Columbia democrat and star of the north. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1867, 1866-03-14

fOpufdtIOiI VI tS" AN'o -
The Ear,, with her three million, had the
control al fourteen commiiiees out ot the
iwenty.eishl, New York none, and Peonsyi'
vania the Committee on Patents. Well, Isrr,
| New York has since Leen promoted 10 Inc
senatorial scale. One of he! Senators al
the presen, session has been assigned TO me
head o. the Committee on Private Land
Claims. | am. not sure that that Commiliee
ever meets, but il is displayed in tbs list oil
committees in elegant type, doubtless very
! much TO The satisfaction OF the good people
oil lhs empire State, who are thus honored
through their representative.
As 10 The Committee on Patents, look
upon il with special affection. have
faint recollection that some bill was report
ed from il al aformer session bul my par
Iicular interest in il arises from the TACT
il was assigned 10 my State as her pafticu-
lar post OF honor during the war. Massa-
chusetts took charge oI Foreign Relations,
Military Affairs and Slavery and The Treat
nent of Freedmen. Post Offices and Post
Roads and Public Boildings were in charge
OF Vermont, Connecticut attended 10 Pen
sions and matters in this District, New
Hampshire had charge OF The Navy and
Claims, Maine looked a'ler The Finances,
while little Rhode leland burdened herself
with The subject of Manufactures and the
subject OF Public Printing. Thus there was
! an engrossmenl by those States of the lead
erEhip of most of the commitiees which
commanded effective power, patronage ,and
influence. But il is refreshing for a man
from my own State 10 reflect that she was
not altogether overlooked Her modest
claims receivedidue recogniiop, and the
position then assigned her she yet retains
Sir, whene The Senator from Massachu-
seurs, MIR. Wilson, chairman OF the
ommiiee on Military Affairs and The Mill
tia, shall marshal the Senate Committees in
military array asa home guard,in defense
organization, there in The midst oi that pa.
Iriotic ihrong will be seen the stalwan Iorm
of my colleague bearing aloIt in proud def
nee the banner of the Commitlee on Pat
entsi
Mr.. President, tho chairmanship of a
committee is a position oI much. influence
aud power. The several distinguished gen.
llemen holding that position have vir ual
control over The Transaction OF business both
in committee and in the Senate. Each oRs
The services of competent clerk, not only
for public business but for conducting pr.
vaie correspondence, and for The various
other labofs imposed upon Sen ator By his
station.
will say here, in view of complaints
made in Ihe county, that I consider the
employment ss clerk of q son or other rela-
tive by chairman as wholly unobjectona-
bic. The relation of clerk and chairman is
both confidential and intimate, and hence
such cieTkship is qnire unlike any other
Office which may be filled by senatorial in
/ huence. A President of the United States
may very properly employ his son as pri-
vaie secretary, and it has been the practice
from lbe foundation of our Government for
our ministers sent abroad, among whom
have been the most distinguished and able
men of The county. to take their sous with
Them as secretaries OF legation.
The newspaper criticisms which have
been directed against the employment of
young gentlemen as clerks oil committees
who are rela aied by ties of family or blood
10 chairmen, are wholly misapplied. Nep-
! olism, The spPoin ment ofIela,ions 10 Office,
or The obtaining their appointment by The
use ofone's official influence, is Justly odi-
Gus, and shouldalways be denounced as of
evil example and coTrupIive tendency. But
an appointment 10 private and confidential
service or 10 duties which involVesuch SER
vice is not within the general objection, aud
is justified By The opinions and practice of
The best ofmen.
Mr.. President, The burden Of correspon.
dence and of other business independent o.!
ordinary legislative duties, thrown upon
members from populous States is very great.
Their time IL consumed and their exerlions
EXPENDED upon various matters outside OF
public business transacted in the Senate
Their time ioi study and proper legislative
labor is thus cutlailed, and ;hey are likely
TO be overissked by tho muitifatious dulles
which press upon Them.
Now Ill is evident that in the last Congress
by the distribution oil a dozen clerks or
more among Ihe twelve New Eogland Sen.
alors, they obtained an amount Of assistance
which removed lrom them great mart of
the labor they would Otherwise have borne,
and enabled Them TO act with more eGicien-
cy and influence in their high Office. But
these advantages were not enjoyed by q
large par; oil tie members from other SiaIes
10 whom their allow ance would have been