Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1874-02-25

session of Congress necessary to pass the bill by
ba'r majority. When last before the fiou-e the
subject had very lutte consideration, the want of
TIME "nd condition of the bill prevented any full
debate.
tuated somewhat by my own personal condition
and ideas. The old salary was sufficie TO- me.
But have no doubt that many Of those who voted
to increase it lett tina i was actually necessary
for them. I thought also that if there was a rea
necessitv for an increase. it was an inoppOrtune
time to make it Certain Investigations and develop
ments had created great excitement in the public
mind on the corruption In public officials and
for the time there was felt dstrust of every body
in Official position. But the bill became the law.
Tha portion Of it making the increase apply TO
the y--econd Congress was at once denounced
no objection made to the prospective increase.
| could not see the force of the discrimination ii
81 500 proper salary for the Forty Ihrd
Congress could not why II was not for ih''
Fort second. The service was the same, the eX-
pense Of living certainly a great C"ngress has the
same legal right to raise The pay a the end OF tnc
session $ The beginning. and the pTounety OF The
a. t depended wholly upon the amount hxed,wheth
il wa was not an unreal enable sum such
too had been the nvarlable practice OF Congress
and of all the State Legislatures, that an increase
of alarv always applied 10 the body making II.
Ii was objected to the ground that 1t was in the
nature OF Il contract between the Representative
and his c0nst tueniS that he would serve the term
for the salary it stood when he was elected.
regarded this view wholly unsound. II there Is
any sembance OF cont act liz 1t the contract Is that
the member Will serve iOI such compensation a.
{ Ougrcss shall determine. If Congress should
make 1t less h, should not complain; If they in
creased it he is enIit IT to the benefit of the in
crease. The apparent opposition at first seemed
wholly against the increase Of the salary Oh tnc
FoI ty-Thrd Congress the back pay rs 1t was
called. | could no foi ce III the reasons urged
ag;I st il that did cquy apply TO the prospec
tive increase and thel eoTe drew the increase
| did nv other pay. The public discussion soon
began TO go urlher, AMI 10 condemn the entire act
vii ch was the same ground had stood upon when
the act was passed | determine therefore, lor
mv>elf 10 await the action OF Congress. when the
| whole subject cou be de eiberatey examined and
| decided. he matter came before Cong e. at the
commencement of t Is session aud was debated and
roDsI,lcI ed with perhaps ecessary dehberati"n
he re- ulI was a to The old salary 10y very
lc, live majority uf buth Houses. |. with others
,lrl out utmost undo all the consequences of the
incr, use make every une now IN onSrcss " ho
al received money dcI 1t. account for It ON Is
present sil,y. But many gentlemen welc
| tr ubCd with Con>I ut onal sCTupleS about retro
ucirr action that they could not support me.
Hut WAS able why Il retroactive
inc, ea>e was any molc constitutional than retro
| active decrease. Mat view, however prevail ed
| ana each man left 10 act MS own Jusigmelt II
| ungre>s hah dccIued that 5000 Wa> the proper
! -alary Tor Tins and iulute Congresses l should
have Tel no ~ci uple about retaining the same ior
decIicd hat the old s;iaty OF 5000 the pIope'
| mlrt> IN retaining greater sum Tor til last AZ
! / SAID in fo Z, liIc st the same and
! ,hInk the I;tv should be the same. The same
| rril- on, IhCI eiore which induced me to receive
he nCi ease seems now TO prevent my properly re-
| IaInlng II.
am truly your obedien servant
| LUKE T.. POLAND.