New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1871-12-24

r. SPIRIT or REFORM.

local governments or parties, or to any
particular branch of government. The
opinion is rapidly gaining ground among
the people that thorough reform is re-
quired in all branches of government
civil and military. This spirit has beer
gradually increasing all over the country
until it has grown to be of sufficient
magnitude to attract the attention of the
government at Washington; and although
the government may not yet be fully pre-
pared to comprehend the full meaning OF
this spirit of reform that has seized upon
the people, and which they will insist
upon being carried out in the different
branches of government service, the fact
that large and patriotic portion OF one
branch of Congress-the Senate-has al
ready moved in this direction must have
its weight in finally convincing all who
are honestly inclined that it is most
righteous movement; one that must at
tract the attention and support of the
government unless it means to place itself
in opposition to the will of the people.
The REPUBLICAN on Wednesday pub
lished an extract from Senator Tipton's
speech, recently made in the United
States Sepate,: upon the subject of the
corruptions and abuses that have fastened
themselves upon the civil service, and
threaten the destruction Of republican
government if not reformed. He alluded,
with great force, to the abuses and cor
ruptions that are practiced in the custom
houses of this country, singing out New
York and New Orleans as the cLief places
where men are placed upon the pay rolls
without being expected to perform duty.
The country has ample reasons for believ-
ing that this custom of feeding political
parasites is not confined to the
custom service of New York and
New Orleans. 1t pervades all
branches of the civil service to more or
less extent. We are aware that it has
been practiced in the Customhouse in
this city to a large extent, and it is be-
ieved to be done now. We have reason
to believe the 'post-roll' still in exist
ence, and that no less parsonage than
Mr.. G. w. Carter, member Of the Louisi-
ana Legislature, Speaker of the House
and editor Of partisan journal, is
pensioner on that roll. We have been
informed that such is the case, and have
never heard it contradicted. Mr.. Carter
is the reputed editor of the Customhouse
organ, and his talent is employed in SOW
ing the seed Of discord among Repub-
licans. But he is not the only one who
is drawing pay from the Customhouse
without performing any legitimate duty
to the government. There are others who
are believed to draw larger sala-
ries, and spend their time in writ
ing editorials for Mr.. Carter. Now
many of this very class of men are the
loudest disclaimers for reform. We find
them here and in Washington. They are
in fact all over this broad country. These
men cry reform, but they 90 not act it,
and the people must learn to distinguish
them from the real reformers The
Senate committee on retrenchment re-
Gently made a lengthy report in regard
to these abuses of the civil service; and
Senator Anthony, to meet the case,
offered the following resolution:
o.cl
seven, to he known as the committee of in
vestigation and retrenchment, be created to
investigate and report upon such subjects
as may be committed to it by the Senate,
such committee to be elected by the Senate |
as other standing committees.
Senator Trumbull offered the following
to the above resolution:
And that said committee be instructed to
inqu lre into the expenditures in all branches |
of the service of the United States, and to |
report whether any and what offices ought |
to be abolished; whether any, and what |
salaries and allowances ought to be re-
duced; what are the methods Of procuring |
in public officers or agents in
the care and disbursement of public moneys;
whether moneys have been paid out illegal
ly; whether any officers or agents or other
persons have been or are employed in the
and, generally, how and to
what extent the expenses of the service of
the country may and ought to be curtailed. |
And also to consider the eXpedency of SO
the laws under which appoint
ments to the public service are now made
as to provide for withdrawing the public
service from being used as an instrument of
political or party patronage.
That said committee be authorized to sit |
nf 70 for
persons and papers, and to report by bill or
and that said committee may an
point clerk.
The speech of Mr. Upton was made in
support Of this amendment, and it con-
cludes as follows:
Sir. have done what could to present
the views which we have on this subject:
but if we are Overruled here. we have the
of knowing that, perhaps, clear
headed honesty, pure-hearted integrity, I'M
skilled in the wiles of the politician and the
necessities of hard-pressed partisan leaders,
may some time come to the conclusion that.
though we lose the cause to-day, we shall |
yet gain it in that better time coming.
A vote of the Senate was then taken on
the amendment and resulted in its defeat,
twenty. four Senators for it and thirty-six
against it.
The Senators who voted for it are
Messrs. Alcorn, Bayard, Blair, Casserly,
Cooper, Davis, Of West Virginia, Fenton,
of Maryland, Johnston, Kelly,
Logan, Patterson, Robertson, Salisbury,
SchurZ, Stevenson, Stockton, Sumner,
Thurman, Upton, Trumbull, Eickers,