The weekly Union times. [volume] (Union C.H., South Carolina) 1871-1894, 1880-09-03

REPUBLICAN EXTRAvAGANCE.
WASHINGTON, Aug.

REPUBLICAN EXTRAvAGANCE.
WASHINGTON, Aug. 8, 1880.
The Republican party has been wont &c
aceNss tbe -Dsns0ofats-s Rt1ss- iSs -noslo n
adding enormously to the public burden
and vaunts itself upon its economy in public
expenditures An investigation of the
claims Of the Republican party may be OF
some interest as well as surprise to some Of
your readers
The war burlcncd tic country with an
enormous public debt and 4 sricvous system
of taxation. These matters demanded at
the hands of faithful representatives in Con.
Sress, rigid and effective system of reforu,
and retrenchment in the public expendi.
ture. With this immense debt overhang
ing us and burden of taxation that it was
almost impossible to pay, the Republican
party having the Executive, and control of
both Houses Of Congress on the Sd of March
1873, the act commonly known us the ''sal
ary grab" was passed, the same being re-.
ported by General Garfield, then chairman
OF tho committee on appropriations. BY
this measure the salary of the President
was increased from $4,000 to $4,000
per annum. Cabinet officers to $4,000 !,
year. Chief Justice Of the Supreme Court
to $4,000, aud the niue Associate Judges
to $4,000 year each, the salary of the
Speaker Of the House of Representatives to
$4,000, and that of each Senator and
member of the House to 81, 7,5OO-this upon
the 3d day of March 1873. Whom Con.
gress was just expiring, the members Of
which had already served their two years,
at fixed salary of $1,000 year, this
act was made retroactive, and gave to each
member of Congress $4,000 extra for the
two years just served in addition to the
$4,000 stated salary. The unjust and un-
warranted measure WAS enacted when the
nation was grooming under an already euor.
nous burden. The amount of this salary
grab can be summed up as follows:
$4,000 additional to 366 members
OF Congress, -. $500 900
Addition to President salary, s25 900
Addition to the Judges ol Su-
premc Court, s1S.5OO
Addition to Cabinet officers, Sl4,OUO
Making total Of these salaries 1887 900
Besides this the salaries of ali the employ
ees Of the House and Senate were increased
50 as to aggregate 100000. SO that the
increase in salaries made in 1871 and 1873
amounted in round numbers to S2,OO0,O 900.
The compensation of tho Senators and
Representatives in Congress was formerly
fixed ut $500 per day and mileage In
1857 it was made $4,000 year and mile
age. In 1866. both Houses and the Ex-
ecutive being Republican. the compeusa.
tion OF Senators aud members was increased
to $4,000 year and mileage. In 1873
the compensation was raised to 81 800 a
year and mileage, but in 1874 it was res.
torcd to $4,000, but only done so to ap.
peasc the howl Of their tax ridden constitu-
ents. For many years the salary of the
Judges Of the Supreme Court was 81 500,
and the chief Justice $4,000 per year In
1867 this was Increased to $4,000 and Sc
500. In 1871 to $4,000 and $500, and
at the same time nine Circuit Judgeships
were created at a salary of$6,OOO each,
aggregating $4,000. The salary of the
President was increased to $50 900, per year,
just at the expiration of Grants first term,
giving him the benefit of the increase on
both terms of 100000 in all. In the
meanwhile the expenses of the Executive
Mansion under Republican rule from
more nominal sum run to S75 1000 a year.
and one year of Grants administration they
reached $4,000. This IS Republican dhp-
omy with a yengence. The Preside \
once cost the country slZo, ,Uuv year
This together with the large donation. and
subsidies received by the Presidential Chair,
in financial point of view, an enviabe
one. Not only have tho expenses Of our
government been greatly enlarged under
Republican rule, but what is still worse
the pure and elevated bearing and patriot
ism that has formerly surrounded the Exc
cutive Chair has given away to greed, fraud,
vice and violence.
The above is but one Of the many expcn-
sive luxuries of a Republican administra-
tion.-CoRDwAINER, IN Iictens Sentinel.
-----.'o
PoTATo FLoUR.-Po.ato -four, or the
dried pulp of the potato, is attaining great
importance in the arts. It is stated that in
Lancashire, England, 10000 tons of it are
sold annually. and it brings at present in
Liverpool about double as much in the mar.
ket us wheat -four. 1t is used for sizing
and other manufacturing purposes, and
when prccipitated with acid is turned into
starch. When calcined it is employed as a
dressing for siltw~ ~~Ese q
The Keokuk Gate CITY wishes to know
if q retired baggage master can be appropri
ately referred to as the company's ex-
checker.