The New York herald., 1873-12-10


Secretary Robeson To Got . Bill for the
$4,000, 900.
The House Appropriation Committee will to-mor-
row report o Dill in accordance with Secretary
Robeson's request for $4,000, 900.
Tho Salaries Bill in the House-A Vfr-
tuous DispIay-Membcrs on Their Met
tie to Show Their Honesty.
The House to-day was as lively as q cricket and
it was amusing TO see how many members there
were who desired 10 show that they never be-
leved in back pay or increased salary. Oh, nol
Some OF them even went 80 far to endeavor
to reduce the pay to below what was allowed
by the old bill. In fact, the House was
in q very virtuous mood. and If time had allowed
for every member to speak 20 minutes the result
would have been that the country would soon
have on its statute books salary bill that would
put to shame those eminent men who, in days
gone by. voted for back pay and took the cash
without troubling themselves or being troubled by
their constituents.
After the morning hour Mr.. Hale's bill came up
for consideration. Mr.. Cox got the floor and gave
the House, looking all about him, to understand
that he intended TO dance upon Mr.. Negley, OF
Pennsylvania for insinuating that he. Mr.. Cox TOOK
all summer to return his back pay. Sunset not
only quoted from the Globe to show that he re-
turned his share OF the "grab'' last April,
but had nicely bound volume OF the HERALD
brought IN in order that he might read an extract
from letter which would clinch the matter. He
went for Mr.. Negey. OF Pennsylvania, In the most
approved style, and compared himself to q dew
drop on rose. which comparison the House rel
ished very much After working himself up to q
fever heat. Mr. Cox concluded that he had disposed
OF Mr.. Negey and set himself right before his con-
stituents.
Judge Lawrence, OF Ohio, was the next member
who endeavored to show that he never approved
of back pay or increased nay. He was highly in
dignant to think that the Forty-second Con-
gress should have increased their salaries and
made the increase retroactive. He fastened
at once to put his back into the
Treasury. His speech was q studied effort
He went back to the days Of the Greeks and Romans
to prove that he didn't believe In such actions
But Mr. Wilson, OF Indiana, who took q hand in the
Credit Mobier investigation last year. thought he
would put conundrum to Mr.. Lawrence, and so
he inquired Of that gentleman whether he did not
take increased pay and back pay in 1862 What
could the Judge say to that He acknowledged
that he did take what the House voted that year,
and, OF course, the House Of this year laughed at
him for his admission. 'sAnd was it not as bad to
take the back pay in 1865 1t in 1873," asked
Mr.. Wilson, ''No" said the Judge, "because the
said Mr.. Dawes, OF Massachusetts "w1l the gentle
man from Ohio tell us what he considers to be
proper amount OF back nay which member can
honestly take ?" The Judge was obliged to give it
up, and concluded his remarks without allowing
any further Interruptions.
Mr.. Kendall, OF Nevada, followed Mr.. Lawrence,
and said that he considered that popular camor
had more to do with the talk about the salary
grab than genuine public sentiment. He had
figured the thing out and could show the House
that the present bill cost the country less than the
old one, so he figured up the mileage and the
postage on agricultural reports, allowance for
papers, &C., and concluded that the House had
better let the present law alone as it was more
economical than the one repealed last year.
Negley had evidently been browsing around while
the last two gentlemen were talking, for he caught
the Speakers eye as soon as Mr.. Kendall sat down,
and proceeded to show that the dew upon
sunsets rose was not so fresh as 1t
might be. He had overhauled the books
and found that Mr.. Cox had been drawing
some $3 900 for some so odd days service, but Sun
set told Mr. Negley that he evidently had not read
the law OF 1859, whatever that might be, but Mr..
Negley thought he had, and go 'you did" and syou
didn't" continued for few moments to the sat-
isfaction OF the MEMBERS but without throwing
any light how either of the two gentlemen stood
on Mr.. Hale's bill.
Mr.. Wilson, of Indiana, had prepared an elabo-
rate review OF the matter as he understood it, He
favored a return to the old order Of things, and in
the course Of his remarks paid passing comp-
ment to Mr. Lawrence, which left that gentleman
IN worse plight than ever. In vain
did the Judge endeavOr to extricate himself
but all to no purpose. The House laughed at him
every time he opened his mouth. Mr.. Townsend.
OF Pennsylvania tried to soothe the troubled
waters, and refused to give way to the unfortunate
gentleman from Ohio but what Mr.. Townsend said
did not straignten up matters bit. He merely
placed himself on record as being one of the men,
bers who was sorry he took the back pay.
II was reserved for Mr.. LamisOn, OF Ohio, to
strike the sledgehammer blow Of the afternoon.
This gentleman, although member of the Forty
second Congress, never made o speech, and his
presence was almost unknown; but he has con-
vinced the House that the Fifth district OF Ohio
has a democratic representative who is not only
able to take Of himself, but also ready
and willing to hold to his back pay and vote for
more If he have the chance. Mr. Lamison is a
large, fine-looking gentleman, with q powerful
voice and rapid though distinct delivery. He
quickly warns up to hts subject and strikes out
forcibly to the end. Ii he do not make Of himself
"a single speech Hamilton" the country may expect
to hear from him again before the close OF the pres
ent session. Mr.. Lamison said he not only voted
for the back pay but took it. He told Lis constitu
ents what he had done, and they reelected him.
He did not know what other members
considered their services here worth. His
were worth $780, not only in Congress-
but at home. He denounced the demagoguery
OF the members as shown In the debate OF to-day,
and said that he was surprised 20 find so many
selfconvicted thieves. He did not consider him
self one. He voted for the Salary bill in good faith
took the money, and should take it again II
the opportunity offered. He launched q small
volley at Mr. Cox, but saved his heavy
ammunition for Mr.. Lawrence. He told
the latter gentleman that after his record
OF this afternoon II he went back TO his consttu-
ents he need never expect to be allowed to make
another speech In Congress. Every one supposed
that Mr.. Lawrence had been completely crushed
by this time; but 1t seems that Mr.. Lamison had
"a n n n xo