The Kenosha telegraph. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1860-1888, 1873-08-28
THE CAMPAIGN IN OHIO.


MORTON ON THE SALARY INCREASE.
It migh' be the subject of comment if
failed TO make some reference to what
is called "tbe back pay" BY an amend
ment to the Legislative Appropriation
Bill the salary of members of Congress
was raised to 1880 year, instead of
$500. which was their compensation un
der the law. What was known as Con-
gressional mileage was abolished, and
all allowances for newspapers and stat
so as to pay this increased rate for the
Congress then expiring deducting from it
however,all sums paid for mileage station
cry and newspapers.
The measure was in no sense party
one. SO f as that is concerned it may
not be improper to observe that more
Democrats voted for it Ia the two Houses
In proportion to their number. than Re.
publicanS. But it wasin no sense party
measure.
The actual increase of pay will vaiy
with each ember, depending upon the
distance irCm Washington and the
amount of his correspondence and
labor.
II has been the general conviction of
the members ofthe Senate, since have
been in that body, that the pay and
allowance of members, all things con-
Sidered, were too small, and that sound
and enlightened policy dictated an
increase
THE PRECEDENTs.
The Constitution has given to membCrs
of Congress the power to determine the
measure Of their own compensation. In
this matter they are made their own
judges. 1t is delicate thing to give
officers the power to determine and
6x the value of their own services, but
under our form of government this power
could be lodged no where else but in
Congress. The pay of members Of
Congress has been increased on five
different occasions, and on every occasion
she increased pay has been dated back to
the beginning of the Congress in which
it was made. The last time, before the
present, WAS in 1866, and gave back pay
for the period of eighteen months. The
principle involved in back pay is not
different or worse now that it was the
first time 1t was voted for and taken.
1t is the greatest injustice to say that the
members of the Forty-second Congress
who voted for back pay have been guilty
ofstealing or Of intended fraud upon the
Treasury. Those that have taken the
money received it according to law; a
raw they had as much power to enact
as any o'her. many of those who voted
for and received this back pay in III.
last Congress are among the best and
ablest In the land of both parties, end
believed they were but exercising
constitutional power, had earned the
money. and were following an example
that had been set by many of the most
distinguished and patriotic men who
had gone before them in the halls Of Con.
gress.
BACK PAY WRONG AND DANGEROUS.
But while thus doing justice to the
motive OF the members of Congress " no
nave voted for or received what is called
"back pay" do not wish to be understood
as approving the principle involved in
IT, 10 me it appears to be a plain prin.
clple that the increase of salaries shonld
be prospective only. Had the increase
OF the Presidents salary,or those of the
Judges OF the Supreme Court been made
to reach back two or four years, all could
see the danger of the principle. Yet
tnelr would be as much propriety and
justice IN giving back pay to the Presid-
ent, judges, and all other officers whose
salaries have been too low. as to members
OF Congress. The only difference Re
tween the cases would be that the men,
bers OF Congress have power to vote them.
selves back pay, and others have not
When | rendered service during the
Forty second Congress I expected to
receive only the compensation then
nzed by law, and when that was paid to
me | ora un q =. T