Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1868-1875, 1873-10-28

Congressional Example Followed IA
The Rsstofzee DsparfEnenr--Ex Eek.
President JOhnson's Testimony
Z How ne saved Money on $4,000 q
Year. ~ sffE 'eCA ~
From the New York Tribune.
sss WAsHTNsT0E,f Oct. 24.--=0He of the most
exaggerated and eccentric cases Of back pay
grabbing has recently come to light IN the
Postoffice Department. The case Is also
noticea BILE az one ofthe most singular, Waved
from the Civil Service point of view,
that has occurred under the present Admin
istratien. Il is reported, and there seems
to be no reason TO doubt the accuracy ofthe
fep5ft, SINGS &c comes from trustworthy
source, that Mr.. McGrew, the chief clerk
of the Sixth Auditors Office, promoted his
son, who Is 8 clerk in the same Office, TO q
position IN the Foreign Mails Division,
which lad been vEeant about ten months.
The son had been occupying subordinate
place andreceiving the regular salary OF Is
while Che vacancy existed, bun recently ufl-
der the Civil Service Reform era, the father, it
is reported, not only promoted his son 10
the VACANCY, but manipulated the rolls m
such 8 manner as to pay the son the entire
ten months salary of the vacant office,
Notwithstanding young McGrew had not
| psrformed It's duties, and bad been paid for
other dulles which be did not pefformin the
same Office. Another case, of almost the
same character, but not quite as expensive
10 the Government, is, said TO have occurred
| in the pay diRisioa of the sane Office Mr.
| Hazlett, who was the chief of the division,
| died. and before the vacancy was filed q
| lapse of four or five months occarred. A
| Mr.. Boone was promoted at last to the va
cancy, and, It Is supposed, becsme aware Of
the precedent in young McGTew's case, and,
while bis manner Of proceeding is some-
what in doubt, it is said he succeeded in
convincing Chief Clerk McGrew that he,
Boone, u as also entitled to his back-pay
| grab, sod thai he received it. sg2 8
Ex-President johnson, In common with
nine-tenths of the people of the country,
speaks of the salary bill of the last Con-
gress in the strongest terms of opposition.
He has lived here, with slight Interruptions,
during most of the past thirty years, aud of
course well knows the expenses of living in
the various public positions. He says that
| Congressman can live becomiDgly on
5000 8 year, and that Cabinet officer can
maintain bis position on $1,000 q year.
Some of his Cabinet officers lived within
their salaries, and it is well known that Mr..
Boutwell, saved money on bis salary
as Secretary Of the Treasury. As
TO the adequacy of the old
salary of SIS, 600 Q year attaching to
the Presidential office, it is well known that
during Johnson's term 1t was more than
/ adequate for . generous and becoming
maintenance Of the Presidents household.
Mr.. johnson kept six horses and suitable
carriages, all of which he bought, and the
charge was never made that there was any
exhibition of economy 81 his entertain
menis. He gave more state dinners than
have been given of late years, and they
were always spoken of as generous d
suitable. The fuel, gas, and most of the
servants of he White House are paid for by
the Government, which also provides gard
| eners and stablemen. All the vegeta-
bles used in the White House are furn-
ished without cost to the inmate, and the
groceries, meats, wines, ETC., are all that
have to be purchased. Many of these are
| obtained of the army c6mmissary at cost
prices. Mr.. johnson paid all bis expenses,
and retains All his bills. His expenses were
from $500 to s., 600 q month, according
| to the season OF the year. During the
fashionable season his bills reached the lat
ter amount. BE ssid recently, in answer to
! q question, eyes, | saved something from
my salary of $25, 600 year as President,
and some of that which saved in that Of
| nee had on deposit with Jay Cooke &
| Co.'s Fist National Bank"