, 1873-09-05
FoRWARD-p AND REPEAL OF TIE GRAZ

Thoro Ia Il prevailing impression that, even II
oongrcss ahall repeal tho salary-greb, the mem-
bors Of tho presont Congress-, who are drawing
their monthly pay Of e625, cannot bo required
to refund that portion Of tho increased pay
which shall have accrued prior 10 tho timo that
Congress- mooss. This Ia an error. Monbers Of
Congress arc paid 80 much por year; their COM
ponsation was $4,000 por yoar boforo tho rocont
increase, and la now s7,5oo. II tho ne1t Con-
grosa shall reduce Congressional salaries to $1,000
yoar, tho reduction will apply to tho Forty
Congress- which will then DO In session. Tho draw
ing Of $1,000 by any member of that Congress will
thon -bo unlawful. Tho members Of tho Forty
Bocond Oongrass, which iucronaed tho pny, ap-
pliod tho increase to tho two years back OF their
retiromont. 4 law' Decreasing Tho pay ut tho
worry beginning Of q now Congress cannot fail to
apply to tho term for which members arc to
seryo. II It bo said that the menbors will al
ready have drawn tl1roe.quarters Of thor pay
for tho year, md cannot be forced to
return It, this Is moroly q miscon-
coption. Congressman arc paid by tho year,
aud drawing certain proportion Of the money
by tho month is AMPLY form Of payment, BY
which certain amount ia charged ngalnat them
on their years salary.: Up to tho timo when
CongroBs meots, each member will have drawn
s5,G25. II tho compensation is permitted to re-.
n,nin what 1t is now, thora will still bo 1876
owing to every Congressman on tho yours pay.
II, however, tho compensation ia reduced
to $1,000 year, zach CongroasEnan will
lavo ovcrdrawn his account when Con-
gresa moots by 9625. which must DO
deducted from his pay for tho next year, il he
does not voluntarily return tho surplus into tho
Treasury. 4 Congressman will thon be in tho
condition Of bookkeeper, q banA-clerk, or any
other e1nployo who has oyorlrawn Lis account.
The Government would have good ground fot
action to recover tho SURPLUS II this wcre neccs-
sary. But us the Congressman arc to servo IN.
other year, the deduction can be made
from future pay. II congressman wcro 4
| class OF people who hnl boon harc
| at work for several months on {
contract tint thoy should recoivo 4625 per month
this course would appear unjust. Such is no
tho caHo. ALI the momber8 OF tho Forty-thirt
Congress woro elected ut time whom tho Con
grouaional pay was $4,000 year; go fur the.
have drawn their monthly pay ut tho rate o
1880 yoar without doing the public any scr
vice and reduction In tho pay Of Congrcsauo'
Mt the beginning Of tho Forty-third oongrca
would naturally apply to the members of til
rorty-third Congress. Tho total amoun
Of Congressional pny which will hay
hcon drawn out Of the Treasury be
foro Congress- convencs is s2,15o,ooo; tht
nmount Of pay for tho yoar, at tho present rate
would be about 81. .800. 900: thoro will. conBe
qaontly, beabout 1851, ,00Obalance III tho Treasur.
which can DO held against oyerdrawn accounts
and tho sum duo tho Government over nn'
eboyo this can DO deducted from the pay Of til
following year. II it wero necessary to extrat
the e1cess Of pay from Copgressnlon's pocket
; It would undoubtedly DO hard pulling but
will readilY bo seen thpt this procoss il entirol
J unnoceHsary.