The Jasper weekly courier. [volume] (Jasper, Ind.) 1858-1922, 1873-09-19
Thurman on Morton.

IldD WIS tistl vi 1tUdtOT lnuIultDf
Waverly, Ohio. The Senator not owry
detailed the history of these two SWIM
dies, but gave proofs. Some points in
the speech are particularly interesting
just AT this time. The claim Is constant
ly made that the Republican party is not
responsible for the grab. TO refute this
assertion, Mr.. Thurman Introduces tho
Missouri Compromise repeal. At tho
time of this repeal, the Democrats were
in majority in Congress. but nsaiori-
~ of the Democratic members voted
against the repeal, and it was effected
by the votes of Southern Wings, aided
by Southern Democrats. Notwithstand-
ing a majority of the DcmovTats voted
against the repeal, however the party
being in "A majority, was held RESPONSE
Bile. and the year after the repeal Ohio
gave $4,000 majority against the Demo-
cratic ticket, whereas the year previous,
il had given tremendous majority for
that party.
The most interesting portion of Mr..
lThurman's speech. TO us, in this section,
is that relative 10 Senator Morton's ac-
tion relative TO the salary grab:
IL could, If had time, show you by the
votes cast upon that occasion where the
responsibility rests. by the action of the
party leaders, but will not do so except
IN one single case. In that case the gem
itieman has seen lit TO come into this
state to instruct you how to vote.
la the progress of that bill they dared
not introduce this increase Of salary i'm
an independent bill. If hey had done
so it would have been defeated. They
moved il as an amendment to the APP
preparation Bill and that cut Off debate
by moving the previous question. In
the Senate we were limited to five min
utes speeches. SO we had no chance to
talk. That was the cunning way they
acted. Now, the Appropriation bill had
passed the House of Representatives
and came TO the Senate. where il was
amended in certain particulars. AS it
came from the House of Representatives,
this salary-grab was not in it. But these
men were laying in wait, during those
last expiring hours of Congress TO per-
lpeiraie this thing. SO they waited till
the bIll came back TO the House of Rep
Ircscniatiyes. when Benjamin II. Butler.
moved tlli, salary-grab a. an amendment
TO an amendment made by the Senate,
increasing the salary of the President,
' ice president, cahinent officers. heads
Iof bureaus. divers clerks. &c. aud finally
members Of Congress, thus making il 20
back so a. TO pay them for two years
work. which bad already been paid for
10y the House of Representatives.
When the bill came back TO the SELL
ate there was test vote on the amend
ment. An amendment was moved by
Mr.. Edmunds, OF Vermont, TO s.rike out
all the house amendments except so
much rs relative to the Presidents sal
airy. II that amendment had prevailed
the whole effect of the bill would have
been To raise the Presidents salary. and
no single member of Congress would
have had dollar additional pay, and
his salary would not have been raised
at all. That was test vote, aud had il
prevailed IL would have Kill the salary
grab. except so far az the President Of
the United States was concerned, and il
would have cut down the amount of the
grab from one and half million dollars
to one hundred thousand dollars. That
was pretty good reduction. and I
would very cheer.ully have voted for il.
That. l say, was test vote, and every
body knew IL il prevailed there would
have been an end 10 the salary Irab.
And where in this vote was found the
name OF Senator Morton? lie voted
against that amendment he voted To
keep the salary grab in the bill, and yet
this Senator of Indiana come here and
tells he was opposed to raising the sala-
ries. After making a speech Ia the SEN
ate. the whole effect of which was to
justify the increase Of IL. after being on
the wrong side, he comes around here
telling you he was opposed to raising
the pay Of members of Congress; an
not only that, but he has actually turn
over his money into the public treas
lie was long time doing it. Itrc
ed good deal more kicking than
man ought 80 receive before he
into that frame of mind.
Now who are the true men. W
others aspire 10 be considered
the Republican party Ia the
Conkling. of New York. anf
of Indiana. Both OF these
against that amendment o
munds, aud voted 10 keep
grab in the bill. There als'
tors Carpenter. Ferry, Of y
gan. OF Illinois. Morton.
poor Sawyerand Stewart
leading men of the Rep
all voted for the measure
they voted the other
would have been defeat
"A fascinating voui