The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1885-03-08
A DISAPPOINTED MAN.
Rosecrans Thoroughly Disgruntled Over the
Passage of the Bill.


Passage of the Bill.
Special to the Indianapolis Journal
WASHINGTON. March I-Rosecrans is sore
and grouty. There is probably no man in the
United States who is so disgruntled over the
passage of the Grant retirement bill as Old Rosey
He feels so much resentment in his bosom that
his accustomed urbanity has entirely departed,
and instead of the jolly, pleasant old fellow that
he was won't to be, he has degenerated into a
Grabbed, querulous old bore. The trouble seems
to be with his liver and his pocket-book Your
correspondent rode mile on a street-car
with him at midnight, last night, and casually
remarked .'Well, General your old friend is
on the retired list at last" To this old Rosey
replied: eyes, and he has already had $4,000
interest from his fund this year. It's shame
wish l had onetenth of the amount
| tell you, young man, this idea that Grant Was
great military hero is all moonshine It won't
stand the light of history. 1t will not be many
years before the eyes of the country are opened,
and then Grant will stand forth in his true light.
The idea of giving a man nearly $40, 600 year
out of the Treasury simply because he did his
duty is wrong. 1 think the first step that Con-
gpess ought to have taken is to provide
clerks for the members of the House.
II the country is too poor to provide a
clerk for each congressional district it
is time we shut up shop. Here have been pay
ing $65 per month out of my own salary ever
the routine work for my constituents.
have spent every dollar OF my salary
in the support of my family and
in looking after the business for which
was elected. So long as members of Con-
gress paid such niggardly salaries that
they are obliged to pay out more than they re-
ceive for actual living expenses, and in the exer
else Of their public duties it is not right to
vote away big life salaries to men
who have voluntarily resigned their commissions
in the army to accept public trusts for which
they have been we'll paid. l have no personal
feeling against Grant in this matter, that is TO
say do not let my personal feelings interfere
with my acts but / do think the House
did very unwise thing in passing the bill, and
l still think that the day will come when the
country will see it as l do" Rosey's face was
livid and covered with a scowl as he uttered
the last word and he settled back into silent and
gloomy contemplation of a Scripture text which
adorned the car. The text read: Forgive those
who trespass against you if you would be for
given"
THE SACRIFICE OF WILSON.
After ALL there is one man who should have
more credit for the bill to retire General Grant
than has yet been given him, for it is really due
to him, more than to Randall or any other
man that the bill was taken up.
''Tama Jim" Wilson, of Iowa, is the man.
He is called ''Tama" because he comes from
Tama county, and because there is another
Jim" Wilson in the Senate of the United
States Wilson was squarely elected to
the Forty eighth Congress- but his ma
jority was small, and another man
wanted the seat 1t took the cleo
tions committee Of the House nearly two
years to drum up courage enough to vote against
Wilson, and even then they could not seat their
man because a few Democrats stood by the Re-
publicans to frustrate the steal of the seat The
last forty eight hours of the session were
occupied by this case. There was no prospect
whatever of settling it, but it served to prevent
the passage of jobs at the last moment and was
therefore kept on the boards AT last,
on Wednesday morning, it was evident
that unless the case could be gotten
out of the way, the Grant retirement bill would
fail. Randall, Wilson, and number of the
leaders on the Republican side held consulta-
ton. Wilson proposed that he should
be sacrificed for Grant It would
simply mean the loss of few moments
Of official life, and there could be no disg race. A
vote was taken, the Republicans responded for
the first time to the call. Wilson was ousted,
Fredercks was seated (pay and perquisites
about $l3, ,0C0 the Grant bill was called up
passed and signed. Wilson deserves the credit
and should have it.