The state rights democrat. [volume] (Albany, Linn County, Oregon) 1865-1900, 1873-08-01
IsxPLANATroN or Kx-coScnksSarAN
sLATEm.
"a GRAxpg, JaIy II. Is7;

sLATEa.
Ia GgANDR, July II, 1873.
I. II. CASN-Deaf sir: Yours Of
the 10th inst. has been receive. and
the contents considered. You say
that ''yon have . good many friends
10 the valley hut = question has lately
been raised rs 10 the buck rdy roted
last COnyTess. We know that you
voted against that bill, but We have
not heard whether you atated your
account upon The hack pay allowance.
or by the old mileage. Many Of our
old Democrats say they will never
vote for man who has taken back
pay. Democrats think you ought 10
state your account on the old mileage
allowance at once IL you have not
done So" Recognizing tho right OF
the people 10 criticibe alI my acts con.
necled with my recent pabiic posi-.
lion. | shall givu the facts which re-
late 10 my compensation as member
of the I'D Congress 10. the press.
Not, however. in the way of defense
or explanation, but rs means Of in.
iHrmation to friends throughout the
State. My enemies may make the
most of il. ! have nothing 10 conceal
or keep back with reference 10 this
matter.
My compensation accounts were
long since closed and settled under
tho Law ~ it stood nc the time Of set.
tlemvni, ~ they could not be closed
aud settled under any other. Under
which Law ! receive.I s22O less than,
according to precedent and rule,
was fairly entitled 10 under ths Law
Displaced by the salary increase. and
my aggregate compensation was les
than received by any former represen.
iaIive or delegate from Oregon who
served q foil term since 1856.
speak from recollection, noe having
the igures before me. Mr.. Smiths
believe, is the next lowest.
The new bill passed within n day
or so of the close of Congress. The
committees on mileage Of the reapvc-
tive Houses had rrpprted The mileage
of members. aud in most cases il hal
been drawn, which, in the final settle.
Inent Of their account, was reekonesl
as so much paid upon the Increased
pay. The House Committee at the
first session at first settled my mileage
at the rats of S5 ,:222sl for ths Congress
Of three sessions, which was in accor.
dance with every preceient from the
Pacific slope. but subsequently, for
some reason, arbitrarily red1red il 10
q rate Of $500. = reduction on sl.32d
for the Congress. ! called for re.
hearing and brought before the com.
mittee 3 letter from Hon. George ii,
Williams, the atfiJavils of, w. w
Chapman, Harvey Mcacham sii3w de.
ceased), the resident upon the Blue
Mountains ~ Lees Encaippment, and
Thomas 0I3rlen. who had been 4
stage agent nj thss place for near two
years, TO, the effect that the usllaI
course of travel from here 10 The Eas'
tern States Was by way of Portland
aud San Frahcise0, fiFst allowed, by
the cohimittee. and also hail . Ger,
lified slalenlenl OF the mileage Of onI
Senators and Of Congressman Smith
but - no purpose. was a Demo
carl; the majority OF the. committee
were Republicans. and they Iroposed
TO retrench expenses. ase ~.
Thus matters stood whsu.th the sal.
AIRY increase was sprung upon Con
gress. When the roll call was made
three Of this committee responded
aye, one nay and one did not vote
while voted nay, although IN effect
that vote was to keep the amount soI
my compensation as fixed by the
committee, being unwilling TO recti'
fy myself by voting 81 .600, 90. from
the treasury OF the United States
considering that the adjustment d
my private account had nothing
whatever 70 do with the vote ] ought
Ito cast on measure OF that kind
under the oath I had taken. at the
opening 0f Congress. claim nc
credit for the act; it. was simply 4
duty ] had convenanted with the
people 70 perform. 70 which I shauid
have been recreant had allowed
private gain to intn sre. The
measure became q law, having passed
both Houses and received the Presi
dents signature, Under this law
ives entitled to draw 81, 100 more
4 than could have drawn under the
ruling Of the committee on mileage
I know.o of no reason in law or morals
why ] should. not receive this part oi
the emoluments Of the Office undel
the circumstances I have named.
Il have drawn and receinted for ii. and
I am unable to see why my com
I pensation should be less than ths
/ iorinsfs member OF Congress from
Oregon. oriilsas than her Senators
serving in1ithe other end ofaths
capital for the same. Congress. Tc
| have placed this amount beyond my
control Of that OF my heirs or legkl
representative hereafter. IL would
i have been n6osssavy for me 20 draw
i it and then psy4iit over to. the
conssiencs fund % the United States.