The daily Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1873-1877, 1874-01-06

,harn. and members knew the risk they
ran. even for proposition which might
he considered reasonable, considering tne
growth and development of the country
between 1916 and 1856. Still the Dill was
carried through the House OF Represehta1
tiyes by barely one vote-l0O yeas 10 80
nays u n
fen wears after, i'm 1866, when the tie
nuhEcans had overwhelming maJorltles IN
both houses of Congress, they raised the
nav m 81. 600 year. The rebellion was
over and the people submitted in silence
of relief from still greater burdens.
Then came the outrage OF last year,
,vb;cb was passed by corrupt combina-
,;on of which the doubling of the Presi-
dent's nav was the corner stone. The facts
are sufficiently well known not to need
Tenetition. On the lst of March the House
backed down from the position which it
had assumed the previous night, and open
ed the door for the passage of Buffers
amendment fixing the pay at $4,000, which
was intended to lay the foundation of the
iniquity that was subsequently adopted by
the conference committee, and Is now a
law.
When the pinch came on the record,
there was much futtering among the
friends Of the grab, who were most anxious
for its passage, and yet fearful Of the re-
sponsibility. On the great test t.oO Uotes
would have turned the scale, for the record
stood-yeas, 100; nays 81.
This experience was repeated in the
sham known as the Hurlbut substitute,
which passed the House before the holi-
days, and which increases the old pay ST.
600 year, without touching any of the
multitude of officials whose pay was exor.
bitantly increased IN the salary-steal act OF
March 3, 1873.
That was carried through by one cote
yeas 1871 nays 130-in a House where the
Republicans have one hundred clear ma
ority over and above all the elements of
opposition when combined, without count
ing the contested seats. The political re-
sponsibllity is thus settled, just as it was
in the last House, no matter what course
individual members on either side may
have thought proper to pursue.
1t appears from this record that one vote
determined the fate Of the bill by which
the per diem system was renowned and
the salary of $4,000 was fixed in 1856
that change of two votes only would have
defeated the grab on the first of March
last and that one vote passed the Hurlhut
scheme on the 18th of December. Four
votes have thus in three different Con
crosses, turned the scale upon a question
not only of Importance in itself, but in re,
gard to which the public mind has always
exhibited the keenest sensibility.
! Every indication thus far iustifies the
belief that the present Congress is even
more venal than the last, if that be posi-
BILE. The House was elected upon the
strength of panic created by the Treas
ury at Washington, now come to grief,
and certain financiers of Wall street who
have since turned bankrupts, in order to
defeat Horace Greeley, and to prevent the
possibility of reform. Chosen by this de-
ception, and knowing that their doom is
settled by the reaction which is every day
expanding in power, they have no interest
in policy which aims to correct abuses or
to curtail their prospective profits. Their
game is extravaganza, large appropria-
tons, and augmented expenditures. And
this will be seen whenever the opportunity
is offered, and especially in the closing
days of the session, when few daring and
INSCRIPTIONS leaders can exercise so much
control over legislation. They are biding
their time and preparing for the assault on
the Treasury.
The recent debate on the salary bill and
the votes disclosed the real character Of
the majority just as plainly as if '.jobber'
was branded upon every forehead AnC
it was noticed that the S)-called repealer>
who shouted loudest and affected mos
virtue, were exactly the individuals whose
pockets were stuffed with back pay The
leader of the House, Mr.. Dawes whC
pirates about economy, and who turns W
the whites Of his eyes in holy horror at the
growingwast fthe public service, appeared
in his seat on the first Monday in Deem
Der with $lO,625 in his wallet for which
he had not rendered one hour of service
$1,000 for back pay and $5,625 for salary
from the 4th of March, or for nine months
before being sworn in.