The Republican journal., 1882-07-20
The Professions and Practice of T. H
Murch M, c.

u0 1TO10SSlOuS anu Iract1C0 OF l.. ii.
Murch, M. G.
The public services of Congressman
Murch are the subject of another letter
from Washington to the Rockland Free
Press. The fact is recalled that soon
after his first nomination, Mr.. Murch de-
clared to the people of his district his de
termination to set an example to the eX-
travagant magnates at Washington He
believed the representatives. of the people
could and should live humber and cheap
err that instead of increasing salaries,
they should be reduced that $1,000 was
too much for member of Congress to
receive, and that one Of his first acts
would be resolution introduced to re
duce those salaries to So 600, we believe.
This declaration was applauded and
commended at the time; but what has
this protessed economist and reformer
done to make good his words He has
neither introduced the resolution propos-
ed, nor refused any part of his own sal
airy, though much of the time rendering
no service therefor; while as to his living
cheaply and humbly, the correspondent
says:
He boards constantly at the Metropolitan lIo-
tel, a high priced establishment, and his rooms
are as heightened as those of any other Con-
gresham; while Senator Frye, GOV. Dinglev.
and Mr.. Lindsey have quarters at boarding
houses, and have lived so since being here
making no pretcnsionS, and entertaining their
visitors i'll an humble, though cordial way.
Then again, question, whether. after draw
ing his salary and living princcy upon it-:s
suppose Mr.. Murch can do, according to his for
mer statcmcnt,-he has done one practical thing
or offered one etfectuaI or useful resolution af-
fecting his constituents. The most of his time
has been spent in visiting labor or Greenbark
organizations here and there. and haranguing
them in his imperfect and useless way. ''All
talk and no work. should be his mott 0, for he
has cNempitied il all the way through his Con-
greS>ional terms.
How stands it with our Senators and other
Representatives? Senators Hale (who. by the
way, is able to live as he pleases on his own
private fortune) and Frye are nearly always at
their posts. Mr.. Lindsey also, until stricken
down by sickness, and Gov Dingley. have been
here constantly since their election and the lat
ter has already taken front rank aS a states
man and practical legislator. Some of his bills
i'll relation to finance. commerce and shipping
are among the most important introduced and
will have their effect on Maine interests when
they become laws.
by their works We shall know them. not
by their absenting themselves and travelling
round to free shows. and harangung dubious
and abnormal organizations which niurc rattle
than benefit the cause they pretend to represent.
1t is said that only two things are GER
tain, death and taxes. But it is Just as
certain that where there are taxes there
will be grumbing and growing, ana not
without reason in many cases. We have
had good deal Of it in this city and the
Journal has done its share, if not Of
growing, at least in advocating Il reduc
ton of taxation in the interest Of the lu-
ture prosperity Of Belfast One of our
citizens, who has as good reasons us any
other one for desiring Il reduction is in
clined, however, to take hopeful view of
the situation. lie finds the rate Of taxa
ton higher in many other cities, with less
to show for it, and thinks our railroad,
instead of being the elephant we have
been accustomed to regard it, viii prove
a valuable property 1t is we'll to look
on the bright side of things once in a
while, at all events, and if the present
city government succeed in refundng the
bonded Indebtedness, We may fairly con-
slider Belfast tout Of the woods, and on
the road to increased prosperity. Al
though it is we'll known that the reduc
ton this year from last years assessment
is due to the fact that some SlI, 900 of
claims for damages against the city were
paid in the latter year, it is still some
thing to be thankful for that no such
claims are to be met now.