Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1869-02-27
:. 20 PER CKsr.--It seems aImos, a waste q,

Aho ourselves Obliged 10 lay down this rule
and adhere TO H.
go PER CENT seems almost a waste OF
time 20 say or write anything more on this
subject The question has been fully dis
cussed. the facts are 80 patent, the relief asked
sO moderate, that it is difficult to account for
the hostility exhibited by the majority Of the
House towards any measure proposed for the
relief OF the clerks. The whole matter WAS
stated IN nutshell by Mr.. Poland In offering
his amendment yesterday: .That the salaries
the clerks We're now the same as they mao
been before the war, and for many years before
that ana they were either insufficient now or
else mad been very much too large when they
were established" 1t has never been ALLEGED
tha' the salaries Were ever al any time excess
sl'e. Even If the scale was many years ago
liberal that. oharao terisric has long since dis
appeared
Our object now Is not to discuss the question
on Its merits. IL is but Just TO the clerks h,w-
ever, TO suggest one single fact 10 which suf-
heIent prominence has not been given, which
- that. strictly speaking, any so-CalIed per
centage which may BE- voted the clerks is not
n any sense of the word, "extra'' compensa-
uon, but is simply making up. in part, the de-
fciency resulting from the payment of their
Livery other business, profession, trade or &C.
Cupation in the whole length and breadth of
the land has had the deficiency resulting from
he depreciation of the currency made ND to II
by q corresponding increase in wages, fe.s
profits of trade, etc. The clerks alone while
as consumers they are compelled TO help all
the other classes IN thus getting even" nave
themselves no possible chance, except through
the fair dealing which they expected from
Congress- hope which has buoyed them up
patiently for so long.
One other suggestion; Mr.. Poland desired TO
give the clerks the benefit OF a far and square
expression Of the sense of the House. Tue
total vote on the adoption OF the amendment
was 10; on It's recon ideratioH, 1s5, final
rejection, 136. On the first vote - members
declared themselves IN It's favor, and g. against
AZ. while Oh the last there Were but 80 for
n "a 50 against it, On the vote taken in thu
evening the number voting was 81 less tlan IN
the stteTDC Don, and V hilr the opponents OF the.
measure had gained an accession OF but six
votes there was a falling of of 81 in It's favor
Hence the final vote cannot be regarded as a
-air expression of the Sense OF the House: for II
y not 20 b- supposed that the 3, not present or
not voting IN the evening had, in the mean
ums, adopted views Numerically opposed To
those entertained by them Ia the afternoon.
These who assume, a. not a few do. that TIE
& aims e; ONO for rsPres-ntatly IN the Cabi-
Lei OF the President elect are adversely di--
poses OF because the new CJmmi IoneT of In
tsEnal Revenue happens TO be a citizen of tina,
State, do rot AXE INTO account ali the influences
which ordinarily have weight in The forma-
tIOn OF a Cabinet. Tie office of Commissioner
Is most important one IL is true,-even more
go IN respect OF Its direct effects upon the
country, accordingly Is IT Is nj OF well man
sged, than some OF the Departments; bur 1,
nevertheless only ranks with the bure au off ,es
IN grade. And these. We understand II
have never been held 20 count against a Cabinet
position even where the foolish consideration
CT geographical location was taken into view
Besides, the gentleman named for the Com
mIssIonership IN this iIstance Is understood t.
have teen chosen solely ON acc1uu: of his
special and peculiar fitness for the place. ami
LOT IN any wise a. recognition of any claims
WAich the State from which he comes might
he supposed 10 have 10 a position OF greater
dignity
IL seems 10 De generally conceded thai the
portfolio OF one of the Departments will 20 10
Il si,iSen OF New \ OrK. and the President elect
has himself stated in so many words that a
Pennsylvania Is 10 be honoTed ia a similar
degree. Now, # these two States, the first OF
AANA N1St - NotS lot the ODDOn ant
OF General Grant. while the other was barely
saved 10 him oy the knowledge OF how ONO
was sure 10 90. have claims strong enough Il
secure acknow ledgmsnt. IL cannot b. reasona
bly, supposed that OHIO, which is in every re-
specf the third State IN the Union, and which
gave General Grant a clear majority of NOR,
than forty thousand votes, ard with able and
unexcepn enable men, Will be ignored Another
point not 10 b. overlooked in a caIeuIxti.n of
probabilities Of this character IL the fact tina,
the Republican party ia the two States frs
named Is divided against itself and that the So
lection CT Cabinet officer from either of them
can hardly fail TO provoke the hostility of one
faenon or the other; while IN the case OF ONO
II may be SAID no such obstacle exists
Oh course, we do not undertake to saw thai
the Buckeye State is certain TO be represented
IN the Cabinet. but II seems to Us, in view of
the general principles suggested above. and
which usually govern in such cases and rss.-
osing also from premises every where admitted
10 b. sound, that those who count Ohio out IN
heir fifth of March programme have no, good
ground for their action