South Branch intelligencer. [volume] (Romney, Va. [W. Va.]) 1830-1896, 1873-03-28
Sentiment on the Pay Job.

Sentlment on the Fay Job.
Several of the Safe L-gi,laturcs have
expressed their indignation over the con-
eressionsl increase of salary bill, especial
" with reference To- its retroactive feature
The Illinois bouse has followed the lead Of
the Ohio Ascend y, and by the great vo'
OF lob tn have eensured the representa-
tlvos OF that State for their part in the
wrong. Both houses Of ;he Michigan Leg.
islaiurc have also passed reso 'utons CON
demning the measure, and applauding
those who opposed it. Similar resolutions
have been passed by the New York State
Senate. In The New York lower house
c1ndrmnotory resolutions were referred 20
the federal relations committee, though il
refused to add instructions TO report within
three days, as was desired. Sill, the New
York Journal Of Commerce remarks it is
something to have sevcnty-s assembly.
men against seventy.three willing To enter
tam proposition 10 stigmatize congress-
men for snch an act One OF the members.
a Mr. Beetle, thought tho President ought
to come in for share Of the condemnation.
us he was the principal beneficiary of The
measure, and might have vetoed the bill, or
bY giving out that he would veto it, have
probably prevented its passage. The pro-
vision of the bill, however, relative TO the
Presidents salary is not retroactive, and
therefore is not open to The same objection
as that by which members of the Forty
second Congress voted Themselves a grab
at the end of their term &C $4,000 each.
Some increase, say of $4,000 or SIS 900,
to the Presidents salary tie whole nation
would have let pass without question, but
as 1t is doubled there is not perfect assent.
The increase to the Supreme Court Judges
and cabinet, making the pay $1,000 per
annum, Is generally acquiesced in, especial.
ly for the judges, whose labors are incrcas-
ing from year to year, aud who have TO
give their whole time to their duties, while
members of Congress, who are generally
engaged in other business also, on an average
devote but nine months out Of twenty-Cour To
legislation or attendance ~ Washington The
salaries OF All the clerks Of the House are raised
10y The bill! also, and 81, OOe n year are added 10
The salaries Of the assistant secretaries Of the de-
partments. IL so happens, il is stated that only
i've members OF The House in The forty second
Congress have failed TO pocket the tack pay
though Of course, when il has become legal TO
take II It would no longer be looked upon ~ an
n.
York, Merrick. Of Maryland Hawley, Of Con-
necticut, and lIoar Of Mssse chusetts, are men
TONED as the five referred 10, the latter Of whom
transferred the money directly 10 the Free Indus.
trial Institute Of Worcester. the philanthropy Of
which proceeding is more evident than its mo-
rali'y II Nr lloar did not consider himself
tauied to the money he had no right TO give
IL 10 any one else
u may be added that some Of the Pacific
States men are said 20 have declined the pay be.
cause iheir deduction Of mileage required by the
law would have brought them almost or abso-
luieIy into debt o. the government. One Of
them, ex-senator Corbett, Of OrerOn. has figured
down the balance due him under the new law
to about $50, and donated IL 10 the Washington
Monument fJnd 10 is probable that other rep
resentauves and Senators from distant States
are also cut down ~ some extent. But of course
retusals on account Of losing BY the law gre not
evidence Of special nicely " IS not matter Of
surprise that The public indignation on this cub.
Jec IS making itself felt in The legislative bodies
q the country .-- B1Himore C0zeYe. WIe~h ggHd