The daily Cairo bulletin. (Cairo, Ill.) 1878-1???, 1880-06-11
THE DAILY CAIRO BULLETIN FRIDAY MORNING JUNE H. $780,

from the judiciary committee, Feb. z, 1873,
to double the pay Of the president and in
crease the salaries of the president
cabinet, speaker, justices of the supreme
court, and members of congress The
scheme had been thoroughly canvassed,
and only wanted favorable chance TO be
launched. Three days after Gen, Butler
moved to suspend the rules, SO as to attach
this bill as rider to the miscellaneous
appropriation bill then pending. 1t was
beaten by thirty-nine majority, which in
cluded some Of the strongest friends Of the
proposed plumber, who voted that way for
effect. The first fire was thus drawn, and
Butler knew where to plant his batteries.
The Legislative appropriation bill came
back to the house February a. loaded with
one hundred amendments. The natural
course was to have had them printed, so
that members might examine the new
items. But there was game to play, and
Garfield took the lead. By virtue OF his
Craftsmanship, he moved that the house re-
solve itself into committee of the whole on
the special order. Suspicion had been
awakened, and adjournments had been
voted down previously. Dawes was put in
the chair, and the door was opened for the
grab. Garfield had assured members that
the bill would not be called up that night,
and the house was thin except on the steal
ing side, which was in the secret Of Gar
fields treachery' A special vote was de-
handed on the Butler amendment, now
moved as rider" to the pending bill. 1t
was defeated by ffty-two majority, Butler
himself voting against it. But he immedi-
ately moved to reconsider and TO adjourn.
Nothing was now wanting to rivet the vote
| but refuse to adjourn, and then to clinch it
| by refusing to reconsider. The issue was
clear, but night IN the face Of the large
majority just recorded the house adjourned
by still larger majority, leaving the recon-
sheraton alive and kicking The next
| day Buffers motion to reconsider was first
in order and wien Farnsworth moved 10
lay it on the table and finish the business
majority Of thirty-nine answered in the neg
gative.
The next vote fixed the congressional
pay, and the bill, with this graft, was sent
to the senate, and thence to committee of
conference. On the last day Of the session
Garfield reported the bill back, doubling
the presidents salary from the 4th Of
March, instead Of the end of the fiscal
year. and raising the pay of congress from
5000 to $4,000, retroactively for two
years, with long catalogue of augmented
salaries for public officers He pretended
that there was danger of an extra session
unless the report was adopted and told the
house, ut may be an unwise expenditure
in some respects, but in most cases the in
crease il. proper and ought to be made" 1t
was finally driven through ty a majority
of six.
Garfed's connection with the Washing
ton ring is also well known 10 the country.
One of the most notorious Of the corrupt
contracts made by Boss Shepherd was that
awarded to De Golyer & Mcclellan OF Chi
cago, for laying wood pavement. This
contract covered two hundred thousand
yards at 50 so yard which the superin..
tendent of contractors swore could be put |
down at $3.50, every item of cost included |
So there Sas a clean profit of 100000 to |
be divided. To further this job, which |
was preliminary TO Others to follow, the
sum Of $4,000 was expended. II was
given out in the spring of 1872. At that
time Richard c. Parsons was marshal OF the
supreme court. and had converted that Of
fee into headquarters tor the lobby. He
was known TO be an intimate friend of Gar
field, and the ring wanted Garfield's aid as
chairman of the appropriations,
The agent Of the contractors employed
Parsons, with a fee of $4,000, as "coun-
sci" although there was no cause to argue,
no contest Of any kind, and no tribunal TO
appear before 1t was sham TO throw
dust in the eyes of the public. Parsons
paid Garfield $1,000 as his share July ~,
1872 for which he was forced to admit be.
fore the last investigation that he made no
argument, oral or written, had never ap
peared before the board of psblic works
and had only once spoken to Boss Shepherd
on the subject. That "fee" was bride
out and out, and nothing else, as was sub
seQuently shown. Garfield became the
agent OF the ring, and through his influence
and activity three millions and half of
dollars were voted to Boss Shepherd and
his confederates in less than sixty days be-
tween the 9Th of January and the Sd Of
March, 1878.
1t would be easy to continue this dis
creditable record, and to show that in al
most every instance Of venal legislation,
Garfeld's name is to be found on the side
of jobbery, stealing and fraud. These
facts can not be disputed, and they will
stand to his dishonor, whether he remains
in public life or goes into enforced exile.