, 1874-12-04
THE W1BCDNSIN eENAT0R.

AeHt@At"Nt w IA4AtIA 4tkkGl 1lHlll t1Gu-
ntor Howe, Of Wisconsin, in which he urged
Upon tho Republican members of the Genoral
Assembly the j,1stica Of rc-electing Senator
Carpenter. This morning wo print a letter
from ox-Gov. Washburn, in which ho states
his own position aa candidate, antl furnishes
II copy Of n lutter written by him in 1871, Of
which numerous and various versions havo
been circu1atcd in tho State. Both letters
are of interest as contributions to tho political
literature Of the day. Tho points made by
Senator Howe in behalf Of Senntor Carpenter
nrc, that oil tho salary- grab question DIr.
Carpenter nado q mistake, but in accordance
with the precedent set by Gov. Waslb1lrn
when III Congress i'll 1856, and TINT the char-
actcr Of the Poland gag-law has boon
wholly nlfsrepresentod, and ITO one would,
upon examination, vote for tho repeal Of tint
Inv.
It may not 10 out Of plnco to ask why 0Tr.
Howe Is SO so1icitous for the Reelection Of
Mr.. Carpenter. From the tenor of his letter
it would Stem TINT ]lo ass,,mcs that he, Mr..
Carpenter, Gov. Wnshburn, and one or two
others, have right to determine who shall he
Senator +; and that If AIr. Washburn would
withdraw lis name, then the people of tho
state would have nothing else to do than re-
elect Mr.. Carpenter. This assumption is ILL.,
warranted in luw aud in fact. It is conceded
TINT, had the Stato election turned upon the
question Of re-e1ecting 1Tr. Carpenter, then
the Republicans would hive been overwheln,~
ingly defoated, and the Democrats would
have had ]argo majority Of tho Legislature.
1t is conceded that, lad not number Of
Legislative candidates pledged themselves
not to vote for N1r. Carpenter. the
Republicans would not have lad a
majority in tho Legislature. Therefore tho
party is in nowise committed to tho re4c1ec-
ton OF Mr.. Carpenter. Judge Howe argos
TINT the 1sages Of tho party demand Ca1pell-
ter's election for II second term Two yeurs
ngo tile usages Of tile party wcro u,gol III
favor Of Mn. Howo's election for third
term RHe NOV urged in Michigan for Chan
dlers election for fourth term, mud in Mime
for Ha,nlin's election Tor a ilftt term. When
do tho "nsases" Of tho party end in the
mattor Of recollection !? Is not tie propor
nnd only safe usage that the purity should
always SOLICIT tho best md least Objectionable
man ? How mhny votes would Wisconsin
giye to make tho Senatorinl term twelve years
Instead OF six ? and IL not the rcasou why
Senators aro chosen for short terms and not
for life that tie people. may havo chance to
get rid OF Senator when tho services of
bettor and safer man 1nay bo secured ?
Judge Howe's own record on tho salary-
g,nb question weakens Ills apology for Mr..
Carpenter. Judge Howe voted against TINT
grab four times end for 1t once Ho, how
ever, drew the money, both forward mud back
pny, and has kept it ever sincc. Ito did
not follow tic example set by SO na1y other
members, of returning tho money to the
Treasury ; ho seems to have boen convinced
by Mr.. Carpenters argument TINT Senators
were "compolled by tho Constitution to re-
ceivo the compensation and to keep it." Tho
people con understand TINT Judge Howe feels
sensitive on that subject, and that my cen
sure that may fall to Carpenter is equally ar,-
plicablo to himself. Tho suggestion TINT in
1916 MI. Washbnrn accepted MI increase of
pny, voted by Congress to members Of that
body, is not pertinent. The Congress Of 1873,
Oh tho last day Of tho last SESSION. increased
the compensation Of n,embcrs, and ,natlo
il retroactive, covering tho t'eo gears
that expired TINT dny. The inoreaso of
1866 WAS made at the first session Of the Con-.
gress, at tho earliest possible day ut which it
could bo done, and was retroactive only for
tho few woc}ss that l1ad elnpsea while tile Ap-
preparation bill was Under discussion aud It
really was no increnso of pay, for it only
changed tho 50 Il dny compensation into
salary Of $4,000 per annu1n, which is at
tho rate Of So per 1ey, and at tho san,o ti.no
aolno large and costly extras and rorquisites
were cut of. So that III fact tho money
| drawn from tho Treasury under tint bill was
considerably loHs tLnn under the old Inv.
There was, therefore, no gougo or steal In it,
nor VIVA it postponed until aftor tho elootiona,
al in 1879. Judge Howe himself hntl boon
ro-eleoted only few wooks before
he drow his s6,ooo baok pny, to
| which ho haa no moral or equitable right.
| Judge Howo's attompt to explain away thc
hnau.lnw fl h1sn yery wahlf TIn vnfed fnr Tint