Wheeling Sunday register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1882-1934, 1892-03-20
HILL And HIS SALARY.
How the Salaries of congressman and
Senators Are Paid.
SOMEDRAW THEM UP VERY CLOSE
While Others Have to Have Their Pay Forced on
Them By the Ssrgsant-at-Arms-A Notable
Instance Where a SORthsrner Drew
no Salary For Solid Year.
Srecinl 7slearan % Me Snndar Rsoister.

WASHINGTON, d. c., March l9.-There is
one thing connected with Mr.. HIPS refusal
TO accept pay as Senator for the time dur
ing which he retained the Governorsblp
which the Senator lhay not like. That is,
that the money when covered into the
Treasury will nave 10 be credited 10 the
Conscience Fund, which, as the name sig
miles, is money which, having been receiv-
ed by fraud or in some other way lmprop-
erly, has been returned to the Government
to relieve the pricking conscience OF the
receiver.
The fact that MIR. Hill did not receive
the money at all does not take it out of this
category, and there is no way OF covering
il into the Treasury except 10 the credit OF
conscience. Mr.. Hill is not the only Con-
gressman who has refused TO take money;
out most OF those who have done so have
repented of their action and accepted IL.
When Congress passed an appropriation
bill to reimburse members OF the House
who had lost their salaries through the de-
falcation Of the absconding teller, Mr. Sll7
colt, large number Of the members, VINO
had voted against the bill, declared with
virtuous Indignation that the House nau no
right to thus reimburse its members for
their own negligence and that they would
not accept one penny of the amounts al
legged to be due them. They were con-
fronted, however, with the announcement
that, if they did not accept the money, IL
would have to go into the Conscience Fund,
a thing which seemed extremely disagree
able to them. That was sufficient to induce
some Of the reluctant ones TO pocket their
scruples and their money.
A good many, however, held persistently
and refused to present their draft, but to-
day, of all that number, there is but one
member who has lived up to his declara-
tion. Some of them took part OF the money
which they eargeed they could properly
claim and refused. the rest, but Mr.. McRea
of Arkansas, is the only man who has abso-
lutely refused to take penny Of the money
and persisted in his refusal. A large ma
jority of the lower House are very prompt
In drawing their money as soon as tits due
Others, TO avoid an appearance OF undlgni-
fed haste, wait three or four days or a
week before presenting their drafts; but
there are about ten men in the House who
have to be almost compelled TO take their
money.
A Southern member, who was sick when
the House opened and has been absent most
of the session, had not drawn penny OF his
salary from the 4th of last March until two
or three days ago, and then it was with diff
ficulty that he could be induced to accept
il. There were nine others besides him
self who had not drawn their pay during
this period, and the Sergeant-at-Arms had
TO go to them and insist upon their taking
the money in order TO avoid complications
in bookkeeping They were told that if
they did not take the money il would be
covered back into the Treasury, and they
would never get it at all except through the
Court OF Claims or by special legislation.
The Sergeant at Arms always has large
amont of money on hand belonging to MEM
bers which has been receipted for by the
members and for which the bondsmen Of
the Sergeant at Arms are not responsible.
When the Sergeant at Arms of the last
House settled his accounts, he turned into
the Treasury $50, 900 more than the Depart
ment had charged against him. The money
belonged to individual members who had
the vouchers for it but had never drawn it
from the Office, and it was only by accident
that it failed to be covered into the Treas
ury.