, 1873-07-19
.F0RWARn-PAY.>

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"Dack-pay" has been thoroughly canvassed,
and voted d "grap." Tho verdict has boon all
but unanimous. Tho Washington Chronicle and
tho st. Paul Press alone among tho newspapers
have undertaken to jnBtify it. The argument
which tho Chronicle makos is,. practically, that
reason that the "forward.pay" is as much Of &
swindle as the "baok-pay." On examination,
this will prove to be truo though tho people will
probably find in this fact an additional reason for
condemnation rather than motive for letting
the mattor rest whoro it ia. Tho whole country
ia united in tue conviction that tho '' baok-pay"
feature Of tho Salary bill WAS n grave trans
Eresaion. II, then, the increased salaries for the
next Congress- can DO shown to bo equally
vicious, 1t will bo simply impossible to persuade
tho people that tho bill ought not to bo repoalel
Immediately upon the assembling Of Congress.
Tho fact is that tho salary bill was 30 con-
strlctod as to offer q bribo to tho members Of
the Forty-third Congress not to 60 bach Of the
action Of tho Forty-second Congress. Tho bill
provides that members Of Congrcsa "may re-
coivc their compensation monthly, from the bo-
ginning Of their term until tho beginning Of the
first session Of each Congress." In conformity
with this provision, chock for e625 Is sent
monthly to oyery member of Congress elected
laBt fall, though not ono OF them has boon
sworn in OF taken his scat, or is as yet officially
known as member. This WAS ''new depar-
turo," and there was Romo reason for it, It was
manifcstly the intention OF tho last Congress- to
commit the members Of tho new Congress- to
tho bill hofore thoy could como together, and
boforo they should havo m opportunity to
learn the sentiment of their constituencies.
Tho plan seems to hayo succeeded. No case Las
been reported in Which tho monthly payment Of
$G25 has been refused or tho money paid baol
Into tho Treasury. Mombors Of tho Forty-third
Congress have thus giyon a tacit indoraomont Of
tho increaBo Of salaries, and they will lavo drawn
threo.qua1ters OF tho first yoar'a salary before
taking their aeats. They hayo beon caught In
tho trap set for them. With nino months pay in
their pockets at the time they are aworn In, mid
before they have rendered any service in return,
tlloy will scarcely be in position to open fire
their predecessors who took tho back-pay. Both
will be equally guilty Of having tnkcn public
funds without rendering any return, and tile
only difference will bo TINT tho membora Of tho
now OongreHs will on tho 1st Of Docembor have
received larger amount Of uncarnod money
than the members Of tho last Con-
greAa who porpotratod tho grab. For
t1.a r1.n~u tn 1nrr In r11
members would, therefore, DO oonr case Of the
pot calling tic kettle black. III estimating tho
nature Of tho bribe, 1t shonld bo borne in mind
| lint the whole amount Of money involved in tho
| "forwartl-pay ia larger than than that OF tho
"bacll-pay." Every Congressman has received
! s025 On the fourth day Of ovory month ainco tho
4th Of Marol. 33 per cent OF which isin excosa Of
tho former compensation. BY tho next payday,
Aug 4, oach Congressman will have received
s3,125. Before Congress- meetH, in Dccombor
noxt, nino month"; pay will hayo bcen drawn,
amounting to e5,G25. There aro in tho noxt
Congress 800 mombera,-20ai in tho House md Il
in tho Senate. Thoro will then haye been paid
| out OF tho Unitod States Treasury tho enormous
sum Of ga, COS 100 for Congressional aorvices not
| yet rendered. Now tho "back-pay " amounted
in all to about million and half, but tho back
pay actually drawn by members Of Congrosa was
about 81, ,10b, 900. Tho "forward-pay" amounts,
then, to very nearly double the "baclt-pa " and
tho bribe already pocketed will reach the sum Of
$685. whon Congress- u1oots. Aside from this
general fact, there are several features
| which are oyon mora outrageous, The now law
provides that al members aAall bel paid monthly,