, 1874-01-05
TIE CoUNTRY-PREss AND THE SALARY
GRAZ.

Congress reassembles to-day. but will not
probably have quorum bofore the middle OF
the week. We shall then learn whether the re-
cess, and the personal contact Of the members
with their constituents. has admitted any Light
to the darkened understandings OF the two
Houses in respect OF the salary-grab and the
public expenditures. Before the Adjournment,
both Representatives and Senators needed to have
their heads bored for the simplcs. They seemed
to fancy that because the party carried certain
e,are misdemeanors through tho last Prcsidon-
tial o!ectiou, and secured very large majority,
they could face frowniug world with the same
security for all time to como. Hence they spent
SIX weeks, for the most pa-t, in tue display OF
buffoonery over tho salarY-grab, and finally at
tempted to compromise with the public on the
basis Of $4,000 per annun and travelling ex-
penses for themselves, leaving the other Salaries
including that Of the President, as they were in
tie grab bill.
The most important indication Of settled
purpose in the public mind to have the Salary
bill repealed in its whole length and breadth,
without any exceptions aud the pay OF Congress
mon put back to it's old status, is shown in the
tone Of tho country press, the weekly news
papers Of the rural districts. Accustomed to see
these small organs enthusiastically ratify overy-
thing done at Washington, or at least everything
done with any approach to unanimity, we havo
been surprised to witness the rattling fire they
hnye kept up on the subject of the ealary grab.
Here ia Al average shot from ono OF the faith-
full:
From, The Falparatso {Frsd.) Tjdette.
When Congress again assemblies its members will do
well to consider the unpleasant fIct that the country
has lost confidence In the honesty and integrity Of lts
MEMBERS and under the pnchug pressure Of the hard
tines want to clear evidence Of unsesE devotion
on the part Of their representatives to the public vel
fare Cut down expenses with m unsparing hand.
Lop OF every useless expense, repeal the s1ary bill
including thetncrease Of the Presidents aalary, al
though such repeal Us 70 him cannot he enforced by
law for the peopIc rant to khow schether Gen. Grant
hnasef Till take the money after the idu il repealed
Congress Ia trial before the country, and the issue
to be decided is are they honest OF will they steal
There Is Of semposzing, the issue Is made up
and the verdict will be according to the action OF the
members OF Congress this winter.
There Is In Disgusting the fact TINT the action OF
Congress prior to the holidays full Of the most dis
gusng bypocritical preense Of reform that did not
result in any reform ut a and, II continued IN the
same manner, there viii he but ono voice among tho
people, and that voice will demand III immediate and
unconditional reconstruction Of every branch Of the
Government
Let him that thinketh he standeth take heed
lest he fail! When the newspapers Of the rural
districts, the holders OF little post-odces and Of
county printing, who cannot offend tbs party
masnatos for any light aud transient causes, de-
clare, as mes: Of them do. that tho people want
to put Gen. Grant himself to the test and see
whether he will sign or veto bill repeating the
grab-law, and whether he will attempt to draw
$4,000 per year after the bill is repealed, 1t ia
safe to assume that the people ara making the
fire which produces the smoke. We Rhall soon
sec whether Congress has the nerve to repeal
the bill outright OF whether that job is to be
turned over to the voters in the next fall e1ec-
tons,