The Evening critic., 1884-09-29
THE SALARY GRAB,
The Private Gain of one OF Mr.
RInine,A Official Acla.

BIatne's Ouictni Acis.
In the great work of proving that Mr.. Blaine
has no record rs CivllServlco roformsr, aud
must be opposed by our friends, the enemy,
because he has prostltuted his public onlce
for private gain, why has no one ever brought
forward his little game OF the "salary grab"
otherwise called the "back- pay swlndlo,
and similar frank, II "Early English,"
names2
on March 1, 1873, the House of Representa-.
tlves, as Will BIO remembered, voted Itself IN
Increase of salary, to date back from the
opening OF the session. BY this vote the
$4,000 to $4,000. No premOnltion then
existed of the storm OF popular disapproval
which was to greet this measure. But Mr..
Blaine had convictions OF his own and he
promptly acted on them. without waiting
Tor the verdict OF tho people, without posing
before the House as their superior In virtue,
without passing any judgment on their course,
he whisked that extra $4,000 away from hts
own pocket by dexterousiy inserting In the
Speakers salary should remain as II mad
always been, the came as that of the Vice
President and the members OF tho Cabinet.
AS coon as the vote was announced, Mr.. Blaine
said
"The Chair now desires to make statement
personal TO himself. In reading the bill the
Chair presumes the language OF this amend
ment would make the Speakers salary $l0,-
600 for this Congress. The salary OF tho Speaker
the last time the question of pay was under
consideration was adjusted to that OF tho Vice
President and members OF the Cabinet. The
Chair thinks that adjustment should not be
disturbed, and the question which he now
raises does not AFFECT the pay OF other membors
OF the House. Ho asks unanimous consent to
put I'm the word hereafter to follow the words
'shall receive This Will affect whoever shall
be Speaker OF the House OF Representatives
hereafter, and does not affect the speaker OF
the House, but leaves him upon tho same
plane with the vice-President and Cabinet Of
ncers upon the salary as before adjusted.
"Blr. Randall-I object.
"The speaker-The Chair hopes the gentle.
men from Pennsylvania Will not object.
"Mr. Randall-1 withdraw the objection.
"The Speaker-The Chair Will interline that
amendment In the bill by unanimous con.
"Mr. Framework (aftor pause)-I object.
"The Speaker-The gentleman's objection
comes too late. [Laughter.l
,.Nr. Farnsworth-I rise to q question OF
: N9r. l understand, although did not hear
q le confusion tho words OF tho Speaker that
4 h objection was decided by him to have been
,,speaker- was the decision of the
"WSs arnsworth-I objected before he an.
noNS-Shere was unanimous consent. The
geN y from Pennsylvania first objected.
"The Spoaker-Dut afterward withdrew 1t.
"Mr. FarDsworth-I did not hear him with
draw his objection, but 1 objected before 1
heard the Speaker announce there was unan.
imous consent. was In time and insist on
my objection.
oThe speaker-The gentleman from Illinois
will observe the amendment the Chair asked
to have made by unanimous consent affects no
human being on this earth but himself.
"Mr. Farnsworth-I cannot help that; It af-
fecis the bill.
"a Member-what is the reason for tho
amendment
"The speaker-If this bill goes through, the
Speaker will have received 1880 per annum
more than this gives O Member.
"Mr. Briggs--You deserve It.. [Great
laughter
"The speaker-The Chair desires to be I'M
derstood. 1t was the distinct understanding
there should be an equalization and adjust
ment OF salaries OF tho Vice. President, OF tho
Speaker OF the House OF Representatives and
OF members OF the Cabinet. They were placed
on exactly the same basis and at the Same
sum. The gentleman Will observe, this bill
places the Speaker OF the House In an attitude
Of delicacy In which 1t does not place any other
Member"
But Mr.. Farnsworth refused to see It and APP
pcaled from the decision OF the CHAIR, but was
not sustained, and so the amendment read
"The Speaker OF the House shall hereafter no.
ceive compensation at the rate of $40, 900 per
annum," thereby cutting Mr.. Blaine or from
an increase Of salary which oil the other men,
beers Of the House were to receive.
Does this look like pros;ituting public ofllce
to private gain2 Does this initiate Violently
against the principle OF Civil Service reform2
VIII Mr.. Schurz point out any legislative act
OF his own by which he ever reduced his per.
quisites or limited his power? 1t is true that
earth to witness to his heroic seltsacrince. He
carried himself gayly, as II 1t were but n little
Joke, or at most n mere point OF etiquette, not
worth making any ado about, and by THAT act
approved himself to be very far from reform
er or thel Curtie'Codman stripe. Mr..
Biaine's case is hopeless. He can never be
caught In the true sonorous, solemn Civil.
Service reform pose. Properly manipulated,
there was material enough In his off-hand mo-
ton 10 make an amendment to the Constltqse