Wilmington Daily Gazette

Repeal of the Salary Grab

The House of Representatives yesterday passed the salary repeal bill which went through the Senate the day previous, which, however is in objectionable form in that while it puts the salary back to five thousand dollars a year it yet perpetuates the mileage abuse, and revives the newspaper and stationary allowance for members of Congress and does not make the repeal date back to the fourth of last March. Hence the members secure pay up to this time at the rate of seven thousand five hundred dollars a year by at once drawing it before the President signs the bill, and in view of that they are not to have mileage for the present session. Members are said to be rushing for their traveling expenses before the bill becomes a law. In view of the restoration of the mileage feature hereafter it would be well to have that cut down to actual traveling expenses otherwise the apparent patriotism and economy of the members becomes all fudge. The bill as passed excepts the President and Supreme Court judges. In this connection it may be stated the western press have kept it up lively on the salary grab, and have in harmony with the views and defeated amendment of Senator Hamilton, of Maryland, been quite as persistent in striking the presidential salary likewise, and it is further stated that when Congress has divested itself of its part of the grab the people out there expect the President to follow suit, voluntarily. That will be in order if he wishes to have any of the credit of rolling on the ball of much-needed economy.-Balt. Sun