The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1876-05-25
Congress and its Paw.

| question of it's pay. II comes up every
now and then, although certain gentlemen
In the House shy they consider it out
of place for members to be "squab-
bling over their pay" On the con-
tinry, we think it a very proper thing
to debate seriously q question which
has within n few years been the ubject of
so much scandal. No such debate sho,,,i
| be termed squabble, A dsgraceful
fraud was practsed in the well-known
backpay scheme, by which members
plundered the Trt asurv, and by which Gen.
GRANT got his salary doubled; and no
rest should be given to the wicked until
this rascality shall be fully and finally
righted IN all its parts and relationships.
Considering the course pursued by Con-
gress In this back-salary grab, II is
highly important that some rule or princi-
pie shall be laid down that will prevent
such proceedings hereafter We have no
! faith IN leaving Congress to establish
,,s own compensation. Sudden sp"sms
of economy, which are merely taken
on while the whole country is aroused
aud watching, cannot be relied on
"a n barrier against future robberies,
such rs was witnessed I'm tho back
salary grab. The moment the transaction
has gone out Of active remembrance,
we may see IL repeated. We do not there
fore care any thing about the proposed
reduction Of $500 on the present 5000
salary OF members, In comparison with
the right disposition OF the question how
Congrcssmen's salaries shall be- treated IN
the future.
Men actuated by just principles cannot
hesitate a moment on the properties of
this case. Congress fixes the salaries Of
the who-e public service, civil AMI mill
tiiry, including those of its own members.
But everybody must see, on reflection,
how intrinsicallv improper this is.
No man In public life should be
allowed to vote on the question Of
his own salary. What should we
think of proposition to leave to the
officers of the army to say what their pay
should be? And yet are they not rs re-
spectacle body OF men, taken together,
as the members of Congressi Would tho
project be for an instant listened to, to al
low even that grave and honorable body,
the Judges OF the Supreme Court, to fix
| their own salurlesI
1t might be supposed that popular oon-
troll would be sufficient to insure n re-
straint upon the action of Congress. Butt
comes too late. At the time of the back
salary gran, the members who passed the act
were out of the reach OF their constituents,
because they had just been dropped in the
elections. There was thus no active re-
straint on them whatever. Their careers
had been brief. and were now over. what
was done then we may presume will be
done again under the same temptation.
If the way is left open. The only thing
is to shut il up.
Let tho members then keep their f5,0 900
salary, on condition that they now cstab-
lish and promulgate new principle aud
practice as TO the manner OF fixing Con-
gressmcns salaries hereafter. Let II be
settled, in the law or the Constitution. that
no law hereafter passed raising salaries OF
members of Congress shall apply to the
salary of any man belonging TO the Con-
gress which passes such law. We would
incapacltate every member from being Pc
cuniarily benefited by ms own vote. If
at any time hereafter 1t should be thought
by Congress wise ard proper to increase
the pay Of future Congressman, let 1t be
done; but let no man be allowed to profit
by his own vote. This is only just, right.
eous, and prudent
"Thou wilt not tell what thou dost not know.
And 30 far Will trust thee, gentle KATE"
Just so far would we trust Congress
and no further. The peculiar construction
OF our national Legislature, and the rapid
changes of its membership, prevent the ex-
erclse of popular control over such an act
as we are considering; and our experience
shows there is no restraint in the iudivid-
ual character of members. AT tho close
OF their term of service they may fold
their tents like the Arabs, aud silently
steal away, taking all they can convenient.
ly lay their hands on. This is what Con-
gress has done in the past, and why should
we suppose that il will not be done in the
future, unless some barrier is raised against
it1 We think, therefore, the public would
cheerfully compromise this matter with
Congress, by agreeing that its members
should continue to retain their present
5000 per annum, II they will only
put up the bars so as to prevent any
more back-salary grabs, and prevent them
selves and future Congresses from making
any more sudden dives into the Treasury
under the plea of inadequate compensation
for their services.
We think the present time peculiarly
favorable to put measure of this sor
through Congress, and We trust an effor
Will be made to do 1t. We do not see an,
reason why even back-salary grabber
= should oppose it, for an enforced econom.
OF expenditure has got to be the rule 70
many years to come, both in Congress au'
out Of 1t. The merit OF the proposal AM
of passing the measure may therefore b.
= cheaply bought.
The typical American girl represents us nc
where. She II Of those unpciuresque and common
place people born TO be the confusion VI artlstsu
| GouLfs Ht0HHe.
r You are all wrong there. young editor. tn
. prettest girls In the world inhabit our Center
NAL land. IL they confuse painters, II is be