Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1880-07-23
THE SALARY GRAB.
How Garfield Figured in
That Plumber.
FnAm the New York SIM.

AN" wy NV NFh NNu1N
BY several esteemed friends, rcpuhli-
cans and democrats, we have been ask
cd 10 examine the circumstances under
which Mr. Garfield covered into the
treasury the amount Of his back pay
soon after the salary grab OF March,
1873.
MIR, Garticld'S share of the Spoil> of
that cmbczzlement amounted to S4,54S.
Although he had been more RESPONSE
BILE than any other congressman for the
passage of the retrospective act, IA the
Sun has shown by review of his
course at the time, and although the
money thus shamcfully gained came
into his possession. il is true that he did
not keepit long. While secretly con-
niving Mt the grab, and using his peSi-
sitiou rs chairman ON appropriations 10
defeat all opposition to the scheme, he
had pretended to regard the proposed
steal with adherence. After he dis
gorgcd, he pretended that the act Of
restoration was Il Nirtuous one. iu-
Spired by conscientious motives.
We take it for granted, therefore,
that the points upon which our cores
pondcntS desire to be enlightened are
these When did Mr.. Garfield refund
the S454S Of plumber? and why did he
refund it?
1t has been Nariously claimed by
Mr.. Garticld's friends that he was the
first 10 cover his back into the treasu.
ry," that he Was the fourth, the
sixth, and among the earliest and
also. that from motives Of dclicacy to
Others who had not followed his eN-
ample, he refused 70 permit his friends
20 publish the fact until some weeks
after" In speech delivered by Mr.
Garfield, ut Warren, Ohio, in ISL he
endcavorcd to give the impression that
he had been the first to refund, without
making himself responsible for the as-
scrtion. He said to his constituents,
~ do not myself parade the fact hut more
than u year ago the New York ljo}i published a
list stating in chronological order the senators and
representatives who covered their back pay into
the treasury Ny name 'rus irst on the list
\ few weeks ago gentleman of Town
sought information of the treasury de-
partment in regard TO the exact date of
Mr.. Garfcld's act of conscience, lie
received from Assistant Treasurer Tp-
ton the following reply, which has been
published in many newspapers
TREASURY DEPARTMENT.,
"OrrICE oF TnE SECRErARS,
"WAsHtSGroN, June -. 1850.
"M Duscy Esq. East Dcs Momcs, hra;
Sir In reply to your letter of the 18th inst.
asking to be informed on what date the Hon. Jas.
A. Garfield paid into the treasury his bnck pay
/ md bnu hn ia
| ton, | have to inform you that il appears from
| the records of this office that the sum of - j2S
was deposited to the credit Of the treasurer of the
United States in the name of Jas, a. Garfield, on
account of retroactive increase Of salary, on the
22d Of April, 1879, and that this amount wus coy.
ering warrant l0i second quarter, 1919, and can
not be withdrawn except hy net Of congress,
Very respectfully,
Assistant SECRETARY.
The forty-Second congress came to an
end March 4, 1873, voting itself i'll it,
last hours nearly two million dollars OF
back pay Mr.. Garticld's conscience
operated in April--on the bed day OF
April, according to most of the printed
versions of Mr.. Upton's letter to Mr..
Duscy, or on the I'd of April, if the
New York Tribune accurately prints
that letter. We have not seen the origi-
nal of the Upton letter. Let us assume
that the date was April ., instead OF
april -.
During the four weeks between the
date on which Mr.. Garfield came into
possession of his 81, 5iS and April >, the
earliest day alleged to be the date oil
his refunding that sum, the country had
become thoroughly awake rs to the in-
famous character of the salary grab.
Never did disgraceful act bring
tors, In twenty-four hours after the
Forty-second congress had adjourned
the whole country knew what had been
done and was boiling with Indignation.
Meetings were held, resolutions We're
passed, guilty congressman were de-
noumced by their own constituents and
in the organs Of yheir own parties
Then the members who had pocketod
the money began to struggle 70 the
treasury department, some Of them IN
advance Of the storm, some Of them
class James a. Garfield belongs.
YIN MarCH ~, 1909, II regular fcpuDll-
can convention for Trumbull county, in
his district was held ut Warren. The
purpose Of the convention was 10 nom
mate a candidate for member Of state
constitutional convention. Although
the republicans of Trumbull county
had not assembled to look after their
congressman, the public Indignation
over the salary grab war so intense that
they adopted n resolution censuring
Mr., Garfield for voting for that meas
ure, and requesting MIN to resign
In order that the state Of feeling
among Mr. Garield's constituents may
be clearly understood, We reproduce
rom the Cleveland Leader, republican
newspaper always friendly to Mr. Gar
field, an editorial article, commenting at
that time upon upon the action Of the
Warren convention
At the republican county convention held at
Warren on Wednesday March % for the purpose
Of nominating member Of the constitutional con
venton a resolution was passed censurng Gen.
Garfield for voting for the bill increasing con.
grcssonal salaries and requesting him o. resign
forthwith This is plain language, and, ~ he
rcsouttoa ysc.icei In m dtscling ootes Il may be
accepted representing the ruling sentiment that