Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1879-02-27
Washington Correspondence.

economy are doing all in their power
to curtail the incomes of republican
Office holders while they are perfectly
willing TO expend unlimited amounts i
they can thereby advance the interests
Of the democratic party. One of the
smallest ways they do this is by reducing
the salaries Of portion Of the clerks
empioyed in the different departments
in this city from the rates that were
established by a democratic congress
in 1851, viz 1St class, $1,000; 2nd
class, 21,400; 81 class, $1,000; 4th
class, $500, to $4,000 per year.
The salaries established in 1854 have
never been increased although it is a
well known fact that it costs q clerk at
least one third more to live in Wash
ington to-day than it did in 1854
Members Of congress received in 1854
s. 90 per day, for each DAYS actual
attendance unon the session O. con-
gress, which would not average over
8, 009 year salary including mileage
but they raised their own salaries in
1856 to $4,000 year, and again in
1866 to $4,000 a year on the plea
that living in Washington was so OK
pensive. A congressman is not re.
quired to remain in Washington, on
an average, six months in the year,
while a person employed in the depart
mcnts is required TO remain the entire
year, and cannot pay his attention to
other branches of business as congress-
men can when not employed in trans
acting government business. Is it not
very small economy to reduce the saia-
ries Of clerks which were established
in 1851 and leave their own salaries
intact which have been raised twice
since the salaries Of clerks were estab-
lished? Look at the immense amount
the democracy have spent in inyestiga-
ton, being in hopes, by so doing that
they could advance the interests OF
their party, which has signally failed,
as about the only result Of their labors
has been to show the honesty of the
republican administrations, and to
show the determination Of Gov. Til
dens personal friends to purchase an
electoral vote in either Louisiana,
South Carolina or Florida, and that
they used cipher telegram to which
they have all lost the key and can't
remember what it is. Such lot OF
forgetful people ought to start another
knoWnothing party. Again, the dem
ocracy do not reduce the salaries of
those whom they employ, showing that
they do not care anything about true
economy, but are determined to reduce
the incomes of republicans if in their
power to do 50.
Yesterday was an exciting day in
the House Of Representatives. The
democrats are determined to engraft
upon an appropriation bill the repeal
of the law authorizing the appoint,
ment of United States supervisors and
deputy marshals to witness the election
of congressman in the different states
in the Union, which is strongly resist
ed by the republicans as being the
only protection which the republicans
Of the south have to exercise the cleo
tive franchise. Democrats claim that
the law is unconstitutional.
Hon. Chas. G.. Williams of Wiscon.
sin, made a short but comprehensive
argument showing its constitutionality
| can't serve your readers better thar
by quoting a portion Of his remarks
''In five minutes [ can only cite the
sources which in my Judgment gives it
constitutional validity beyond all cues.
ton. Section 4, article l, provides
The times, places, and manner Of
holding elections for Senators and
Representatives. shall be prescribed in
each state by the Legislature thereof
but the congress may at any time by
law make or alter such regulations ex-
cept as to the places of choosing sena-
tors.
Section 5 Of the same article pro-
vides that each House shall be the
judge Of the election returns, and
qualifications of its own members.
Section 4, article 5, provides that
the United States shall guarantee tc
every state republican form of gov.
eminent.
Article Il, known as the fourteenth
amendment provides that mo state
shall make or enforce any law which
shall abridge the privileges or immu
mites Of citizens of the United States;
nor deny to any PERSON
the equal protection of til,
IGao. And the further provision that