Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1871-04-17

.h;, of .ppropriations, 80 that he could revise
The estimates, and hold the purse stringe OF
the government. To secure this post, he was
willing to do anything, to barter anything,
and to promise everything. But it was all in
vain. He could not succeed, and losing the
opportunity to badger and bully the admins
tration, he sought by another process to obtain
influence with General Grant. But because
Speaker Blaine would not At the outset betray
the interests of General Grants administra-
ton into the hands of its then most openly
avowed and most malignant enemy within the
Republican ranks, General Butler became his
sworn foe, and turned upon him the malice
which he had before expended on Grant. This
IS the whole story so far as the Craftsmanship
Of appropriations is concerned.
As to General Buffers other narratives in
regard to his place on committees, the facts
are simply these He desired to go on the
ways and means, and applied to Mr.. Blaine,
after he was chosen Speaker, for that place.
The Speaker answered him that he could
have the place if Mr.. Hooper was willing to
be transferred to the Craftsmanship of banking
and currency, it being impossible to put two
Massachusetts, men on the committee. Mr..
Allison, of Iowa, was to communicate with
Mr.. Hooper on the subject, and General But
Ter was to see the Speaker on the following
day. Before Mr.. Hooper's answer was re-
ceived the second interview between the
Speaker and General Butler took place, in
which the latter demanded the craftsmanship
of the reconstruction committee in addition
to the place on the ways and means. The
Speaker frankly told him that this was impos-
sible; that place on the ways and means or
on appropriations was equivalent to the chair
manship of another committee, and that
Judge Kelley, then in his fifth Congress, and
going on the ways and means, expected to
surrender the modest Craftsmanship of coin
age, weights and measures; and that he (Gen- |
eral Butler), only in his second Congress,
could not expect to be on the ways and means,
and at the same time chairman of the leading
political committee of the House. General
Butler insisted on his desires in his usual
domineering way, and the Speaker firmly and
peremtorily declined to yield the point. Short
~ after General Butler left the speakers
house, Mr.. Allison called to say that the
transfer to banking and currency would not
be agreeable to Mr.. Hooper, who desired to
remain on the. ways and means, and Gen.
Schenck supplemented Mr.. Hooper's wish in
the most emphatic manner, with a protest
against Butler coming ON his committee,
which would amuse everyone but Gen. But |
Ter if permission could be obtained to print it
IteI8lly DiaAucs III view VI Ill the lACtS, |
decided to appoint Gen. Butler chairman of
the reconstruction committee, and made him |
also member of the judiciary committee, a |
most liberal and even generous assignment,
for which much fault was found with the
Speaker by those who had strong claims upon
his friendship before he even knew Gen. But
Ter. and who were old soldiers in the Repub-
lican cause when Gen. Butler was an ally of
the secessionists.
The interview between the Speaker and
Gen. Butler, referred to in the foregoing par
agraph, took place several days before the
announcement of committees in the House.
In the interval, Gen. Butler called two or
three times at the Speakers residence, but
the latter declined to see him, not desiring to
renew or prolong the unpleasant scene re-
ferred to above. On the day the committees
were announced, and when the list was lying
before the Speaker, Gen. Butler came up to
the Chair, laid his hand on'the list, and said
"What 10 there in that for me?' The Speak
er replied that he was made chairman of re-
construction and member of the judiciary.
"To that answer, shall decline both," said
the General. "Very we'll, Gen. Butler" re-
piled the Speaker" it is for me to appoint and
for you to decline; the Clerk will announce
the following as the standing committees of
the Forty-first Congress- The committees
were announced General Butler quietly took
his seat, nothing was ever heard of his de-
clining either place. All the story about the
Speaker avoiding him by getting out of a
window is ridiculous nonsense, without a
word of truth, or a particle Of wit in it-a
pure invention of an impure mind. Mr.. Blaine,
both before his Speakership and since he has
occupied the chair, has shown no reluctance
to meet Gen. Butler anywhere at any time,
and has also had the independence to refuse
to meet him when his presence was an intru-
sive annoyance.
And herein will be found the precise cause
of Buffers underhanded attacks in print and
picture which have been made on the Speak
er at Buffers instigdtion and procurement.
ii. v. B.