The Rutland daily globe. [volume] (Rutland, Vt.) 1873-1877, 1874-10-16

Our readers have noticed a resolution Ii
recting the committee of ways and means
of the house to inquire whether the back
pay RENTED by Senator Morrill, to the state
treasury, properly belongs there. 1t seems
to us, there can be no question on the
point. 1t will be remembered that Mr..
Morrill, took pains, in - published letter,
soon after the pay Was returned, to explain
his view Of the ease. 1t was, in substance.
That if eye.y member of congress were to
return hi pay, it would be fair enough
way to return it directly to the United
States Treasury; bnt that if but few should
return the money, it would be the most
equitable way to return ii to their immedi-
ate constituencies, which must be taxed to
make up all the back pay of the members
who pocketed the grab, and which would
get but an infinite sinai share of the small
amounts refunded to the United States
Treasury. There was obvious force in this
view of the case. At that time, however,
it was still uncertain how many would re-
fusd. The accounts can now be fully
made up. The facts embodied in the fol-
lowing statement of it comes to us from
United States Treasurer Spinner, and can
be relied upon as correct.
The retroactive law of congress increased
the annual pay of members So, 500, for two
years-less the mileage and stationery ac-
count. Seven democrats and nineteen re-
publicans of the United States senate re-
turned the amount or permitted it TO lapse
into the United States treasury. Fourteen
democrats and thirty-six republicans of the
house of representatives did the same thing
Senators representing nineteen states re-
turned nothing of their back pay, and
members of the house representing twenty
states returned nothing of their back pay
OF the members of the house from Massa-
chusetts, only one returned back ply.
New Hampshire and Missouri also each
had one member who returned back pay.
Three of the eleven members from Indiana
returned back pay. -Four of the nineteen
Ohio members returned back pay. Ten of
the thrty-one members from New York
returned back pay. Two of the twenty
four Pennsylvania members returned back
pay and five of the fourteen Illinois mem
bers. There were few others-including
one member from Massachusetts-who dis
tributed the amount for educational or
other purposes.
OF the seventy.four senator's twenty-slx
returned their back pay. OF the two hun
dred and fifty-two members and delegates
of the house only fifty returned back pay,
or about one.third of the senate and one
fifth of the house. No state in the south.
west and south, except Maryland, returned
anything.
Vermont, then, has paid her share OF
taxes for the back pay of forty seven sena
tors and 202 representatives and delegates
and if she accepts the $4,3S6 RENTED tt
the state treasurer by Mr.. Morrill,, sh'
will have made nothing out of the back pay
business.
But if that were otherwise, the fact
would remain that this was Mr.. Morrill,
money, legally his, to dispose of as hi
chose He chose to send it to his state
He probably cares very little what the STATE
does with the money; but the legislature
we think, would put itself in very poo
light if it should undertake to interfere will
his disposition of it, made as it was will
high and worthy motives, and with thu
purpose to put the money where it mos
equitably belongs. burlington Free Press