Fayetteville observer. [volume] (Fayetteville, Tenn.) 1850-1966, 1873-04-03
The Salary Lift. /"

There Is no moral distinc-
ton in the act Of Congressman,
in voting an increase OF their
own salaries for a term which is
Just expiring, and in voting an
increase for a tern for which
they have already been elected.
1t there was any contract en-
tered into by the election. rs to
the salary, they are i'll the same
category. As to value Of SER
vices and as 10 expenses, it may
he said they were the same for
the expiring as for the Just en-
tering term. The same may be
said as to the Presidents eala-
~, which is by far the greatest
increase OF all, and which is
really made generous for a Re-
publican President. The Pres
ldent was reelected under the
$50, 900 arrangement, vet he, in
ms capacity as q part of the
Legislative branch, completed
the legislation which raised his
salary 10 S50,0C0. In our O.
pinion this whole lift, though
we suppose Congrcssmcn hon
estly think it only just, was in
judicious. But if any choose
to call any pert of this stealing,
they will have to admit that all
these, and both or all three par
ties, are in the same category"
That is putting it mildly
Grant was ''re-elccted under
the $4,000 arrangement" but
by this diff" his own act, he
will put one hundred thousand
dollars in his pocket during the
next four years. We venture
tie assertion that no other per-
son who has ever occupied the
Presidential chair would have
done what Gen. Grant has done.
The indianapolis Journal, the
Republican organ at the CAPT
til of Indiana, is decidedly more
oltspoken in regard to the
lift" which the members of
Congress made than the Ga
sette. The Journal says:
ats not pleasant to find fault,
and the Journal would gladly
commend every act Of the late
Congress, and particularly Of
the Republican members there
Of, if it we're possible to do so.
But it is not, and the Journal
will not stultify itself, nor insult
the intelligence of the people by
irving to do 80. 1t is the duty
of the press to hold kublic SER
wants to faithful discharge of
their duty, and if they fail in
this regard, to point out their
failure. The late Congress did
several things which they ought
not to have done, but, in our
opinion, the very worst and
most utterly indefensible thing
they did was to increase their
own salaries $500 year, dat
ing the increase back two years.
T1is put $1,000 in every men,
ber's pocket for, services for
which he has already been paid
and feccipted in full. Tits use
less 10 mince words about this
matter which we cannot regard
IS much better than downright
stealing. The people in this
country have worked hard and
long to build up the Republican
party. They love it for it's prin-
ciples and great achievements,
and they send men 10 Congress
10 represent these principles,
and to advance the glory Of
the country and the party. How
unspeakably cruel therefore for
them, in the last hours Of an ex-
piring Congress, to dishonor
the party and their constituents,
by voting themselves this pile
Of money out of the public treas
ury. We have no patience
with such conduct"
The Journal points to the fact
that but one Republican MEM
Der from Indiana voted against
what it so plainly characterizes
and denounces. But while the
Journal is thus severe in its de-
ANNEXATION of the ''lift" which
the members of Congress have
made, it has no word of con-
de,uuation for Gen. Grant, who
violated as solemn a compact
as ever a man entered into oral
". for it was by his own sane
ton and act that he will be enS-