New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1873-08-12
TOPICS OF THE TIME.
HIGH SALARIES OR NONE AT ALL.

HIGH SALARIES OR NONE AT ALI.
II begins to look as IL the question is likely
be, not whether Congressman were paid enough
before the ste salary steal but whether they ought "a
be paid at ALL Heretofore the English system Of unpaid
legislation has always been denounced unsuted 10
the wants OF republican country and calculated to
ter arstocratio Institutions The Nation however, be.
Ing moved thereto by Senator Carpenters late defense
OF the salary grab takes issue with tho argument that
the paying Of Congressman insures the possibility Of
sending poor to Congress- and thus in fact makes
IT, as 1t ought to be, poor mans government The No
ton
Congress instead Of being poor mans Legislature.
IA the legislature OF large interests and Of great cor
we're forcing the English railways 20 cheap trains
for poor men, which the popular gratitude has termed
the public lands 10 railway corporations. While tbs
rich men OF the House Of Commons keeping
Hampstead Heath open for the OF London against
the encr0achments OF a rich nobleman Congress was
presenting Mr.. Thomas Scott with 100000 worth OF
property In OF the parks OF Washington During tho
past year the Supreme Court has affirmed the validity OF
what known the Twenty Per Cent cases Ia which
Yet Congress- while the test were pending.
took away from the Treasury the power TO audit
and pay them after decision should be reached.
aud IL has actually compelled each OF thess
2lOO laboring to bring his individual suit in
the Court OF Claims TO average about ss.
where the Attorney-Gen was compelled TO admit
that the Government had defense-and this at the
very time that Mr. Carpenter and his associates were
voting themselves gdtuy OF 5000 piece, and rais-
ing their prospective compensation so per cent per
With such facts before the country, II ia both
untruthfu and foolish for Mr. Carpenter 10 set mp HIS
paid Legislature the representative body Of poor
men. The experience OF mankind shows conclusiyely
that when poor man has brains or energy enough To
push his way into legislative body, he is much moro
apt to be Intent getting rich himself than on looking
alter the interests Of his fellows In poverty The vel
fare Of the poor depends, IL always has depended.
upon the cultivated Intelligence and conscientious sym
patty OF the legislator and these qualities all the
world least found IN who are eng ged In
the struggle Of getting their heads higher thn their
neighDors."
1t claims that with unpaid legislation body Of mon
might be depended who would gratuitousy for
the sake Of gaining distinction just men now on
School Boards and public charities work zealously, ac
compishing much and receiving nothing aud concludes
that any rate the effect Of pay only evil. and
that continually.
1.-THE great number Of legislators forbds from tho
economic point Of view. the payment OF an excessive
salary though the causes which We have indicated
qure a easonable allowance toward members
penses But experience that with every
pay there dimnutlOn in the quality OF repre-
sentayes, and that remuneratiye legislative salaries
breeding class of professionals whose trade poll
Itics, and whose only livelihood what they make
out OF their seat. Tie nearer have approached %
gratutOus service the more pure and honorable that
service has been; and while poor men may have been
debarred from taking 10 Congress for yiu x, nte
gent and upright legislature has secured greatest
good Of the greatest number"