The Wheeling daily register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1864-1878, 1873-07-15
New Fact In the Congressional
Larceny.

Larceny
As Butler denies the authorship ol
the backpay amendment we are at a
loss to guess what Congressman could
have been equal to so ingenious an in
iqulty, since the latest development
shows that the scheme meant back
pay for everybody. 1t seems that eve-
~ member CT Congress elect who holds
the proper certificate, and whose seat
is not contested, now draws his salary
monthly at the rate OF s625 per mouth
Thus, there having been no March
session, the members may draw S5,625
before they take their seats IN Decem-
Der. which is $625 more than the whole
amount Of the old salary, and is 10 be
paid before days service has been
rendered, or before even the forms oil
membership have been complied with.
The effect Of this is to insure the
United States treasury against the pos
siblity OF saving a few dollars by reason
of resignation, death or vacancy from
sny other cause. A case has lately
arisen which illustrates this. Mr.. VIM.
Whiting wss las, fall elected to Con-
gress in the third Massachusetts, disc
trict. He died on the Doth OF June.
His heirs are therefore entitled to four
months pay unless Mr.. Whiting has
already drawn it. On the 4th of No
yember his successor will be elected,
and as soon az he receives his certiii-
cate from the Governor, he can draw
s625 per month from the lst OF July.
/! be has other business more attrac-
tive or more imperative than his duties
as Congressman, he may resign on the
lst Of December, before Congress as
sembles, having three thousand dollars
in his pocket, without even seeing his
name enrolled in the official record Ii
Butler had no, SO positively denied the
authorship OF the bill, uncharitable
persons might have said that he was
already counting upon his election as
Governor in November, having mean.
while added this second five thousand
dollars OF back pay to his income to
defrey his campaign expenses.
The Salary Bill seems to have been
designed for swindle from beginning
10 end. While every chance is given
to the indolent and useless members 10
draw pay before they earn it, no chance
is given the tax payers. They must
pay in iull for service which was never
rendered. If the authors and abetters
OF this scheme think that after these re-
peated exposures such an affair will
"blow over" they mistake the public
Judgment. And this reminds US once
more to draw the attention OF those
Congressman who have announced thai
they "hsve not drawn the back pay" tc
the fact that something more j;
necessary. A Congressman who
is competent 10 make laws die
not need the assurance OF The
Secretary of the Treasury that tht
claims for his salary against the
United States never lapses," for little
common sense teaches that reputation
is not part OF our Constitution. Wha
will Senators Sherman, Edmunds anC
Morton do about it? They have boast
ed that they left the back pay in th'
Treasury; but it may remain there te
their credit for lifetime. They mus
make formal restitution or they mus
bear the discredit OF accepting the booty
Further than this, it Is we'll TO bear il
mind that among the measures which
will be demanded OF the present Con
sress with remarkable unanimity vii
Be the repeal or modification OF a Law
which was disgrsceful to the Congres:
that passed it, and will be hardly les
go to one that permits it to stain the
ststute-book.-Ne0 York Post.