Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1868-1875, 1873-10-01
GRANT LOBBYING IN sis OWN lN-

1OuCuiOg GTaDbS lOBplluS IOT al H.
crease of his s2lary, the New York Sun
says:
'sThose familiar with the history of this
infamous legislation know there was pri-
Vate understanding by which only the prin-
| cipsl functionaries OF the government and
Congress we're to be benefited. The de-
| sign was to create q sort of official aristoc-
racy. The movement originated in the
| interest OF the President, and was persist
emily urged by him on all occasions as a
necessity. There are numbers of Republi-
can Senators and Representatives, and some
Democrats Of easy virtue, who can speak
from personal experience on this subject.
1t was the only policy which the President
constantly pre- sed, aud with zeal like that
which he manifested on behalf of the San
Domingo job, in which he is now known
to have had Contingent stake of pacu,
mary IA ure."
This was Indignantly denied by quite q
number of superservicableo organs of Grants
administration. 1t was felt that such cor
duct in a President was too disgraceful, and
therefore without stopping to consider the
effect of the charge being proved, they de-
nounced it as being untrue. And now we
have confirmation of the charge from an
undoubted Republican source. The Hon.
Charles w. Willard, Republican member of
Congress from the first district of Vermont,
publishes the history of the increase of
Grants salary, and the part he took in
securing the passage of the bill, which
forms an interesting chapter in the political
history Of the country. His history of the
doubling of Grants salary appears to have
been provoked By the action of the Re-
publicans of Massachusetts, In their State
Convention in making discrimination be-
tween the increase of the salary of the
President and that of members of Con-
gress. Mr.. Willard says:
at is not true that Congress or the coun-'
try supposed any increase of the Presidents
salary TO be more just and necessary than
the additions. salary of members of Con-
gress. When the proposition to increase
the Presidents salary FIRST came before Con.
gress, standing by itself, it met with small
favor either in Congress or the country; and
the scheme Of increasing congressional sal
aries was an afterthought and resorted to to
help the bill through to increase the Presi-
dental salary. The President fduored the
6iLl6ef0Te 1t passed either House, and per-
Sondlty expressed to members a desire to
hare has olcn salary increased; and the
selfish interests of members in increasing
their own pay was only one Of the devices
by which the Presidents salary was raised;
in other words, it pulled that increase
through, and the whole measure hsd favor
at the White House on that account.
show far there is any opinion that the
increase of the Presidents salary is more
just and Necessary than that Of members
If Congress is not quite clear; but the Con-
vsntion in Massachusetts, is the first one yet
held that has expressed such an opinion.
Ii is certain that most of the members OF
Congress who opposed The one opposed the
other. The salary of the President was
$4,000 . year, previous to the passage OF
the bill. About $4,000 more was annually
appropriated for the White House and
grounds. The sestablishInent'-.ha is, the
| White II use, grounds, etc.-hss always
been kept at the public charge; besides the
annual salary, carpets, furniture, gas, fuel,
gnd many servants are paid for by separate
! appropriations. In short, the President
ly has the personal expenses OF himself
and family and the expense of lis table to
| pay for. Besides, his public entertainments
cost him nothing; the few dinners he gives
to ms nibeIs of Congress are the
| chief items Ct expense outside of the ordi-
nary expenses of q private family. There is
rot member OF the Cabinet who keeps
house in Washington VINO does not have
need 10 spend more money than the Presi'
! dent, even without taking into account
house rent, furniture, servants, and care of
grounds; jet the salary Of members Of the
Cabinet is only, row, $4,000 year, while
the Presidents is $4,000, and $4,000
more-aDd this SUM is annually increasing
for house, grounds, etc. Those who think,
that, IN view of these facts, the Presidents
salary was properly doubled, have, Of course,
q right TO their opinion, but it is not easy TO
see why they should, at the same time, de-
nounce members of Congress for n king
their salary, in fact, about one-tenth
that of The Presidents. TIE con-
! demnatiOn of members Of Congress
who favored this Increase has been
in the main undoubtedly deserved, but
even an American love Of fairness ought not
to make distinction between those voting
for, and the one urging the passage Of and
! approving with bis signature, neCess'ry to
make the bill law, q measure usfairly and
uGTeasonsbly increasing salaries. Members
| of Congress voted for the bill increasing
their own salaries, for which they have
been properly criticised; the President
urqed the passage of this bill IN ddUGnce,
approved it after 1t passed, and thereby
made ID q lac and doubled his o'gn salary,
and the Massachusetts, Republicans prscti-
| cally approve his course. Then why object
to Gen. Buffers advocacy Of the measure?"
After writing the above, Mr. Willard
looked into the appropriations for the White
House AMI grounds during the last four
years, and finds his estimate of $40, 900 per
annum quite 100 small. He gives the fig
ures as fellows:
"In 1870 there was a deficiency appro-
priation alone for repairs, ETC., OF 5000,
| and the appropriations for 1901 amounted
in the aggregate to more than pun, ex-
| elusive of clerk hire, and not including gas,
which is put into a general appropriation
for the public g.ounds. OF this amount
over 81, 600 were for repairs and refurnlsh-
ing the Executive establishment; and over
| Sl0,UUU were sp5u6 III oOHlOlOh ~ bbiS
amount, which was provided for the next
year by deficiency bill. The amount
spent in that year upon the White House
and grounds was ever $50, 900.
"The appropriations for lS7l-72 were
less, amounting, exclusive of clerk hire and
gas, to something over $685. 600. For 1929
appropriations for the same purposes
amounted to over $63, 600.
"Below will be found, in detail, the ap-
propristions for the current year, 1873 IA.
Furnace eeper.................... ~
| Two policemen. .......s...s.'ss... L,o4C
| One night Waterman. wv
FISHER ...,,.................. 1,2Ot
TWO doorkeepers. ..,................-.... 2,4OC
Steward ................... 2,OOC
| NessenOer ...,,.,,.....,....... 200
Sc ,etaTv and Clerks 10,6Ot
| Contingent expenses ....,,............... 6,OOC
| ANIMAL renairs White HOuse.............. Is, O0C
| Refurnshing White House. IO,OOl
| FneI 5000
Greenhouse. 1o'oU,
| Grounds. AV,OO'
"This makes total Of over $1,000, and
with the addition of the Presidents salary
makes the expense Of the executive estab'
lshment over $4,000 for this year. 1t is
well Known, also, that many items of ex
pense which an ordinary household would
be subjected to are provided for in other sp
propriations, appearing only, as the ga;
used at the Executive Mansion appears, II