Salary grab, the
The popular name of the law passed by Congress, March,. 1873, to increase the salaries of Senators and Representatives from $5,000 to $7,500 per year. Although it was to go into force “on and after March 4, 1873,” it was so worded as to include the members of Congress who passed it, and whose terms of office expired on that day. It was, therefore, so far as they were concerned, retroactive in its provisions, and gave to each of them $15,000 instead of $10,000 for his two years services. The passage of the bill aroused a storm of indignation in all parts of the country, and all persons united in condemning the course of those who had supported it. Every act of Congress previously passed to increase the pay of its members had been in like manner retroactive in its operation, and had been regarded with similar but less intense disfavor. In this case, however, the feeling of popular indignation was such that the greater number of those who drew the increased salaries paid the excess back again into the United States. treasury.By act of the next Congress, Jan. 24, 1874, the law was repealed, except in so far as it concerned the salaries of the President and of the judges of the Supreme Court. The compensation of Senators and Representatives was, therefore, again fixed at $5,000 a year, and that of the Vice-President and of the cabinet officers at $8,000 a year; while the salary of the President remained at $50,000, that of the chief-justice at $10,500, and those of the [20] associate judges at $10,000 each. The Constitution of the United States provides that Congress shall determine the salaries of its own members. In accordance with this provision the first Congress passed an act (Sept. 24, 1789) fixing the compensation at $6 a day while in attendance, and $6 for each 20 miles of travel in going and coming. The speaker of the House was to have $12 a day. In 1866 the compensation of Senators and Representatives was increased to $5,000 a year, and mileage at the rate of 20 cents a mile going to and returning from each session. The pay of the speaker was made $8,000 a year, the same as the Vice-President's.
