Wilmington daily commercial. [volume] (Wilmington, Del.) 1866-1877, 1873-07-07
WILMINGTON, DILL
Monday AfregUeons July 2.
The SALARY GRAB AND THE $1,000 WHICH
WARES REPRESENTATIVES BE.

While not athletic defend the course of Messrs
S. llsbury and Blggs, in holding on to their back
psy, aud keeping mum. our good Democratic
n,ighbor, the Middletown Transcript objects 10
the al VISIONS OF the COMMERCIAL to the matter.
In the first place. it refers to the salary increase
as Law made by Republicans. This is an error ;
the vote in the House, for the increase, was
composed of q majority of Democrats, and the
vote in opposition contained large majority Of
Republicans. Neighbor Biggs helped get the
proposition OF increase before the House, after
it had been several times disapproved. and on
the final test, he prudenty avoided voting, at
all. So far as the action in the House is con-
csrned. the Democratic members are responsible
for the Grab. Not only would it have been killed
without their support, but there were so many of
tn Gun in favor of it. that only few Republicans
OF the jobbery sort were needed to carry the
m assure. These were obtained, Of course,
blu: we are thankful to say they make a short list
when placed beside the Democratic supporters
of the increase. 1t is. moreover, quite true that
OF those who have returned the back money, by
far the greater number-about three to one-are
Republicans.
As to the Presidents salary, of which the
Transcript apparently complains, We sincerely
believe that $4,000 is none too much for the
Chief Executive officer OF such Republic as
this. Compared with the public pay of the Ma
tional Heads in other countries it is very small,
though we bclieve it to be quite enough, and
hope. that, under any circumstances now to be
foreseen. it may never be increased.
Why the President did not ''veto' the Grab,
we are asked to explain, by the Transcript. and
we do 80 with pleasure. That increase OF pay
was Included in long list of appropriations "for
the legislature, executive and Judicial expenses
OF the Government" whirh are necessary to
the discharge Of some OF the Governments most
vital functi ons. No one Of these appropriations
could be separately acted on the President must
sgu the whole bill, or veto ii in full. To choose
the latter course would have suspended, until
further saction by Congress, the operations of
every Department at Washington, of all the United
States Courts, of the governments of the Terri
tories. of the Mnts the Light House Boards,
&c, &c. OF course, the Transcript could Lot
expect or desire such consequence even though
the avoidance OF it involved the putting Of ten
thousand dollars extra money into the pockets
OF Democratic Senator and a Democratic rep
r5sentstive from Delaware, so securely that it
cannot be summoned forth, upon the public de-
mani The country could not afford to have it's
whole government thrown into confusion fer the
purpose Of preventing Messrs Salisbury and
Bigss from pocketing five thousand dollars,
apiece
Senator BayArd saw fit to return the portion of
the Grab which, in the division, fell to his share.
Z
Of propriety, But we cannot forget that the
Legislature next to be chosen in this State will
have to elect Senator OF the United States. by
reason of the expiration of the term for which
Mr.. Baysrd was elected, while Mr.. Saulsbury's
term does not expire until 1877. Whether Mr..
BsyArd would have returned the money had he
been secure in his position for the space to be
enjoyed by his Dover colleague, is one of those
mysterious uncertainties Of politics which we
have means Of solving