The Rock Island daily Argus. [volume] (Rock Island, Ill.) 1872-1873, 1873-03-22
Ths Sairg Arsns.
Saturday, March %, 1879.
CONGRESSIONAL THIEVES.

The Constitution Of this State de
clarcs, in Art, "
us 10 The General Assembly shall new |
or grant or authorize extra compensation, !
Zoe or allowance to any public officer, agent,
servant. or contractor, AFTER SERVICE HAS
uTTN RENDERED or contract made. etc,
etc
.22I. No change shall be
made in the compensation If members IF
The Generai assembly during dc term for
rhicA they may hare been elected.
The Constitution of Iowa, Sec p, de-
clares that mo General Assembiy haH
Adac me poper 10 increase The compensation
Of IT, members" We presume that all
State Constitutions contain similar proyis-
ions. The Constitution OF the United
States cautains no such provision, but the
principles so well established all over the
land that had n proposition been made
even Ia a Republican convention, county,
state or national, for congressman to fix
or increase their own pay it would have
raised storm Of Indignation throughout
Nlli lNlil. W q w llhN bfltN' lil' ~
lean party could have carried single
county in the land with that load upon It's
shoulders. The proposition for members
10 fix their own salaries without consult
Ing the people is as wrong in principle as
for q clerk. without consulting his employ
or. 10 help himself 10 what his greed call
ed for from his employers cash drawer.
That would be called stealing, and render
the clerk liable to be sent to the peniten
tiary. In morals the Republican party is
no better aud deserves the scverest iudg
ment OF the people. Ii is Of no use fol
Republicans 70 Try u defend their party
hy charging that Democrats helped per
petrate the theft. Democrats are not re
spouiblc for the acts oc Grants admins
tration. We hope % see the constituent
Of every Democrat who voted for the stca
or took the money leave him in obscuriC
for the balance Of his day,-hut the Re
publican party must bear the blame 70
the steal That party l. inpower in ever
branch of the federal government, it ha
the President. Vice President Spoakc
both Houses the Cabinet the Suprem
Court and is supreme in every department
The political acts of Congress are the act
Of the Republican party for them tho
party /, responsible. IL could defeat then
if IL would it had the power and woni
not use it it, President could have stop
ped the steal but would not and the Re
publican party cannot cyaie the rcspuu
sbility for the fraud IL was contrary Q.
the letter of our State Constitutions, AN.
to the spirit Of cur government, it wa,
not unlike many "a private thett-done II
haste and trepldadou, scattering plundc
that wa, not carried away Thus the hi
makes the President salary S5uOln ar
diHoaH to the S25.ODl already provide
los law but OF this discovery. IL j. said
the President will not take advantage Tn
intent was also ID increase salaries OF Con
grcs,Uual employees ol the Capta. d
Der cent hut the law a. it stands read
Capirh thus hy decision of the Comp
trOllcr embracing All the Departments
Il j. little comfort d know that thD
Comptroller does no, as yet find in the
bill any money to pay these employees BE-
cause We fear he will find it, as hc did tn,
money 60 pay Congressman. upon 4
closer examination The bill ought to- l
repealed and we hope the people will elee
uo man 10 the next Congress who is u1
pledged for Its repeal