, 1873-05-12
Tho Hon. n. @. Isnrchhrd on tho sa1s
nry Question:


From tho trarcn {[!.> Sentinel, dprN 24.
In reply to ottor Of inquiry from the editor
Of tho Warrou Sentinel to the lion. q. G. Burr
chard, that gentleman makes the following ro-
p1y. Tho letter was not writton for publication.
but inaBmnch as tho subject il one Of gonorn1
interest, and not fully understood by tho massos
wo take plonsure in laying before our roaders
Mr Burehard'H views, trusting to his generosity
not to moto out to us severe cenBuro
FnEEPonT, ILL.,, april 49, 1873.
You nlludo in your 1cttor Of tho nth inst. to
tho Balary question. The ultimate disposition
pot OF tho prosont and Inst Congress-, under tho
provisions Of tho act passed at the last session,
will depend upou tho future action Of Congress-
in regard to tic oalary Of It's nembers. Twas,
az you aso aware, opposed to the increnao OF
Congressional and other sa1arieB ut tho timo II
waH made, I thought that monber Of Com
gress, with proper economy, could live in suit
salary aa IL stood, although to aavo o.
accumulate for Ills family ho must, MS
tho Hon. B. 9. Cook Of this State did,
Heok other romuncrativo employment. But
even if inadequate, 7 preferred to accept, tho
than, by my own vote, increase my compensation
for that or tho succeeding Congress to which I
was mombor olect. II, however, tho vote Is
bers Of tho last Congrcas aro cquitably entitled
to bo paid at that rate aa much aB members Of
tho present or succeeding Congress. If COM
pousation ID to bo measured by attendance upon
Congressional duty ut tile Capitol, and by
necessary expenditures in official service, monl-
bors OF tho last Congress ought to llayo
the higher aalary. They were detained at
| Washington during three regular sessions Of
Congress- while tho law now requires but tlc0+
Why should Con. Logan not bo paid as much for
his SERVICES during lilo month Of April two yeara
| ago while u Hcsslon required his presence ut
| Washington, as he or Gov. oglesby aro drawing
II. III nnf
| diac1cdianble for l. member to vote to increase
lis salary In tho expiring tau to voto to iucroaso
It n tho following term. Ilo would in either case
10 rotiag money 10 hi'nse!f, and that, in my
to the present Congress as much con-
Mt tho. GID rntc as tho outgoing
conscientious scnlplcs about rocoiving tho in-
crcasel compensation for service in tho Inst
! Congress can not consistently accept tho i'll
! crcaHo for tho present Congrosg.
arios for tho future bo repealed mid the former
| ratio Of compensation. bo ro-ostablished, it will
thon, au it Beolns to mo, bocomo tho duty of
mon1bor Of Congrosa to retain for official
oily tho rate thus leriaed to bo auil'cient,
| aud to return to tho Treasury what
| oYor In oxcoAa OF tllat SUM ho may hayo
| received fur either ConEresB. Some who mako
no objection to the increase for tho future. or
admit that to 10 right nnt proper. severely criti-
ciso the law laorcty because it gfvos shack
! pay" They fall, however, to poiut out any
| difference III tho morality and propriety OF d
| vpto to increase compensation, whether gvon at
! tho ond or ut tho commencement Of term: ~
| They do not explain why member Of ono
| Congress- eleeted to anothor emu yoto himself or
| accept with more proprioty incroasod componsa-
yoto or accept tho sanlo for Tho expiring Con-
| greHH.
In oyory caso whero tho salary Inns bean raiaotl
tho increase has taken effect iron. tho commences
aHet Of Tho tern4. II llna heretofore noyor boon
considered disroputablo for tic lnore.se to apply
| to tho CongroBs paaaing tho Inv. III 1856, aM
again IL 1866, Congressional saarlea woro deemed
| BY tho mombors inadequate, and at tho cioAo OF
tho long session. when moro than two-thirls
| Of tho session lad expirod, the inoroase tras
made 10 de.tc back 10 tho commencement Of he
term. Mon OF unqueuttoned integrity who
| wero tloh aMl now aro regarded NJ puro
and md inc@orr,.ptlblo statesmen. eno as Seward,
othora might na,no, atil in public lifo; received
"b"cls pay" from tho beginning Of tho torn.
| Sumo Of thon voted against tho passage OF tho
law increasing aalarios, but, as it bocauio al,d re-
mainod tho rate Of compensation for their vuo.
! cosaorh, nDno of thom doomed It liellonoat or
| diaerolitahlo to rocoivo aud retain the compon-
sation given by tho law to tho Congress l'asB-
1ho question Of Congressional nalary wilt
aoubtlohH bo passed upon by tho mon,born elect
| wl.on assembled at tho noxt session. IT, roview.
ing tho uction Of their predecessors, they decide
TINT tho compensation IL too high, nnd shall ro-
dupe It from tho present ratio, ahall doem it my
duty 70 nay iu{o The Treasury tcha!eyer creess
abope Ae rlte permanently established shall han7
sucelped Under the present laeo. But il # ia ~
mttod TINT the ax'ary alould stand for tue
! aud tho future Congress- aB now fixed, can
not aoe why am not oquitably, aa veil ~ leGal-
! ", untitled TO tho sa,no compensation gsSon "
tho law for moro laboriouH, continuous, and OK.
1'ouBiyo Official service in the late Congress.
! am, truly yours, Il. u npaouAap'