Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1873-04-18
POLITICAL.

Some years ago a governor of New Jer-
sey vetoed an appropriation bill, in the tail
Of which the legislators had run up their
perquisites. He kept ile creditors of the
state out of their dues i,r year. The next
Legislature came instructed from the peo-
pie to stand by the governor, and the steal
was 50 rebuked that il was never repeated
nor did man who abetted it get reelected.
The Alta California can remember when
Congressman received only So per day, and
comprised such names as Henry Clay. q.
Calhoun, John Quincy Adams, and others
Of Ike character and ability. From Sc per
day, Congressional compensation has pro-
gressed until now it is 81 800 per annnm
And, as the pay has increased, the intel
lectual and moral tone of the members has
gone the other way"
The Comptroller fthe Treasury says that
if members of Congress who do not wish to
receive their increased pay will buy bonds
and present them to the Government they
Will contribute that much toward the re-
duction of the public debt Otherwise the
refusal to receive the money will not benefit
anybody, as it will remain in the Treasury
among other funds not specifically appro-
priated.
The lobby ring at Washington last session
had schemes on foot for subsidies, land
grants, cotton tax refunding, and 50 forth.
which would have depleted the treasury to
the amount of several hundred millions of
dollars. One of the sturdiest opponents of
these grabs was Senator Chandler of Michi-
gan, who, whatever may be his faults. Is
always hostile to wasteful expenditure of
the peoples money. A good story is told
illustrating his peculiarity. Meeting
leading Lobbyist one day in street car,
Chandler accostcd him with the enquiry
- Smith, what will you lobby thieve. take
and quit?" q" On, said Smith. 1--WE sup
press his real name), too polite to take
offence at the bluff way of the Senator in
putting his question, - don't know Sem
ator how much viii You give?' - Well,
said Chandler, q" | cannot speak for others,
but for myself ! am willing 20 give a hun
dred millions" Couldn't do it" said
Smith, " for so small a sum " There.
said Chandler, You are not so generous as
pork thief | heard Of out in Oshkosh. a
gentleman there, who had well filled pig
pen, began to miss his hogs as they disap-
peared mysteriously one by one. Fixing his
suspicious on loaier in the place named
Jones, he hailed him on the street. taxed
him with the theft, and ended by proposing
that II Jones would stop stealing he would.
at killing time, send to Jones house one
thousand pounds of pork, ready cut for
curing. Well, Squire, said Jones, You
and ! are old friends and | will 20 a great
ways TO accommodate you ! accept your
proposition but, Squire, | want You 10
bear in mind that / am losing pork by fhc
operation p
1t is said that an additional reason why
the kentucky Legislature ought 10 adjourn
Immediately Is found in the fact that one Of
the members spells female " fee mail. and
another spells the word likewise liquize.
The republicans of Concord. y. H.. are
holding indignation meetings over the re
cent change in their p0Stmastcrship. They
say, if the appointment Of Dr. Willard is
Grants civil service reform, they don't care
for any more Of the article " in theirs.
Senator Lewis. whose term expires in
ls75, aspires to be the first Republican Gov
crnor Of Virginia. and i, already organiz-
Ing for the fall campaign, knowing that his
reelection TO the Senate depends upon his
success in the gubernatorial contest.
Some amusement was created in the New
York Assembly when the Democratic leader,
Mr.. Jacobs, voted in the affirmative on the
passage of the Civil Rights bill. This bill.
though one which the Democrats are fond
of calling radical, and fighting as if 1t
threatened annihilati0n To their party, at
tracted no more attention than if il had
been a charter for some out of the way vii
lage
The New York HcraH says that the ap-
pOintment of ex-senator Sawyer of South
Carolina rs Assistant Secretary of State
comes the nearest 10 Cabinet honor that
that State has enjoyed since John c. Cal
houn was Secretary of State under prcsi-
dent Tyler, in lsii
The New York World says that the in
creased salary of the President Will notpcr-
NIT him to lay up an amount worth as much
a. an English Prime Minister pension. ~
Is the Judges of the Supreme Court, the
man with family to support who goes upon
the bench even now can make little or no
provision against disaster.
I is intimated that the next Democratic
national ticket will be. for President. Cha-
sumner for Vice President. Alexander H.
Stephens I would be a strong ticket in
point of talent, and long one in point Of
speeches Boston IrareAr.
\ member of Congress from New York,
who desires his name to be kept secret, ex-
changed his warrant for s. 900 back pay
for Its value in government bonds, cancelled
the latter and ordered them returned to the
Treasury. The ErHmg Post states that
Gen. llawley, Of Connecticut, also declines
to receive the back pay for the portion Of the
term which he has just completed.