Daily Los Angeles herald. [microfilm reel] (Los Angeles [Calif.]) 1876-1884, 1880-07-21
When and Why Mr.. Garfield Re-
turned His Back Fay.

BY several esteemed friends, Re-
publicans and Democrats, we have
been asked to examine the circum-
ces under which Mr.. Garfield COW
ersd into the Treasury the amount
of his back pay soon after the sal
airy grab OF March, 1878
Mr.. Garfield's share of the spells
Of that EN- beZzlement amounted to
S4 54S. Although he had been
more responsible than any other
Congressman for the passage of the
retroactive act, as the Sun has
shown by review of his course at
at the time, and although the
money thus shamefully gained
came into his possession, it is true
that he did not keep it long. While
secretly conniving at the grab, and
using his position as Chairman on
Appropriations to defeat all oppo-
sition to the scheme, he bad pre-.
tended to regard the proposed steal
with adherence. After he dis
gorged, he pretended that the act
of restoration was vistuous one,
inspired by conscientious motives.
We take it for granted, therefore,
that the points upon which our
correspondents desire to be enlight-
ened are these: When did Mr.. Ger.
field refund the S4,54S of-plunder,
and why did he refund it?
| 1t has been variously claimed by
Mr.. Garfield's friends that he was
1.-THE first to cover his back pay
into the Treasury" that he was
"the fourth" 1.-THE SIXTH" and
"among the EARLIEST" and, also,
that "from motives of delicacy to
others who had not followed his
example, he refused to permit his
friends to publish the fact until
some weeks after" In a speech
delivered by Mr.. Garfield at War
rem, Ohio, in 1874, he endeavored
to give the impression that he had
been the first to refund, without
making himself responsible for the
assertion. He said to his constit-
uents:
81 do not myself parade the fact, but
more than year ago the New York
World published list. stating in chro-
biological order the Senators and Repre-
sentatives who covered their back pay
into the Treasury. My name was first
on the list"
A few weeks ago a gentleman of
Iowa sought information OF the
Treasury Department ia regard to
the exact date OF Mr.. Garfield's act
of conscience. He received from
Assistant Treasurer Upton the fol.
lowing reply, which has been pub.
lished in many newspapers:
"TREAsURY DEPARTMENT.,
"OFFICE OF THE SECRETARY,
"WAsHINGToN N, June 90, 1880.
"H. DUsEY. Esq, East Des Moines. Iowa:
''sIR: In reply to your letter of the 18th
inst, asking to be informed at what
date the Hon. Jas. A. Garfield paid int
the Treasury his back pay, and how the
Treasury books show this transaction,
have to in form YOU that 1t appears from
the records of this office that the sum of
S4548 was deposited to the credit of the
Treasurer OF the United states in the
name of James A. GARFIELD on account of
retroactive increase OF salary on the
I'D oil April. 1873, and that this amount
was covered into the Treasury by mis-
cellaneous covering warrant No. 704, sec.
ond quarter, 1873, and cannot be with
drawn, except by act Of Congress.
VERY respectfully, j. n. UPTON,
Assistant Secretary"
The Forty-second Congress came
to an end March 4, 1873, voting il.
self in its last hours nearly two
million dollars Of back pay. Mr..
Gar6eld's conscience operated in
the 22d day of April, &C.
cording to most of the printed YER
sions OF Mr.. Upton's letter to Mr..
Dusey, or on the 81 of April, if the |
New York Tribune accurately |
prints that letter. We have not /
seen tie original of the Upton let
ter. Let us assume that the date
was April 2, instead OF April 20.
During the four weeks between
the date on which Mr.. Garfield
came into possession of his $4.54S
and April 2, the earliest day al
legged to be the date Of his refund
log that sum, the country had be-
,ome thoroughly awake as to the
Infamous character of the salary
grab. Never did a disgraceful act
,ring speedIer retribution upon ito,
'eTpetr4t6rs. In twenty-four