The Weekly Kansas chief. [volume] (Troy, Kan.) 1872-1918, 1874-10-08
LETTRR rRom col. PHILLIPS.
His Action ON the SALARY Grab Law Fully
Explained.
HIAwATHA, Brown Co., KAN,
n.fAhar- - liza


October =, 1874.
EDITOR TINES Il was very much astonished
upon my return TO the State, to find my oppo-
nents charging, first, that voted for the salary
grab, and, secondly, that l voted against its re-
peal.
posterous that did not think any one would be-
lieye it. In nearly twenty votes l only missed
one vote, and all my votes were for the lowest
amounts and the most rigid repeal. Not only
did l vote in that way, but / made speech III
favor of repeal and reduction. (See page Ia,
Congressional Record.)
When the States were called on the first day
of last session, Hon. Eugene Hale, of Maine,
that State being the first called offered n bill fol-
simple repeal. Other bills were offered. Mr..
Hale, on the third day, moved that the bills on
this subject be referred to a special committee OF
i've, instead of going to the Committee ON Ap-
preparations. This made Mr.. Hale chairman OF
the committee. and gave him charge of the bill
On the Sth the report of the committee came
before the House. Ii was not repeal, but a
proposition to nix the amount at $1,000. The old
members generally objected to repeal. Those
who were opposed to the restoration of the frank
ing privilege objected to repeal. Those eastern
members, who got little mileage, were opposed
to the restoration of mileage. Most of the other
allowances, which brought nothing into the
members pocket, but went for public purposes,
were open to abuse. Aud thus, to get ont of the
difficulty, the majority of the committee report
ell $500.
While this was pending motion was made by
Mr.. kassOn to fix the amount at 5000 year,
without any allowances. For this voted. (See
page 246 Congressional Record.) Also to clinch
this vote by the motion to reconsider and lay on
the table. (See page 26S)
The bill thus amended coming up, Mr.. Hull
burt moved ~ a substitute for the bill, that the
salaries be $1,000. This substitute and my two
colleagues voted AGAINST. It is this vote for
which am Sn fishnnestlv erificisal fSea ,ra
25l) If had voted for $4,000 instead of 5000,
do not know what they would have said.
The Hubert amendment was adopted, hOwev-
er, the vote standing 131 to l29; 16 not voting.
As il was thus substituted, the vote came on the
question, 'shall the bill be engrossed and read a
third time ~ Pending this motion the Speaker
said, IF the House should negative that motion,
the bill is dead" (See page 2o6,) And he also
sad this is the real test vote this bill" (See
same page
On this voted aye. (See same page.)
At this stage MIR. Hnlburt moved the previous
question on the passage of the bill. An affirma-
tive vote ON this question would have shut the
door to any other, aud would have simply said
we prefer 5000 to another sum. Pending this
question Gen. Hawley, of Connecticut, friend
of rigid repeal, stated that he desired To have,
as new bill. the Hale bill, reported forthwith,
and desired that the matter be not thus closed
by the previons question. On the motion thus
To close at 5000 l voted no. as did Eugene Hale,
both the Hanleys, Lawrence, kasSOn, Holman,
Freeman and Roheris-all the most rigid repeal
ers. Could We have reached a vote on $500 We
could have carries, il. The motion to close pre-
vailed, however by the same vote the Hubert
amendment, Isl, see Congressional Record, page
200
The vote to pass not taken by yeas and
nays, but stood liz to "a. As this was the only
chance for repeal ut this stage. voted aye.
When the same bill came down from the Sen-
ate, it had tO be voted on, the Senate substitu
ted it. On the day il came down was in bed
from inflammation of the lungs one of the three
days l was detained by sickness. At my request
Lowe stated that | was absent, sick, but would
have voted "aye." This was the one out of some
twenty votes that l missed. (See Z. r., page
626.)
Now, if there is stronger record on the re-
peal, should like TO know it. Why the New
York Tribune should have misreprcsented me,
it is not for me to say. 1t is not the same Trib-
when il used to have a soul.
As for the actions of some defeated aspirants
and opposing candidates, in persisting in such
Misrepresentation when they have heard the
record read night after night, and still going
into a new meeting and repeating the stale lie,
can only account for it on the snppOsitiOn that
"a lie well told is equal to the truth"
am with respect, your ob't servant,
WM. A. PHILLIPS.