Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1855-12-28
WASHINGTON NEWS AND GOSSIP.


least, has fallen in the present contest for the
Speakership. We refer to Mr.. Pearce, of
Pennsylv ania-the Req. Mr.. Pearce, we be-
lieve he is, at home. The statement of his
colleague, Mr.. Millward, of the facts of the
disgraceful proposition made to him by Mr..
and was imperatively required not only by
his own sense of self-respect, but by his duty
to the honorable body whose integrity was
assailed in Mr.. P.'s unauthorized effort to bag
his vote for Mr.. Banks. We assume that, not.
withstanding the denial which Mr.. Pearce
made of the truth of the statement of Mr.
Millward-that he assured him that he (Mr
p had Mr.. Banks's promise that he would
appoint him (Mr. M to the Craftsmanship of
the committee on binding and engraving
"out of which he could make good thing, +"
If he would vote for him for Speaker
Every unprejudiced witness to the scene that
took place on the occasion is morally GER
tain that Mr.. Millward, and not Mr. Pearce,
told the truth, and nothing but the truth.
The testimony Of the concurrent witnesses
to the other somewhat similar unauthorized
pledges in the name of Mr.. Banks, made by
Mr.. Pearce, though going to substsntiate the
truth of what Mr.. Mlllward said, was not ne
cessary to that end. His story was simple
unvarnished account Of a conversation that
took place not more than a single minute be-
fore he called the attention of the House to
it, and that minute, according to the testimony
Of Mr.. Humphrey Marshall, was devoted to an
effort to learn through a reference to the man
ual and the superior information possessed by
Mr.. Marshall concerning the House commit
tees, the exact nature of the dishonOrable
proposition that had Ecen made to him The
instant he comprehended it, in accordance
with the very proper advice of Mr.. Marshall,
he brought it to the notice of the House; and
those who have at heart the standing of the
body in the estimation of the country at
large, we take it, sincerely regret that the
manly and straight forward recommendation
of Mr.. Alexander K. Marshall, of thorough
formal investigation into the affair, was not
adopted. We fear and believe that the House
will have cause, itself, to regret its failure to
wipe out the stain on its aggregate honor in
volyed in passing over the development made
by Mr.. Millward on that occasion, as matter
not requiring to be instantly met, repudiatod,
and stigmatized as it deserved to be.
Unfortunately, there is too much truth
made in the intimation by Mr.. Pearcc,
that the chairman of the committee having
in charge the binding and engraving of the
House, may make ga good thing out of it,
That is, provided the chairman, whoever he
may be, may be man devoid of personal in
tegrity, and that through his Vaccinations he
contrives to place the House binding and en-
craving in the hands of persons willing to
fee him for being false to his obligations to
deal honestly with his public trust There
are few positions under the House, in connec
ton with its organization, through which the
Treasury may be plundered to SO great an ex-
tent; and the country owe thanks to Mr. Mill
ward for bringing the fact SO promptly to the
notice Of the House; as the result Of what he
has done can hardly fail to make assurances
dOubly sure, that no gentleman who NAV be
elected Speaker of this Congress will ap-
point any member on that committee, other
than those who know sufficient of the public
business to render it certain that they are
thoroughly competent as we'll as inclined to
guard the trust thus to be devolyed on them.
with the fidelity of scrupulouSly honorable
men.
Once more at Seattle reader of the fam
Gus debate and Incidental ballotings of yes
terday, in the House, will perceive that all the