Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1873-07-24
Senator Carpenter and the Salary
Bill.

S1SiHOSS vi aCIOuuJ VI OcuhtOT OaI-
penter's Jaoesville speech. We think
the Senator has attempted to back
up a bad cause with worse arguments.
Senator Howe agreed that the sala-
rIes ought TO be raised, but we are
told Senator Howe voted against the
bill, under the belief that the last
session was not proper time to
raise every body's salary. In Sena-
tor Howe we see some legislative
caution. A wise legislator will not
only aim to do right, but he will take
tho utmost pains to show to the peo-
pie that what he proposes to do, is
right.
A measure of such vast financial
and national Importance, increasing
the pay of all national officers and
employees and necessitating, if not
repealed, corresponding increase in
the expenses of State government
tied on to the General Appropriation
bill, so that to kill it might appear
to be treason to the government
itself-no time allowed for discussion
in Congress-no time allowed to hear
from the people. Even if the meas
ure was just and necessary, Senator
Howe was right in saying that last
winter, at the very heels of the ses-
sion, was not the proper time and
occasion to pass a measure, which
took their constituents by surprise,
and suddenly increased the running
expense of the government millions
of dollars annually. Even just and
necessary legislation may be rushed
thrt ugh Congress with such reckless
haste and parliamentary unfairness
as to arouse both the suspicious and
indignation of the country. Other
Congresses bad raised their own sal
aries but then the proposition was
discussed both in and out of Congress
before it was acted upon.
To say nothing of the merits of the
salary bill, the reckless manner Of
its passage has given a sensible shock
to our national credit. The gold dol
lar instantly gained upon its rival
greenback. Whoever owned dol
lar in national currency lost at least
8 cents. Whoever owned 500 ma
tional currency lost S. This loss is
patent, The gold bulls wonder why
our credit does not sink even to zero.
Aud why should they not so expect ?
An outgoing Congress, moved by
the cravings of empty purses, the last
night of the session, may double the
expenses of the government, and no
future Congress will remedy the
wrong unless driven thereto by the
imperious voice of public opinion,
for subsequent Congresses have
empty pockets too.
But if we are to adopt Senator
Carpenters notions of salary, there is
40 assignable limits to what we must
pay. We must enable our represen-
tatives and their families to move in
the same social circle with the fami~
lies of Chandler of Michigan, Frey
linghuysen, Governor Sprague and
others Of the millionaire fraternity.
We are led to infer that talent, integ-
rity, eloquence-no in ellectuaI &C.
complshment--fu furnishes q passport
to this charmed circle. No, we must
give our representatives a salary
equal to their incomes. And we must
compel these Congressional CrGsus'
to obey the constitution and mortify
their pride, in accepting tho small
G congressional pittance of 81, 500 per
year, Since congressman must take
families to Washington, must not their
wives and daughters shine with
splendor equal to the feminine stars
who represent European royalty
and wealth in Washington. Now i'll
Miss Flora McFlimsey is omnipotent
at the seat of government, if she is
to prescribe how much of the public |
money is necessary to enable tho |
families of Presidents, Cabinet Of |
fcers, Judges and members of Con~
gross, to enter the circle over which |
she presides, who can tell how
much she will require An English
judge gots $40, 600 per year. A mem-
Der of Parliament who is supposed
to be rich man, gets no salary.
Therefore the British Parliament
passes oppressive laws to grind the
faces of the poor, so says the Senator.
And if the English judges who get
$40 600 per year do not carry out
these people-crushing laws in their
spirit and letter, Charles Dickens is
a libeller. If the periodicals of the
age tell the truth, all the reforms OF
abuses in the Englisl law have come
from the Parliament, much to the
disgust of Judges who get $40, 900 per
year.
What we think the Senate ought
to have given US is some fair meas
ure of Congressional and other sal.
aries. We understand that Gen.
James ii. Howe receives from the