The Jasper weekly courier. [volume] (Jasper, Ind.) 1858-1922, 1874-04-17
From the Evansville Courier. 1
Mr.. NiblaciS on Back Pay.

few weeks since. very kindly commen-
ding me TO continued public favor. The
iolIies. mistakes and disgraceful disclo-
surcs of Tie past few wears have 80 inn
pressed the public mind as 10 create
what seems Ia be an almost indiscrimi-
nate dislrust of all public men.
A kind word, therefore. from any
source toward. one in my position, has
become rather rare exception 10 the
general rule, aud j. hence the more APP
prcciaied.
For the very kind terms in which YOU
have chosen 20 refer 10 me and TO my
public services, | tender You my sim
cere thanks.
With Ibis acknowledgement. | trust
you viii pardon me Tor referring once
more TO that inevitable .back pay" 10
which your article incidentally alludes.
You say very truly that there are II
great many who do not recognize tine
cohsisieHrN of nv position ON that
question. lut. Ihcn. pray tell mo in what
! j. NY Inconsistency manifested is II
Inconsistent 10 comply with and con-
form 10 tie provisions ot a law when
regularly and con>tiiitinnaly enacted
II Tie law had reduced our salaries
would We not have been expected. may.
absolutely required 10 conform To- il -
ln our government. rs / understand IL.
consistency" demands of a. thai we
shall subordinate our Interests and our
private Judgment 10 the expressed will
of The law making power. Nhy should
a different iulp be applied when salaries
happen 10 b. incroasell In all laws pre-
Viou>lN passed Increasing ~llarie>. either
state or ua iional. 40 different rule. TO
my knowledge. has ever been applied.
lhen Nhy make ihis last case an eNcep-
ton.
4 ~ to the law in question. | simply
availeh myself of lis provisions. just a. |
would have done ia regard TO any other
law on tie same subject. 80 long As il
rrmainel on the statute book: but hav-
ling been passed contrary TO my judy
rienf. as a matter of public policy, |
took rather an aciive part in getting il
repealed ~ The first opportunity that
wa- offered. Whatever else may he said
- 20 The course have pursued. am
to,ally unable 10 comprehend the in
consistency" of my position.
You expires. g. your own opinion HAT
] "niHte q .reai mistake ia taking the
mnnrv.' ~ Van mean by This lhnf have
ili.cd 90 comply mith what seems to
have heen ,,cinauaed by The temper OF
'le ,iuc~. then agree with you: bat IL
YOU ulnrau NOR" than this. then. " ith due
respect ib wiiat The n,St1lSe consist. |
ni4n have dcciiu,.l io iaAc the money.
laS some did. or might have Kept ii
.aW Wlilc aud given Il back when the storm
came. a, other. did. bat did not under
the circumstances feel called npnn to
throw back money a. a mere Individual
contribution. dill not feel my self either
rich or strong enough for That. While
| have not been allie 10 live without
some salary while devoting NY time To
public service. vet tho precise amount
which ] have from time to time been en-
titled ia receive. lnS ALWAYS been with
me secondary consideration. | have
tried 10 work a. faithfully when ! got
small pay a. when my pay was larger.
Ia earlier life served four years in n q
Indiana Legislature at three dollars per
dav Amin. served near four wears ~
Circuit Judge. with eleven counties in
my circuit. AZ one thousand dollaSr per
amum. | need not assure any wcll-in-
formed person at an actual pccnniary
loss.
, Then. since | have been in Congress
during several Of tle election years my
salary has NOT met all my expenses ]
z have uat on an average. even including
the back pnv." been able TO save what
. fuosi men would consider fair wages for
( one ia my position. aud Of my expert
.cnce OF business affairs. True, could
have squeezed along by close economy
without this increased pay. and in view
of the then existing condition Of public
g affairs. would havc preferred 20 have
} done 50; hut majority deci'rd that
we were All entitled 60 more money FOR
what we did aud had bad done. aud
accepted the decision OF the majority y
lust aS would have done in any other
!. case, and just as many Of the most cmi-
ncnt mcn OF the tincs had previously
r done. under similar circumstances. on
form r. occasions.
" have ALWAYS taken pride IN 'he hc-
liei Nat ] esteemed many thin more
than money. aud have dvs.fol to aui
on that theory. H. holtiolo. aus on,
: can hv temperate language and argu-
q mcnt. convince ne thnt nave made q
alseriou mistake in rhc course nave pur.
4 sued. | Will 'lkc il as an acl ~ real
il tlfi'cnlsl'p. aid will agree 10 make res
timtian oven vet whatever tho sacrifice
! inaN le rs mC ncrsoulllY. liz thai can
i moi he done ileN why longer keep uf
\ ine con'ioYcr-t
Tic quenr-i rlilrc conuccict Wit!
lthis " hole Nuck paw conir0versv \
AL IT.. ..tft .....