Mower County transcript. [volume] (Lansing, Minn.) 1868-1915, 1873-05-01
s'Please Explain
OwAT0NNA, April IS, 1873
Editors St. Paul Press:

s'Please Explain.''
OwAToNSA, April IS, 1873.
Editors St. Paul Pr<":
The Press of the 22d inst, had an
article with the above heading, aimed
FIRST At myself and then at my worthy
colleague, Gen. Averill. l am surpris.
ed that you did not recognize in the
article taken from the New York Times,
a re-hash Of What had already appeared
in the Press and other papers within
the last forty days.
That Washington correspondent"
as you must have seen, is citizen Of
Minnesota. The article was written for
Minnesota consumption, and with very
clear intent. 1t il as full of lies as OF
| malice, and that appears in every sen.
tcncc. 1t is replete with talsehood.-
You have already stated how l voted,
and the circumstances under which I
gave the 6oal test vote, You cannot wish
ne to repeat. That Washington cor
respondent is fool as we'll as a knaye.
Does he suppose that any subsequent
action on the first amendment, the
$4,000 amendment, when defeated,
could have prevented the next motion
that to make the salary Of Congress-
man $4,000? If lie does, the Times
; company should give him a copy CT
some legislative manual, copi"usly
explained and bound in calf: Your
issue Of yesterday exploded the claim
that I besought my colleague to vote
for the increase. You say Gen.
Averill "denies the story Of the New
York Times, that he was asked by
his colleague, Mr.. Dunnell, 10 vote
for the BILL" That was the best lie in
the piece. did not lobby for the in.
crease, or ask single member to vote
70. it. . | announced my purpose to vote
against the conference report as soon as
it was read, and did so vote and act, all
writer's to the contrary notwithstanding.
Now, gentlemen, the 42d Congress BY
a constitutional vote, decided that its
members should have salary of 81 500
less the mileage already received
That Congress was as honorable, pure
ind patriotic as ever covered since the
republic existed. Still, from the Sd Of
March till the present hour, the news.
papers Of the country have not ceased
to call its members 'grabbers,' thieves,
plunderers.' and robbers They have
not published a single column free from
epithet and abuse, or indeed Of any
character, showing that Congressman
will be cverpaid under the new law
The 42d Congress did away with the
Thanking privilege, saving to the coun
try, as its friends claim, twice as much
as the increase will cost, yet it gets n:
credit for it. No admission is made
that thereby the expenses Of q Con
, gresham will be very largely increased
> 1t has not been suggested by any ont
that the expenses Of living to public
men in Washington are very create
that Congressman will be paid unde
I the new law less compensation thar
E that of a whole brigade Of other fedora
> of6ce-holdcrs. 1t might be adu'itte'
, that it is but fair to pay public officer
according to their labor and attendan
expenses.
r Joseph a. Wheelock, ESQ.,, is Pos
;, master at St. Paul, with salary o
r 81, 900 and upwards per annum H
y undoubtedly makes good officer. H
is ut home while in the discharge Q
: his duties. Gen. Averill, who is Al
e raigned by the Press for voting a 50
0 airy Of $500, and who lives 1t Wasl
r ington twelve months out Of twenty
four, does more work in Washingto
" in one week for his money than NJ
: Wheelock does in a whole year, and
1t the latter deserves $4,000, the forme
II deserve twice 81 500. My complain
!, is that the newspapers Of the countr,
on this subject, have been so abundan
:, " fruitful in epi,hct and abuse, an
SO utterly barren Of any fact calculate
t. to form just public judgment.
Two clearly defined alternatives ha,
been opened by the manner in whic
:, the salary question has been discusse
, Either join in the cry that Congrc!
&c is body Of pIunderers. aud with IL
u spirit and nature Of dcmaSogue j
f. the salary alone or give it away 0
% honoriny the legal and constitution
action Of Congress, take the salary All
await the deci>lon Of fair aud uniu
-, FASHIONED discussion. Very respectful
:. ~, NJ. Ii. DUNSELL.
!. VIZ regret that Mr.. Dunnc
should think best to deao"ncc ratl
: or than ''explain" ; to stir up ange
70 rather than turn away wrath"
say lie, malice, fool, knave, whe
:. speaking Of those who think 10 b.
y taken $4,000 Of government money,
which no had no right. He migl
have So d something less unchristia
r, His allusion to parliamentary practi,
i,oonos mora Ekn m arff;,l 1oI,,