Holmes County Republican. [volume] (Millersburg, Holmes Co., O. [Ohio]) 1870-1895, 1874-01-01
REMARKS OF THE HON. JAMES MON
ROE ON THE SALRAY QUESTION.

1 do not desire to take up the
time of the House, and shall not do
so to any great extent, because l
know how many gentlemen are
pressing for an opportunity to occu-
py the floor, and also know how
nearly the patience of the House
has become exhausted with this de-
bate.
desire to say only single word
in ex plantation of the vote l shall
give upon this measure My posi-
tion in regard to the salary bill is
this: believe that the true thing
for this House to do is to repeal, as
completely and thoroughly as it
possibly can consistently with the
Constitution of the United States,
the salary bill which was approved
on the Sd of March, 1873. That is
the object which 1 would like to ac-
complish with my vote, if 1 can do
so. 1 disapproved at that time en-
tirely of raising salaries; l so vot
ed, and 1 am of the same opinion
still. / wish to see that totally re-
pealed. l think it is the right
course and the course which will
best satisfy the country. Having
that feeling, that being my convic
ton, 1 desire so to vote, if possible,
as to make my vote effective tow
ard that end.
l discover that there is likely to
be some difficulty in our so voting
as exactly to represent our views;
and it Is for that reason that l felt
desirous for one moment in which
to state precisely my position and
the end which would accomplish.
1 honestly believe that it was wrong
for the Forty-second Congress to
raise salaries in The circumstances
in which we were then placed /
was opposed to forward pay" as it
is called; 1 am still opposed to them
both. l thought the action of Con-
gress on this subject was wrong,and
l also thought it great error as a
matter Of policy. Iwould be glad
to see the law of last session on
this subject wholly and utterly re-
pcaled. That is my feeling in re-
gard to this matter; and my vote
will be given with an honest desire
10 accomplish this end. / confess
that in spite of the numerous ex-
plantations we have had, my mind is
perfectly clear as to what will be
the most effective course of voting
to accomplish that end; but that,
with all the light l can get from all
these distinguished sources, is the
object 1 shall endeavor to accom-
plish.
! One word further and l shall set
down. In my opioion the way to
peace, quiet, and rest for this House
upon this question Of the salary bill
is to get rid of the whole of it. That
is my honest conviction. l believe
that the sooner we repeal the act
entirely, SO far as.it relates to this
question, the sooner we shall have
peace upon the subject. If we re
peal but part of it, 1 suspect we
shall feel q certain lingering tenden.
cy to go back to the subject, to in
troduce new bills, to see whether
we cannot finally and completely
abolish what in the beginning we
had repealed only in part. l fear
sir, if we do not make clean bust
ness of this matter at the very out
set, this measure will haunt us all
winter. This is an additional reas.
on why / wish to get rid of the
whole question; and l hope this
House will so vote. ! have made
this statement simply to satisfy my
own judgement and conscience in
regard to this matter, and to ex
plain the grounds upon which my
votes will be given.