Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1873-05-01
THURSDAY, xAY !, 1873.
Maine And The Back Salary.

Washington bring the announcement that
our late Representative, Hon. J. A. Peters.
has turned his Congressional back paw in
TO the United States Treasury. IL will be
recollected that Mr.. Peters name was
presented by his friends for Judgeship of
this State about the time ofhis return from
Washington. and he has been unwilling to
take the course he has, while that question
was pending, lest such action might seem a
bidding upon his part for the Judgeship
At the same time he desired to avoid de
ferring it tilfafter the nomination OF Judge
was made. Consequently he sent draft
FOR the back pay TO the Secretary OF the
Treasury before the appointment of Judge
was made, but at date which was intend
ed by him to prevent It's publication in
Maine till afterwards, at the same time re-
questlng the Secretary to avoid publicity
on the subject.
In this connection we NAV say We are in
formed that none OF the Maine Senators or
Representatives have as yet drawn the back
pay. and we trust and believe they never
will. thus presenting the delegation OF one
State as an unit in dIspossessing them
selve. of fund which the people of Maine
consider as wrongfully appropriated by
the last Congress. This will be all the
more meritorious, as the reception of back
pay has been the precedent in every pre-
vious increase of Congressional compensa-
tion. Ii will be remembered that this was
the case in 1866. when the salary was
raised from $1,000 to 5000 per annum, and
was made applicable TO the Congress pass
ing the act.
We have occasion to know that Messrs.
Hale and Frye long ago notified the office
OF the Sergeant-at-Arms, who is the pay
master of the House, that they declined
their back pay; and that they have been
anxious TO place it back in the Treasury,
only waiting to do 1t As nearly as could be
concurrently with others from this State,
for obvious reasons. Senator Hamlin has
also declined taking the back paw and will
turn ii in to the Treasury; while. as is well
known. Speaker Blaine insisted upon an
amendment to the bill, which struck out
the back salary for bis Office. We have no
precise information as to the course of the
two remaining members of the delegation
Messrs. Morrill, and Lynch. but have reason
10 believe that they will unite with their
colleagues in placing the back salary in the
Treasury, thus enabling Maine to present
a clean record with reference TO that obnox-
ious measure
This unanimity of action will be special
ally gratifying 10 our people. and the course
pursued will stand in most favorable CON
- ~ "iti AAldA ti tNutI W no.
10y devoting the fund to some local charity,
have failed to lessen the drain upon the
treasury, while with an eye to popularity
IN their respective districts, they have fol-
lowed the maxim Of Cakes Ames in put
ting the proceeds of the grab '.where il
Will do them the most good"
As matter of information. we NAV
state our understanding to be that the
back pay will remain to the credit of Con-
sressmen and subject 10 their draa for a
year from June next, the commencement
OF fiscal year, when. if not drawn. it will
be covered back into the Treasury URig.
We believe that the above from the Ban
Cor Wig is correct general statement OF
the position Of the Maine delegation on the
salary matter. So far as Hon. Eugene
Hale the member from this district is con-
cerned, his position is this. lie opposed
the salary bill at every stage. and is found
recorded as voting against it on every vote
from its Introduction TO the final accept
ance OF the Conference Committees re-
port. He declined taking the back pay
and notified the Sergean;-at-Arms in
March, not to send it to him, and only
awaited the settlement of the Judgeship
question, which embarrassed Mr.. Peters
as stated in the Ways article. to turn the
money finally into the Treasury. Mr..
Fryes position was the same. When Mr.
Hale learned that Mr.. Peters was disem-
barrassed by the settlement OF the Judge
ship. he at once wrote 10 the Secretary of
the Treasury directing that official to turn
his back pay into the Treasury. simply
following out his previous action in March
after congress had adjourned, at the same
asking that no publicity be given to his
direction.
We shouli not now feel called upon to
say anything about it AS Mr.. Hale's act is
one OF simple justice aud right for which
lie CLAIMS no commentator, but the Wig
in it, article calling attention to the subject
does not state what is the fact. that Mr.
Hale's back pay like Mr.. Peters has been
turned into the Treasury. We presume
Mr.. Frye has done the same.