Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1873-12-17
Judge Poland on the Salary Bill.

cAi was jcoO PSA yN~i'
Judge Poland on the Salary Bill.
1t will be remembered that last week
Judge Poland introduced measure, during
the discussion on the back pay, which re-
peals SO much of the salary act as relates to
the increased pay of Senators and Represen-
tatives, and fixes it at what it was immedi-
ately prior to the act; requires that all
moneys paid to Senators and Representatives
of the forty-third Congress under the pro-
visions of that act, whether for the forty
second or forty-third Congress, shall be
charged and reckoned as part payment of
their compensation a. members of the forty
third Congress, and also it requires the
treasurer of the United States to mail to
each member of the forty-second Congress
who is not member of the forty-third Con-
gress, and who received additional eompen-
sation, notice informing him of the repeal
of the law and request to repay the diff
ference received by him into the treasury.
Ga Thursday in speech upon the subject,
the Judge said that " he had been few days
ago in company with large number of gen.
tlemen, when the conversation turned on the
subject, and they all concurred without ex-
eeption in saying that the increase of salary
had been utterly condemned by the public
judgment of the whole people of the United
States What did the bill reported by the
special committee propose Ii proposed
that all the back pay received by the NOM
bers of the forty second Congress, and all
the increased pay received by the members
of the forty-third Congress they should be
allowed to keep. He asked the House wheth-
er that was conforming to the public judy
ment on that subject. Was that what the
people were demanding? Was that going
to satisfy the popular demand 1t was not
what the public judgment had demanded and
still demanded. What was wanted was this
That they should be utterly wiped out. so
that no benefit or advantage that anybody
had derived from it should be kept and re-
tanned by him. That and that alone, would
satisfy the public demand. 1t was with that
view and for that purpose that he had offered
his substitute He proposed to vote for a
bill that should carry out the decision of the
people on that subject, and utterly wipe out
all the effects and consequences and benefits
derived by the Members of Congress under
the act of the Sd of March, 1873. lie had
voted against that measure. He had held
public Office in his own State, where salaries
were very small, and the habits of simplicity
and plain economy which he had acquired
IN that way he could very well preserve in
Washington so that 5000 year was am
pie compensation for his services, and fur
nished him with ample means to live in the
manner which he chose to live. Besides, he
had thought that it was very unfortunate
time to make the increase. The public mind
had been for some time excited in regard to
the cOrruptions of public men. The whole
world had been agog on the subject, and he
thought that he knew that that increase OF
salary, and especially the retroactive feature
of the law, would excite public condemna-
ton and call down popular censure on Con-
gress after it became a law. The question
arose, What was to be done with the back
pay The press had begun to say that every
one who took it was a robber and thief.
The idea that he was to be called thief for
taking the compensation affixed to his Office
was not very palatable to him. 1t did not
commend itself to his Judgment nor to his
conscience. Neither did be propose to be
actuated nor influenced by any threat of tina.
sort, and therefore he had taken the money
and still retained it. Other gentlemen s
| conscences had been more tender than his
They begnn to be affected differently, and
one after another many returned their back
pay TO the treasury. The result of it was
that people began to say that these men were
towards and hypocrites, and that they did
this merely for the purpose of currying pub
lie favor. That had brought him to COM
mune with his own judgment and conscience,
IN regard to what he ought to do, whether
he was on the one side to be called thief
and robber, or whether he should subject
himself to be called coward and hypocrite.
The result of his self-communion was that
he should be altogether more amenable to the
latter charge If he returned the pay, and
that he would rather retain it and subject
himself to being charged by the public press
as a robber and a thief. Therefore he had
chosen to retain what he had received under
the law, and to make an endeavor to have
the law regulate the thing SO that he might
be allowed to return the money to the Treas
ury, if that was the will of the people,
without subjecting himself to the charge OF
being hypocrite and coward. He claimed
that although they could not go back to reg
forty-second Congress, they had full power
over the salaries of the members of the pres
ent Congress.
The country is getting decidedly sick oil
she personal experiences - of the men who
for one reason or other, and generally 70,
one, have kept the back pay in their pockets
The reports say that when the above meas.
ure was introduced the mover thought il
8 would meet the popular demand" Yer,
likely, and 50 would two or three other prom
ositions submitted; and it is not bubble
about forms of proceeding that was called
for, but there wasa desire that congress should
substantially undo what had been done AMI
not endeavor to becloud the question will
personalities.
The people of the United States are no
particular y troubled as to whether repea
passes this congress or not. There is n,
hurry about it if gentlemen do not wish +,
come square up to the mark. The bill il
; easily repealable as to each man by his ov,
act. Every representative can do that much
towards repeal. And why he should do it i,
not that he would otherwise he called a thief
and why he should not do it is not that h,
might be called hypocrite. If John think
back pay does not rightfully belong to him ant
: returns it let him abide the result before hi
conscience and constituents IrJames think,
he will keep it till commanded to return i
by another bill with " retroactive - feature
let him do as he thinks right, and abide. th,
result in the same way. But there is no ne
cessity that the inner workings OF the astut
lcnupresSi0nal mind its comnunirxxa