Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1876-03-30
From the Boston journal.
DEMOCRATIC ECONOMY.

From the Boston journal.
DEMOCRATIC ECONOKY.
The gross unfairness of the plan OF the
House Democrats to reduce all salaries
ten per cent has been clearly set forth in
our Washington specials in addition to the
timely remarks of Mr.. Blaine on the floor,
but the matter should not be allowed to
escape public attention. Twenty-Five
years ago the salaries of the four classes
of clerks in the departments were fixed at
certain figures, the country then being on
gold basis and the general cost OF living
being so much less than it is now as to
form an oasis in the recollection of every
man whose experience goes back to that
date. The pay Of Congressman was then
also fixed on corresponding scale at
$4,000 per annum, which gave rise to no
complaints that it was not sufficient.
Since that time the Congressional pay has
been more than doubled, but under sharp
public remonstrance, finally fixed at
$4,000, or sixty per cent. in advance of the
clerks unchanged pay since 1854. Now
it is proposed to strike off ten per cent.
from the salaries of Congressman and
clerks alike, as if that were the perfectly
fair and equitable thing to do. The poor
clerk, whose pay is not worth, as to its
purchasing power, much more than one
hall of what it was twenty-five years ago,
is to have it still farther docked of ten per
cent. in order to equalize his condition
with that of Congressman who have in the
meantime jumped up their salary sixty
per cent And this is what they call
Democratic economy, which is expected
to make political capital among intelIi-
gent, sensible people!
1t is by no such narrow minded, one
sided exhibitions that the Democracy have
signalized their control of the House, and
exposed their utter unfitness, aside from
their reprchensible principles, to take
charge of the Government of this country.
to invest all the proceedings of the House
with partisan air, which has too often
lowered the tone of the debates on both
sides.
Thus, it appears to us that there was no
sense in moving that the pay of Congress
men should be reduced to $2700, except
for the strategic purpose of showing what
an impartial redu ton would be on the
basis of the salaries of 1854. Nor do we
quite agree with the position of one or two
Republican members, that it is beneath
the dignity of the House to be discussing
its own pay. 1t depends upon the charac-
ter of the discussion, whether it evidences
an honorable and Just spirit. The subject
is confded by law to the members, and
there is no reason why they should not
treat it like everything else within their
jursdi ton. The true course, however,
is to meet every question on its own mer
its. Economy, retrenchment is exceed
ingly desirable, but in some places it can
be applied by reduction of salaries and
in some it cannot, without gross injustice.
1t is a lazy way Of Jumping al sorts of
unequal conditions together and then lop-
ping off the same amount from each. That
really aggravates inequalities, instead of
bringing things to a level, and such legis-
ation will only create mischief hereafter
in the shape OF deficiency bills, more tink-
ering with salaries, and possibly defalca-
tons and leakages of one kind and an
other 1t is time for the House democrats
tie do better, or else to stop trying to do
anything and adjourn.