, 1874-05-05
PAY OF PUBLIC MEN,

Mr. Dawes, Of MaHHachuBottH, Chairman OF
the House Committee on Ways and Means,
it is rumorod in Washington, has signiaed his
intention to retire from public life at tho close
Of his present term. Nlr. Dawes Inns been Q
hard and intelligent worker in the public SER
vice. and, therefore, this resolution OF bis, It
resolution 1t be, will be learned with regret. The
reason assigned for the determination 10 that hia
own personal interests imperatively demand 1t.
Senators and Representatives, like every ono
clso must look after their broad and butter, not
only for the present but also for the future.
They, like humber mortals who have little time
or thought to give to questions Of the tariff or
Auance, must lay up penny for rainy day.
Now, Mr. Dawos is represented Us believing
that all Representatives can do ia to
take care Of tile present. For the future
rainy day, II they would provide, they must on
ter on the more lucrative paths Of Ifo. Wo arc
not acquainted with the state Of Mr. Dawea'
finances, nor nre We in q way to tell whether or
not he can afford to continue to do good service
to his country consistently with his own private
interests. Report has 1t TINT ho believeB he
cannot. II It DO 80, nc are sorry for Ii. But It
is not tho first instance in the history Of our
Government in which the country has had to
dispense with the services Of somo Of her best
mon for like zoason; nor can We call tho reaaon
4 mercenary one, There are dutics which men
owe to their families and to themaolveB, and
among these duties is that Of wisoly providing
for the future. ANY man who finds TINT In the
public service ho cannot do this while by leaving
It he can, is certainly justified in abandoning it
for TINT reaaon. Every man who entors the
public soryico must judge for himself
| whether. In + peouniary Benao, he can
| afford to do It and, having entered 1t, whether
his financial interests warrant him to romatn
tAero. Els Judgment IL final on the matter,
and, with 1t, good taste forbids the public to
1ud fault. But when, from cases like the ru'
| .uorod one Of Mr.. Dawes, it Is argued TINT the
| country should increaae the salarioB Of Con
greasmen, or pension them after number ol
years Of service, the public have right to au
opinion on tho subject. It may be very dealra'
bio for the country to rotain tho aeryicoB OF m
individual Representative or Senator; but II
does not follow that therefore evory Congress
man should receive princoy aalary fo
nis eotvices. Tle . fact is that GU
Representatives receive \ salary equlya
lont to $4,000 por anuum. The aotna
sum paid them is only $4,000, but they are GU
gaged in tho service Of tue country during onl
half tho year. Many Of them are lawyers, AM
continue their practice while In 0ongrcs8. Com
parasiyoly few arc prccluded from transactin
their regular business, whatever 1t may be
Five thousand dollars are, VIC take it, ampl
remuneration for tue labor performed by th
Average Cougresaman,-Rs much al ho woul
nuke IN my position out Of Congress. No on
forces lin into the Legislative hals Of th
country. No one holds him there II he find
that he is boggaripg himsolf BY staying there, b
ia free to leayo. The effect OF increasing til
, salarles OF Congressmon, instsad OF proauoin
good. might DO productive Of much evil. Nal
the salary largo enough, aud it Mill become q
ob1ee. nogethan tho place, and, nstead Of calllu
forth competent man to look tor ths poaision,