salary from eight to ten
| thousand dollars Is markedly insufficient. 1t
| should be at least fifteen thousand dollars.
| rhe salary Of the Chief Justice should also be
| increased to fifteen thousand dollars from the
ridiculous snm Of eight thousand, instead Of to ten
| thousand iye hundred, as proposed. Men Of the
are legal learning and ability OF our Supreme
| Court Judges should not be compelled to live on
| he earnings OF sccOnd-rate special sessions
| ,hysteT, and their salaries should be equal to
| hat OF the Chief Justice. We cannot see any
| easOn for the difference Of i've hundred dollars
| which the bill proposes between the Chief
| Justice and the other distinguished occupants Of
| the supreme bench. The Speaker Of the House
| should have salary equal 10 the Vice President,
as the bill proposes, but fifteen thousand dollars
| Is little enough for either Above all, we believe
| that members Of Congress should he shielded
| from the temptation which small salary bcgets.
| 70 treat them as city railroads appear to treat
| car cOnductOrs-nalnely, giving them small
| salary, that what they may gain dishonesty
| should go to make up fair days wages-is as
| short-sighte1 a. It Is deliberately Immoral. We
mean 10 insist on honesty from members Of Con-
gress, and we wish to give them fair chance Of
| 1eng honest. The bill IA rightly intended, but
Il falls short Of the requirements, II II Is neces-
sary 10 10 tue llgnt thlhg, Nny not 10 u ~ OhCCl
| The Governor Of Jamaica receives ten thousand
/ dollars In gold more than the President Of the
unlted States does under the present law, and
| the Governor General Of Clnada-wherc living
| Is sONluch cheaper-TeCelves double the amount
| IN gold which the new law proposes for the Pres
| Ident. II Is unworthy OF great nation 10 re-
| ward It's servants with such parslmOny"
The Herald, II will be seen, goes far In ad-
vance Of Gen, Butler's bill aud advocates
farlarger Increase than that contemplated by
IL, That It correctly represents public opln-
ion on the subject, we have no doubt what.
ever. Before the session closes We hope to
sec a majority In the House who, knowing
they are right, WILL Like Jackson, take the
| resnOnglhility