Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1880-07-15
with nerve enough and force


end of the session. The next time we
have Congress we had better see II we
cannot get a msn who will get his bills
through" Suppose | had answered.;
There was that salary increase That
won't do. You had shown your hand on
the salary question; you had protested
sgainst it, and you had done your duty"
Then they would have SAID there were
six or seven sections In the bill empower
ing the United States 10 bring the rail.
roads before the Court and make them
account for their extravaganza They
would have SAID We have lost ali that
by the loss OF this biil.' And | would
have been charged with acting in the in
terest of railroad corporations, and fight.
ing to kill the bill tor that reason But
be that AS it may, fellow citizens, | con.
sidered the two alternatives SIS well AS |
could | believed it would raise storm
OF indignation and ill.feeling throughout
the country II that Increase OF salary
passed. | believed it would result in
greater evils II the whole failed aud an
extra session came on. For little while
| was tempted To do what would rather
be pleasing than what would be best IN
the long run. | believed that il required
more courage 10 vote as | voted than 1t
would to have voted the other way, but
resolved 10 do what seemed TO me right
in the case, let the consequences De what
they would, Applause | may have
made mistake in judgment; | blame no
one for thinking so; bat | did what
thought was the least bad OF two courses
My subsequent conduct was consistent
with my action on the bill
| do not myself parade the fact, but
more than a yesr ago the New York
World published list, stating, in chrono-
logical order, the Senators and Represen-
tatives who covered their back pay into
the Treasury. My name was fret on the
list. Applause
I appeal to the sense of justice of this
people whether they will tolerate this sort
of political warfare. 1t has been proved
again and again that | never drew back
pay, never saw dollar OF 1t, and took no
action in reference to it, except to sign an
order on the Sergeant alarms to cover 1t
into the General Treasury, and this was
done before the Convention at Warren. |
say more: Some of these men who have
been so long publishing me have known
these facts for many months. During the
stormy times of the salary excitement,
citizen of this county wrote letter To q
prominent official In the Treasury OF the
Unite d States, wanting 30 know whether
Mr.. Garfield drew his pay or not and re-
ceived a very full and clrcumstantlal re-
ply, stating the facts. That letter Is in
this town, | suppose, today, but those
who have had possession OF 1t have been
careful never to show it, | have a copy
of it here, and if these men continue
lying | will print it one Of these days.
Sensation and great applause. Cries OF
Let us have that letter read now, General
Garfield | will not give the name OF
the party. The name have not to whom
ii is addressed.
The audience here absolutely insisted
on having the letter read, some demand
ing the name, and all positively refusing
to allow the speaker to proceed without
reading the letter in justice to himself and
for the information of the audience
"TREAS pr DprAurr.sn,tr,
WASHINGTON, June g. 1873.
"DEAR SIR:-Yonr letter, written early In May,
was forwarded to me at Youngstown, where IT
could not he answered for want Of accurate data
When about to return TO Washington, | searched
for that letter, but could not find IT. My recollec
ton of Its contents Is, that You inquired as TO the
payment into the Treasury by General GARFIELD Of
the additional compensation due him mem.
her OF the Forty second Congress, under the pro-
visions OF the General Appropriation act Of
March 3 1873.
THE additional compensation due Gen. Gar
field was drawn by Mr.. Ordway, Serheant-s alarms
OF the House OF Representatives, and by him
paid mo the Treasury as miscellaneous revenue
receipt. The money was drawn BY MIR. Ordwsy
on the order OF Gen Garfield. The practice OF
the Sergeant at Arms Ia to take receipts from
members in ank, In anticipation of the dates
at which they are to become due, and TO pay their
check on him by drawing the money from he
Treasury on those receipts In this way he IL in
a measure the bankers OF the members Gen.
teld hat Euch at
month, at the beginning Of the month, one OF
which was filled mp by Mr.. Ordwav and presented
to the Treasury. At that time, | believe Gen.
Garfield was out OF the city, but happeued to
know that soon as the 22d day OF March, this
order was delivered to Mr.. UIdvay--if he had not
drawn any money from the Treasury on hip &C
count, to close the account without drawing it,
and II he had drawn II, 10 return 1t. Mr.. Ordway
then informed him that II was necessary for him
TO sign special order on the Treasurer, II he
wished II drawn out and covered in, otherwise
Mr. Garfield could draw It any time wi hin two
years; whereupon Mr.. Gsrneld drew an order for
S4,5iS, payable 10 the order of Mr.. Ordwsy, to be
by him covered into the Treasury. This was pre-
scented to The Treasurer, and the money turned
over from the appropriation account to the gen
era account so that no portion OF IT ever left the
Treasury at all. 1t WAS simply a transfer from
the appropriation account to the general funds OF
the Trea- Jury.
"ROBERT n. TAYLOR"
Q-What was the date of the adjourn.
ment OF Congress?
Gen Garfield Congress adjourned on
the 3D. Of March.
Gen Gsrfeld--The 22i day OF March
was TIE date of my letter.
A voice-Give US some of the De Col.
yer matter.
Gen Gartield--We will take eacn par.
ticular thing at the proper time and place.
A note is handed to me which | will
speak OF in this connection. It Is that
During the debate Mr.. Garfield answered