The Washington herald., 1914-10-08
HISTORY BUILDERS.
An Incident Of the Fillmore
Administration.
By DR.. E. J. EDWARDS.

when David B. Hill was elected United
States Senator from New York he was
governor OF the State and his term had
nearly q year to run. Gov. Hllfs friends
knew that he. was not solicitous to be-
come United States Senator, preferring
TO remain IN the executive control Of
New York State for another term But
the exigencies OF politics compelled him to
accept the nomination for the Senate.
Gov. Hill did not resign the governor
ship Immediately HIS term as United
States Senator began March succeeding
his election In January. He was there
fore entitled to his salary as Senator,
and as he had not given up the ONCE Of
governor he was receiving the salary APP
pertaining to that ONCE. This caused
q good deal Of criticism and some were
bold enough to infer that Coy. HUI
Intended 20 pocket both his salary as
governor aud his salary as United States
senator.
As was customary with him. he did not
reply to these criticisms. But at the
expiration Of his term as governor he
took his seat in the United States Sem
ate. Immediately he inquired of the Ser
geant-at-ArIns to learn In what shape his
accumulated salary as Senator was to
be found. The Sergeant-at-Arms told
him what the sum-approximately four
AhOnodDu uOlldIS-"ds- lnGIGupon 9Eh-
ator Hill asked what was the method
OF returning money to the Federal Treas
ury.
He was told that all that he had to do
was TO cover the entire amount Of the
salary into the Treasury Department and
that he would receive a receipt acknowl-
edging the return OF the money. In a
few days, he covered his salary into the
Treasury.
In speaking to a friend Of this action,
Senator Hill said that he had been told
that his was the first instance in which
any one who received a salary from the
government had covered. the salary into
the Treasury since the early seventies.
when many OF the Senators and Repre-
sentatives covered the back pay or the
difference between g, 900 and 5000 which
was the increased salary voted by Con-
gress, the law to go into effect retro
actively. In other words. the members
were to receive not only the 5000, but
the proportionate part Of $500
Public criticism Of this action was so
emphatic and. widespread that many OF
the members refused the back pay and
returned II TO the Treasury.
Senator Hill was told that there was
an earlier instance OF an officer OF the
government covering a large amount Of
money into the Treasury. He narrated
the anecdote to an intimate friend sub
stantially in these words:
When Aillard Fillmore was President
he appointed a personal friend Of the
name Of Broughton Harris secretary OF
the newly organized Territory OF Utah.
After Harris was confirmed by the Sen
ate q large sum Of money was given to
him to take to the Territory for the
account of the United States government.
Harris reached Utah in safety. although
he had many difficulties to overcome and
was several times in serious danger.
After he reached Utah, he found him
self speedily in controversy with Brigham
Young. who insisted that the money
should be turned over TO him.
Harris refused to part with the money
and at last made up his mind that not
only the wisest but the safest course for
him to pursue was TO turn his back upon
Utah and make his way as speedily as
possible to Washington, retaining pos
session OF the money.
After a tiresome journey that lasted
three or four months, he arrived in
Washington and as soon as the depart
ment was opened on the day after his ar
rival he covered the entire sum which
had been given to him back into the