New national era. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1870-1874, 1871-12-28
COMPARATIVE PRICES OF LABoR-l87l.
Drift Of Political Discussion.
The Opposition TO Reform.
From the Methodist

The opinion expressed by us last week that
the opposition to any real reform of the ciyi
service would come from Senators and Repre-
sentatives has received an immediate veritica
ton. The comprehensive resolution of Senator
Trumbull calling for joint committee of both
Houses, whose duty it should be to inquire into
the abuses in the National Administration, has
been summarily voted down. Thus the frs,
step taken toward real reformation meets the
opposition of men who profess to desire honesty
| and economy. Nothing can be more unwise
for q Government than to seem to shrink from
the most searching investigation of its affairs.
We copy the above that our readers may see
how completely deceived aHd humbugged in
telligent editors have been by the lying state
ments of Washington correspondents and anti
Administration papersin regard to TRUMBUIL's
| investigation resolution. In the first place
the comprehensive resolution Of TRuMBULL
did not propose an investigation into any
alleged frauds and defalcatons, as will be
seen by the following literal copy:
"ResolUed, That joint select committee on
renchment, consisting Of four Senators and
seven Representatives, be appointed by the
presiding officers of the two Houses, to inquire
into the expenditures in all the branches OF the
service Of the United States, and to report, if
any, what Office should be abolished whether
any and what salaries ought to be reduced ;
| what are the methods OF procuring accounta
bility in public officers or agents in the care of
! public moneys; whether moneys have been
paid out illegally whether any officers or other
persons are employed without authority of law
or unnecessarily f; how and to what extent the
| expenses Of the service of the country may be
reduced; and also to consider the expediency
of amending the laws under which appoint
ments are now made, so as to provide for the
selection Of subordinate officers after due ex-
animation by proper boards, they to continue
in Office during specified terms, unless dis
charged upon charges preferred by and sus-
tanned before tribunals designated for that pur-
pose and for Withdrawing the public service
from being used an instrument of political
or party patronage; that said committee be
authorized to sit during the recess Of Congress,
to send for persons and papers, and to report
by bill or otherwise
Here is not word authorizing an inyestiga:
ton into the defalcations that had taken place
and the frauds about which the soreheads had
raised such clamor. In the first place it pro-
poses an inquiry into the expenditures by the
Government, and what Offices can be abolished,
one matter of law involving no fraud, and
the other mere matter of opinion. Next, if
any salaries can be reduced. Third, what ac-
countability exists on the part of disbursing
agents Of the Government, mere question of
fact. Then il any money has been illegally paid
out-a question of law again. If any persons
are employed without authority of law, also a
legal question and finally to what extent the
expenses of the country can be reduced. This
only requires an opinion from the committee.
Not one fall these propositions would have JUS
tilted the committee to investigate the defslca-
tons of HoDaE, nor those in the Trsasu ofics