The Valley Virginian. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1865-1895, 1876-04-27
The Veto Of the Presidential Salary Bill.

In the United States Senate, on tne 10Th, tho
following message was read from President
Grant vetong the BILL fixing the salary of the
President of the United States at $4,000:
TO the Senate ofthe United States :-iIre-.
with return Senate bill No. l72, entitled An
act fixing the salary Il the President of the
United States, - without my approval.
am constrained to this course from sense
OF duty to my SUCCESSORS in Office, to myself
and to what is due to the dignity OF the posi-
ton of chief magistrate of u nation OF more
than forty millions of people.
When the salary of the President OF the Uni
ted States was fixed by the CONSTITUTION at
$500 per annnm we We're - nation of but
three millions of people, poor from long and
exhaustive war, without commerce or manu- :
factories, with but few wants, and those cheap
ly supplied. The salary must then have .b.en
deemed small for the responsibilities and dig
nifty of the position, but jlstiliably so from the
impoverished condition of the treasury and the,
simplicity it was desired to cultivate i'll the re
public.
| The salary Of congressman under the consti-
tuition was first fixed at six dollars per day for
| the time actually i'll session, an average of
| about one hundred and twenty days to eacll
session, OF seven hundred and twenty dollars
per year, or less than thirtieth of the sal;,
| ~ of the President. tr
| OOnHFCSS nave tlpOu lilGll VII Sal
| aries from time to time since. until finally it
reached $1,000 per annum, or one-fifth that Of
| the President before the salary OF the la ter
was increased.
| No one having a knowledge of the cost of
| living at the national capital will contend that
the present salary of Congressman is too high,
| unless it IS the intention to make the Office one
entirely of honor. when the salary should be
| abolisled-a proposition repugnant to our re-
| publican ideas and institutions.
| do not believe the citizens of this republic
| desire their public servants to serve them With
out a fair compensation for their serviceS.-
| Twenty five thousand dollars does not defray
the expenses of the executive for one year, or
has not in my experience. 1t is not now ONE
fifth in value whatsit was when fixed by the
constitution in Supplying demands and wants.
| Having no personal interest in this matter.
have felt myself free to return this bill to the
House in which it originated. With my ohjec-
| tions, believing that i'll doing So | meet the
wishes and Judgment of the great majority Of
those who indirectly pay all the salaries and
Other expenses Of the government.
/! U. S. GRANT.
| Executive Mansion, April Is, 1876.
| ARREST OF ANOTHER PARTY FOR BURN
ING VIM. p. McCALL's BARN.-John Taylor.
who was convicted at the recent term of the
County Court OF Rockingham, OF burning tiis.
barn of William p. Mccall in Rockin slas
county, OF. the 9th OF last JANUARY, and sen
fenced to five years in the penitentialy, made
a confession to the officers Oh his way to Ricil-
mond, which according to the report i'll tic
] Commonwealth was Us follows:
He stated, in substance, that he was ntlncct!
to burn the barn by one Eliza Campbell, who
promised him fifty dollars and all the tobacco
and whisky he needed for two wears ~.
| On the night the barn was fired, january
! the 9th, Taylor was at Mrs. Canpbcll's house,
and was offered liquor, which llefdrank. Mrs.
Campbell, it seems, had gotten Ephrian Gar
ner to assist in the burning, also, and when
she proposed it to Taylor, he (raylor) refused
| to 60 Mrs. Campbell offered him more la
Tor, stating that she had gottenit for rim, and
in a short time Taylor became intoxicate,l.
lie and Garner then started Tor MtCal's to.
carry out the scheme of their instgator.
Torches had been previously prepared, and
when they arrived at McCaIl's they lit them,
Taylor putting his under u SIZED and Garner
applying his to straw stack, WhicI: WAS
against the barn."
| Garner was arrested on the Sth by Mr. Nc
Call, and after trial before Justice Rice OF
Bridgewater, was sent on for Indictment by
the grand jury.