The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1873-05-19
Tho BaekPay Plumber.

toriGllEeS on tho SALARY steaF In q way
that we understand to be a sort OF an
apology Tor 1t. The Telegraph argues
that because Congress Is empowered BY
law to regulate the pay Of its members,
It Is 1.-THE unquestionabIe right" OF mem
bers to take any sum that q majority may
vote them. 1t is their legal right un-
doubtedly, but not their right In moral
sense; and 1t iS still considered BY the
people at large that public servants are
not exempt from the operation Of moral
restraints The TsIs0rap6J position d
that 1t was wrong to vote the back pay
but not wrong to take 1t after 1t had been
voted. Ii the question 10 only ono ofleGsl
technically, why was 1t wrong to vote
tho thIDgH Congress, under the consti'
tuition, has full discretion to make its
compensation what It pleaseS, whether by
the expedient OF retroactlOn, or otherwise
II the only right or wrong In the matter
Is legal right or wrong, voting the money
and taking 1t are alike unimpeachable, be.
cause the legal power to do both Is un-
doubted. II moral right or wrong enters
into the question, It seems TO us, on the
other hand, that voting the money and
taking aiterit was voted are alike ine1.
Cusable ut Is true" the Telegraph con-
fesSeS that they contracted to serve their
country at 5000 per annum At the
time they were elected they knew their
salaries would be 5000 per anuum, IN
less the Congress Of which they became
a part should increase them" This being
true the whole case is admitted. While
the vote Of the majority gave the mInori'
ty legal right to tho increase, 1t could
confer no moral right to break the
contract with the people. The rea'
sons which forbade man 70 vote for
the Increase equally forbade him take 1t
when placed In his power by the votes Of
others. This ls the morality Of the thing
as understood by the popular conscience
The Telegraph illustrates It's argument In
this way:
"a merchant employs clerk al $500
per snnum, but before his term o. service
iS completed he determines to give him
1850. Would any man doubt the right Of
that clerk TO receive the increaset Ger
tainly not. A member OF Congress stands
lust as blameless In receiving the %, 200
Increase for two. years services as the
merchants clerk would 10 receiving an
increase Of $3.50 for one veal"
The case is not parallel one at all
When the employer increases the serv'
ants wages, the right of thelatter to &C
cept the increase is unquesIonedi but in
the case OF the salary steal" 1t was not
the employer that incrCasedthe wages, 1t
was the servant. 1t was as II this mer.
chants clerk, having the run Of his en-
ployer's drawer, had taken from 1t the
addition 10 his wages without consulting
the employer at all. The people Of the
United States are the employer and Con-
gress Is the clerk.
We have already expressed the belief
that this increase Of salaries was inexpe-
dIent in all lis ieatures-a needless draft
on the treasury and injurious 20 tho best
interests Of the public service. But we
grant that go far as the measure applied
to the future this Is a matter for fair argu'
menL So far as relates TO the back pay
Of Congressman increasing the compen'
sation for services already rcndered-ws
cannot sec that the case admits oil argu-
ment at all. Ifthis is not wrong, nothing
would be wrong, and Congress might rob
the treasury Of hundred millions as
easily as ono. Nor can we sec how any
member who voted against this extra pay
as a matter Of conscience can consistently
take 1t after 1t has been placed in his
power by the votes Of others.
The public indignation which this
measure has excited "a a most promising
sign Of the times. For some years past
the popular conscience has appeared to be
so blunted as scarcely to distinguish be-
tween right and wrong in regard TO the
discharge Of public trusts. There has
been sharp awakening, partly induced
by the shock that resulted from tho dis
covery Of enormous corrupnonS in the
municipal affairs Of New York, and in the
affairs Of the Pacific railways, and partly
as the result Of a natural reaction from the
decentralization incident 10 the var with
its expansion OF wealth and luxury. This
reaction has not yet reached its limit.
The universally Of tho popular eXecra-
ton Of the Back Pay Grab" iI some indi'
cation Of It's force; and it will go on, We
believe and hope, till there lisa thorough
publication Of the-public service. To
make apologies in the face oil the coming
tide OF opinion for anything that will not
endure tho most rigid tests, Is the vainest
possible Whaling against tho wind. A
good many men who have been eminent
in public affAlrs have been retired to the
shades of private life by the Credit Mo-
biller disclosures. A good many more
will owe theirretirement to the back pay
plumber. Men who aspire to public pre-.
ferment in the future can hardly fail to
Gee that the appropriation Of tho back
pay will be fatal to their prospects. Per-
hnps it is already too late for those who