The Stark County Democrat. [volume] (Canton, Ohio) 1833-1912, 1871-12-14
THE HODGE CASE

Committee of Privileges and elections.
THE HODGE CASE.
Mr.. CONKLING moved the considera-
ton Of a resolution directing the Military
Committee to-inquire into the defalcation
of Paymaster Hodge
Mr.. IhU MBULL suggested, as better,
that action be taken on his concurrent res,
oluuon appointing a Special committee
on Retrenchment and Civil Service Re-
| form.
Mr.. WILSON favored Mr.. TrumbulPs
proposition
Mr. LOGAN agreed that the Committee
on Finance should investigate the Hodge
| case.
Mr. TRUMBULL moved to substitute
his resolution for Mr.. Conkling's and read
from the report of the Joint Committee on
Retrenchment on the abuses in the New
( York Custom House to show the necessity
for the revival of that committee; that
the salaries of supernumerary weighers
alone amounted to $57, 900 a year; that
by the ware housing system in use, i'm
porters were
ROBBED OF IMMENSE SUMS
annually and that a great many other
kinds of Plunder; were going on in the
name of the Government. 1t was gener-
ally believed throughout the country that
the patronage of the Government was
| used for mere partisan purposes, or worse,
in many cases for personal purposes, and
| the time had come when it was necessary
to investigate in every department of the
Government whether these things were as
charged; to expose them if they were so,
and if not, to set the public mind at rest
by statement of the truth.
In oiden times removals from subordi-
nate government offices were of rare oc.
| currence, There were only nine removals
during the eight years of Washington's
administration, and only ten during that
of the elder Adams. Even jefferson, who,
when he came into power, found the Off
ces filled with his political adversaries, re-
meved only thirty-nine persons during his
two termR. Madison removed but Ave in
his eight years. Aoproe only nine, and
John 2. Adams only two In those days
men were appointed to office for their f.
dehty to the Constitution, their ability,
and integrity, and not for mere partisan
reasons. jackson, however, made great
many removals, & introduced the "spoils"
doctrine. which has ever since been pois-
opiHg the urity of the civil service Par
ty organization vas necessary and proper.
and when party came into power it
ought of course to select for all Offices,
requiring the exeroise of discretion, per-
sons IN harmony with itself But when
1t came to freeing subordinate and merely
ministerial officers, the question should
not be about mere party connections, but
| about their fitRess to perform the duties
Of the offices, and their integri Y.
He, Trumbull, did not believe in using
the patronage and power of the Govern
ment for the purpose of psrpetrating par
ty rule, but for the purpose of promoting
measures best for the interests of the
whole country, and therefore he was in
favor of filling the subordinate Govern
ment offices with the most upright and
capable men, who could be found to take
them, Instead of with mere partlsans Of
late years, however, appointment to Office
under the Government had become not
merely party matter, but in q great
many instances a personal matter. Every
Senator knows that the principal grounds
upon which Offices was sought or obtained
now, were that the applicant was poor or
unwei, or had been unfortunate In busi-
ness, and wanted the Government to give
him an Office by which he could retrieve
his fortunes, or else upon the ground that
ne bad been very influential ..t some cleo
ton.
In this connection Mr.. TRUMBULL
read an extract from the testimony of a
witness, examined by the committee on
retrenchment, who, OIL being asked on
| what influence had obtained for him his
position IN the New York Custom House,
replied thet it was his own political stat
US.
NO." said Mr.. TRUMBULL, "I want
this committee for the purpose of follow
ing up the investigations that have been
made in regard to this question of the use
of patronage. l want reform and sub
stantial reform of the civil service. be-
lieYe it would be
A LONG STEP TOWARDS REFORM
to pass law disconnecting members of
Congress With appointments to office, and
introduced blIl some time ago to that
effect. If that were 3 law, so that no man
should be appointed to asy Office, who had
obtained recommendations from any mem
Der OF Congress, it would have very sal
utary effect, not only upon applicants for
office, but upon members of Congress and
heads of departments also. The indepen-
dence of members of Congress cannot be
maintained, when they have to put them
themselves under obligations for the ap-
pointment of their friends to Office, and
the independence of heads of departments
cannot be maintained when they are liza
bic to be assailed by members unloss they
show them favors in the way of appoint
ments to Office. 1t is not an Unusual
thing, even in this body, forappointments
to have been made, at least such things
have occurred in former times, l think.
There is broad and general impression
that there is
GREAT CORRUPTION IN THE PUBLIC SERVICE.
The late exposures in New York have
awakened public sentiment on this sub
ject throughout the nation, but how was
1T possible for Tammany to perpeirate
those fraudsp It never would have been
possible except upon this principle of par
tisanship In official positions. Do You
suppose that the men who have been ar
rested for robbipg the people of New
York of so many millions of dollars, have
got those millions? doubt not they
have considerable portion, but I believe
that they have had to spend many of
these millions to keep themselves in pow
er, year after year. The money has been
paid to persons with political influence
paid for packing conventions and carrying
elections by ballot box stufing Let US
separate the Federal Government from
any such use of its patronage Let US
have higher state of morals among its
officials Let US elevate official integrity
and pnblie authority by insisting that the
public patronage of the country shall no
more be used for mere sel0sh and partisan
purposes that the public monies in the
treasury. Let US do this, and with a
government so purified Republican insti-
tutions may be continued But unless we
can have purity in the administration of
the Government the prediction of Clay,
that a Republic would go down in despot-
ism, worse than that of Constantinople,
must sooner or later be fulfilled"
Mr.. EDMUNDS thought that the ques-
ton was not whether It is necessary to
purify the public service, but what is the
easiest and most effective way of dong it
Every Senator and Member OF the House
owned his position to his political status
and it had been attained by some service
done their party.
At three O'Clock Mr. EDMUNDS gave
way for motion to go into executive ses-
sion which was carried and the Senate
\ "a. =.