Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1889-03-19

Daring the Thirty-ninth Congress,
which held it's sessions in the years
1866 and 1867. and before spe-
che payment had been resumed,
and when the greenback was below par a.
hue and cry was raised within ere wailsof
the Capitol, that the salary paid TO Repre-
sentatiyes and Senators at Washington
was not sufficient 60 live upon decently,
where banqoets, fetes and routs, with
spade-tail coat and other accomplishments,
were becoming an almost daily necessity,
if one wished TO keep up with an IN
society. Perhaps i'd WASH enough under
the circumstances. 40 any rate the salary
was increased f,om three to five thousand
per ancum by Get of Congress, and the
modest representatives of the people con-
ciuded while they were 40 70 % maKe me
increased pay run hack to the beginning OF
the term, concluding We suppose, thar
they might as well be killed for sheep as a
lamb. Thus it was the memorable and
ubiquitous salary grab of history came
about. il. kicked up a great hubbub
among the people, as well it might, for
there never was a more cheeky and dis
graceful bio of imposition upon the conf
deucs Of their constituents than that very
act and many a Congressman suffered the
penalty Of his breach Of trust by being rel
sgaied to private l.e There were a few
honorable exceptions. be il said to their
credit. who would not touch the back pay
feature. aud it affords the REGIsIER pleas
ure TO announce that among those honest
and honored few was our fellow towDsman,
CHgsrgR ID. HUBBARD,n now President Of the
wheeling Iron and Nail Co, who at that
time represented this district in Congress.
The news from Washington tells as OF
the agitation OF another increase in the
pay of congressman, which means, Of
course. that the methods Of living are
much more expensive now than formerly,
and therefore the Congressional stipend is
not ADEQUATE 70 the needs Of the times.
How much is needed few, if any can tell
The sum might be doubled, THAT Is SlO,-
600 per YEAR and the average Senator and
Representative would find that his eX-
peases had so largely increased that his
salary barely made both ends meet.
That's the way it works, and the next
step would De au additional sum in order
that the style Of living might be common
surate with the honor and dignity at
tsched to so great IN office.
some writer has wisely said that econ
omy is the parent Of wealth snd ease. ~
We don't believe that there is much sym
ps,hy with this aphoriam when it gets
down 10 the Congressman considering the
relationship between q public policy and
his salary. Toe fear of a ruction with his
constituency may have SOME wholesome
influence. but beyond that there is little
hops for public economy among the ordi-
nary run of national Legislators where
their own pockets are concerned.
But what are the people going to do
about ug There ought to De a very euer-
gedc protest against such robbery Sens-
tors and Cougressmen may offer all the
specious reasons at their commend aud
they will not convince the plain people Of
the land that their services are worth more
than $1,000 a yesr. II it is not enough
they shonld not have accepted the office
To attempt TO increase their pay now
that they SIRE in. is to debauch the office
for their personal greed It there is one
public position more than another in these
United States that should be above such
bum politics, it is that Of U. S. Senator
and Representative. IL rs they who are
the head and front Of the psopls in all that
ia politically good They are, or ought tC
be, the political guardians who give tone
and regulate the gait in all subordinate
public life If the plane Of the leaders at
Washington ia no higher than 70 vote
themselves bigger salaries, what can be ex-
pec,ed from the rank and file.
Five thousand dollars a year, and that
too, for about six months service is ample
upon which to live comfortably. even for q
United States Senator; to demand more {.
90 open wide the sAtes in an directions,
and 70 increase the scramble for office ten
fold
After an is it not the great surplus in
othe United States treasury that is the caus.
of this demand for bigger salaries Lowe.
the national taxes 10 the needs Of al
economically administered government an,