New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1871-12-19
Refrenchment Bill.


Retrenchment Bill.
We publish a synopsis of the debate i
the Senate on last Thursday, the considera
ton being resumed of Mr.. Anthony's resl
luton to create a Committee on Retrenct
ment, with Mr.. Trumbull's amendment, at
thorizing it to sit during the recess and SEN
for persons and papers.
Mr. Wilson warned his Republican friend
that they were placing their party in falls
position before the country. Already Their
were millions throughout the country VIII,
believed that an attempt had been made il
the Senate of the United States to shield tn,
administration. He hoped there would be
unanimous vote for Mr.. Trumbulls resolu
ton, SO as to let the people see that the Re
publicans were determined to keep the ad
ADMINISTRATION pure in all it's departments
He had no sympathy with the plan of cover
ing over our shortcomings by talking OF
gigantic swindles in New York. There were
Republican thieves as well as Democratic
thieves, and a Republican thief was to hin
far more hateful of the two. because he
brought disgrace upon the Republican party
Notwithstanding the defects of the presen
administration, it was far purer and more
efficient than most of its predecessors. NJ
previous administration had ever been 50
prompt in Furnishing delinquency among it:
own officers.
Mr.. Blair: The Senator is very boastfu
about the purity and rigor of the admins
tration. l wish to call his attention to a
case in Arkansas, where district attorney
and marshal were both removed from office
for procuring an indictment against man
for violating law Of the United States.
Mr.. Wilson: l don't know whether that
was SO or not
Mr. Blair reiterated the statement.
Mr.. Wilson said he was not bOastful OF
the administration. He simply desired to
be just, and therefore he said that the adj
ministratiOn was seeking to progress in the
right direction, although a good deal more
of it was necessary. lie was not one of
those Republicans who thought the Demo
cratic party dead. He expected to encoun-
ter them in full fOr,e next year, and he
warned his friends against relaxing their
efforts in any degree in the vain hope that
they would meet no vigorous opposition
in 1872
Mr.. Nye opposed Mr.. Trumbull's resolu-
ton. Certain gentlemen IN the Republican
party who thought the President was be-
coming too popular devised the scheme of
civil service reform, and under that cry
they We're now attempting to revive the old
committee. with all the extraordinary pow
ers of sending for persons and papers.
Mr.. Thurman: The Senator objects to
sending for persons and papers. Where
was his voice on the memorable occasion
when a committee Of the House of Repre-
sentatives was examining into the conduct
and affairs of Senators to discover whether
they had not been bribed to acquit Andrew
johnson, and were ransacking telegraph
offices to get at something that might com.
promise those Senators!
Mr.. Nye: just where it is now. Give me
another such set of circumstances and |
vote for it again. But there is no such
occasion now. There is peace in the ranks
now. save with one here and there who
would be greater than his master. Laugh
ter.
Mr.. Schurz replied to Mr.. Nye, and in the
course OF bis remarks, said; The legitimate
sphere of comedian is generally within
the walls OF the theatre, but if the Senator
is satisfied with the role he plays here no.
body else has reason to be dissatisfied.
those who defend bad cause ALWAYS re-
sort to a certain line OF defense. They at
tempt to throw suspicion on the motives of
those who attack. So with the Senator
from Nevada (Nye). Like other Senators
mere, he makes no attempt to disprove any
OF tue facts that l stated yesterday in re-
gard to the New York customhouse. but
simply throws aspersions upon my motives.
and accuses me Of insinuating that Mr..
Leets service in the army should prevent
him from obtaining employment in the
civil service OF the government and that
I he President had something to do with
the carriage OF business in New York.
l 40 wish to say few words in
reply to the Senator from New York (Mr.
of the New York custom.
house was closed up by the Com |
lnittee on Retrenchment last YEAR
The committe did undoubtedly believe |
that the case was closed for it had |
reason to believe that when such scandals |
as it exposed we're laid bare, the adminst1a a. |
lion would jump at the chance to put an |
end to the disgrace; but it turns out that |
hey were vastly mistaken; for the same |
system Of robbery exists down |
% this day, in spite Of the exposures made |
~ that committee The Senator asked also |
Why we have proposed in legislation to re-
move these abuses, because ne legislation |
vas necessary. The abuses were created |
~ executive sctiOn in the administration of |
he customhouse, and they could be done
way wit by executive action. The Sen
ltor objected to what ! said OF the power
which sustains this system. l did say.
iavlng laid the evidence before the Senate,
hat when the most respectable merchants
# New York had protested against this
ystem OF robbery; when the Secretary of
he Treasury had time and again pronounced
galnst 1t; when the committee on retrench-
lent had pronounced against it: when still
is sustained and kept alive down to this
cry day. did say, in view of this evidence,
nat there must be some myterous power
lstalning that system stronger than
ecent regard for public opinion, and
ronger than the Secretary Of the Treasury
mself.
Mr.. Patterson here nterposed to make
l explanation, and in reply to a remark
, Mr.. Trnmbull, said: II do say that there ,
c inspectors in the customhouse in New
,rk who stated before the committee :
der oath, that in violation of their official ,
tbs and in violation of The laws of the !
I'd, they had taken brides and that they +
ok brides every time they discharged a Q
ssel. and say further. that agents of t
amship company told me that they could i