The Hartford herald. [volume] (Hartford, Ky.) 1875-1926, 1876-04-19

OF the Treasurer, tor gross careless
ness, or something worse, in aVO'Cing
a fraudulent claim. For some time
past, Rutherford has been engaged in
setting up the pins" for his Mercurial
Highness, the Senator from Ind.>
ana, in order that the later may OBJ
tain the vote of the Southern delegates
to the Cincinnati convention. 1t
does not appear, from Rutherford's
letter, that he writes in behalf of any
body but himself. 1t simply states
that he, Gen. r., would be pleased if
the Senator would consent to deliver
the Grafton on Decoration Day, but
omits to mention that anyone else but
himself has expressed the same desire.
1t is almost unnecessary to say that
the invitation was eagerly accepted,
and that the Presidential aspirant
from Indiana will deliver such an ora
ton as will be calculated to intensity
the affection which he imagines is
borne him by the colOred people of the
South. He will never have better
opportunity to air his famous blood-be-
smeared under garment than at Viii
mington, on the Both prox.i and it is
safe to predict that he will improve it.
ABsENTEEIsM IN CONGRESS.
An inspection of the various votes
taken in Congress shows that, usually
at least, One-third of the Representa-
tives and Senators are absent from
their seats. There are 292 members
of the House when every Congress,
sional district is represented; which
is not the case at present, since several
vacancies caused by death remain I'M
filled. 1t is safe to say, however, that
at least 2SO out of292 Representatives
ought to be in their seats, prepared
to vote on every measure before the
House. The votes seldom aggregate
over 900; leaving 60 absent or not
voting. In the Senate, a few days
since, the vote on Senator MOrton's
bill to regulate the counting of the
vote for President and ViceSPresident
aggregated only So; fifteen members
being absent, or not voting. On the
resolution to admit Pmchback to seat
in the Senate, only 81 Senators voted;
showing the number of absentees to be
u. Again, only 46 Senators recorded
their votes on the bill
REDUCING THE SALARY OF THE PREsI-
after March 4 next; twenty-seven being
absent, or preferring not to vote. On
Monday last, the Senate refused to
consider its previous action, the vote
standing, yeas %, nays 81; so that
now the bill goes to the House, which
will undoubtedly pass it. The matter
was not made party question by the
Senate. Senator Thurman voted in
favor of the reduction, while Senator
Bayard voted against it. When, sub
sequcntly, an acquaintance alluded to
his vote, Senator Bayard said: when
the bill increasing the Presidents
salary WAS before the Senate, several
years ago, | voted for it, honestly be-
lieving that $4,000 was inadequate
to social requirements of the position.
Since then, l have not changed my
opinion; subsequently, 1 voted against
reduction" There is nothing of the
demagogue about Mr.. Bayard; and,
when it is remembered that he is a
possible candidate for the Presidency,
his action will appear all the more
praisewOrthy, as the honest conviction
of an honest man. And, by the way,
speaking of Mr.. Bayard, who is always
calm and unimpassiOned in his utter
ances, and who is studiously careful
not to give an affront to his brother
Senators, it was something of sur
prise to his friends, when, goaded on
by "Hole-in-the-sky" Boutwell,, or "the
Groton grocer" as he is sometimes
called, the hot blood of indignation
mounted to his face, and he hurled
back, as wickedly false, the imputa-
ton that he had ever, in thought or
deed, been untrue to his county,
Under the circumstances, however, his
indignation was wholly justifiable, and
was so regarded by the thronged gal.
leries, which loudly applauded his
response to the Massachusetts, Senator