Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1873-12-10

| ed, and popular clamor led by demagogue
/ and by corrupt and partisan press.
Mr.. Negley made some remarks In allusior
| 70 what he called the extreme sensitive
ness of the gentleman from New York Mr.
Coxl, and referred 70 his having kept hi.
back pay some time before returning 70 the
treasury. The gentleman aforesaid sppears on
this floor Immediately on the commencement
OF this session as the conspicuous figure OF 8
group OF gentlemen anxious and jealous IN
aTraignlng their associates for committing
great wrongs against the public treasury and
public sentiment. desire 70 refer TO the gen
tleman's own acts, in order 20 put him in the
position In which he put himself From June
4th TO November stu that gentleman drew
three thousand one hundred and twenty-five
dollars, although he was not elected as mem
Mr.. Cox-Is the gentleman aware OF the law
on that subject?
Mr.. Negley-I am aware of the law, and So
Mr.. LOx-The law is express in regard to It,
Is the gentleman aware OF the law?
Mr.. Negiey-I am aware OF 1t.
Mr.. Cox-Let Us see what 10 is3
Mr. Negley-The gentleman has only served
nine days in this congress, and yet has drawn
over i've thousand dollars. If that is not
sense of the house.
Mr.. Cox-Has the gentleman served any
longer In this congress than I have? I was
sworn in the same day as he.
Mr.. Negley-But / am not showing such a
disgusting amount Of virtue as the gentle
man, and consequently am not here making
introduced in the interest of economy, il
would command my vote and my earnest
support; il IL had been introduced out of
respect TO public opinion by the gentleman
who had the most right TO introduce til
mean those who had favored the increase-I
should have been willing 20 giveit my sup
port but on the contrary, it has been intro
duced by a number Of gentlemen who have
Just escaped from the fOllies of their youth,
and who come here for the purpose OF earn
ing some new reputation. Laughter.
Mr.. Wilson lInd.l said it was not his pur-
pose 70 argue against the repeal of the salary
BILL nor TO argue that the salary was not fixed
too high, but he desired 10 show that there
was nothing in that action unworthy or dis
honest; that man might vote for il and still
be pure in integrity and in the conscience of
all the multitude of his detTactors. He re-
he had not drawn bacE pay in 1866.
Mr.. Lawrence replied that every member of
that congress except the members from West
Virginia had taken the pay fixed by the act of
1855. He condemned the salary act of March
3, 1873, not so much because of the back pay
as because both the back and front pay were
Mr.. Wilson Ind reminded Mr.. Lawrence
that he had condemned it a while ago because
il was back pay.
Mr.. Lawrence-Because il was back pay too
much in amount. tLaughter.l
Mr.. Dawes-I want the gentleman from
Ohio (Mr. Lawrencel to tell how much back
pay he would go Tor. Loud laughter.l He
says that in 1855 he took his back-pay because
every member Of congress did so. He returns
MS increase OF pay, because, he says, the peO-
pie condemn it. 50 he goes with the multi
tude, whatever way the multitude goes.
Loud laughter at the expense of Mr.. Law
Tence.l
Mr.. Lawrence desired TO make rejoinder,
but Mr.. Wilson, who had the floor, declined
to yield TO him.
Mr.. Wilson Ind. continued his argument
DE said that men might differ as to the proper
salary, without being either robbers or thieves.
The people, however, had a right to demand
that the act of the last congress should be re-
pealed. The people had made that demand,
and congress was bound to accede to il. What
ever congress would do, would be criticised.
But perhaps the best way to dispose of the
matter was to place the law as il was before,
and he trusted the house would put the bill
on that basis.
Mr.. LamisOn asserted that the popular
elamor against the salary bill was got up
mainly by demagOgues and interested politi-
clans; that he had met his constituents and
argued the question TO their entire satiSfac-
uon, and that he mad no fear of his ability TO
convince them again that his position was
correct.
Mr.. Townsend advocated the amendment
proposed By himself, fixing the salary of
members at six thousand dollars.
Mr.. Lynch argued that whatever change is
to be made, whether an increase or decrease,
should not take effect during the present con-
gress.
Mr.. Hale Mel gave notice that he would
Try TO get a vote on the bill tomorrow, and the
house adjourned.