The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1871-12-14

| MIR, CAssERLY conten0cu tn0t tne com
mittee proposed by Mr. ARTHONY wOulC
be mere nullity, having no power to orig
mate an investigation. He had heard of thu
Houses action connected with one OF the
highest departments and as fit subjec
for investigation, but would not take i
upon himself to move for an investigation
unless there were committee like thai
proposed by Mr.. TRMBULL, with the pow
er to originate an investigation,
Mr.. TRUMBULL moved to amend by q
provision directing the committee to in
Quire into expenditures in all branches Oi
the government service, and whether any
and II so what, offices ought to be abolish.
cd and what salaries or allowances ought
to be reduced, &c, Also giving 1t power
to sit during the recess Of Congress,
Mr.. SHERMAN favored the original resO'
luton. ltany Senator knew OF any Obuses
he could easily have them referred TO the
committee.
Mr. WILSON favored both propositions.
Mr.. THURMAN favored the amendment,
and said that il the committee should
have power to investigate only such
charges as might be referred 10 1t by the
Senate, 1t would be useless ns q means OF
reforming the public service.
Mr.. TRUMBULL said It the Senators
were in earnest in their desire to correct
abuses in the public serYlG \ they would
not hesitate TO create committee with
sufficient powers
Mr.. EDMUNDs said that, considering
the number OF persons employed In the
public service and their duties, the ad-
ministratiOn OF the Government for the
last three years would compare favor.
ably for efficiency and purity with any
previous administration whatever, even
with that Of George Washington himself
There was, therefore, no need for o COM
mittee with extraordinary powers.
Mr.. THURMAN said there were many
persons throughout the country who
would not take the round and white
washing statements Of Mr., EDMUNDs for
the purity and efficiency Of the public
service. He would require further evi.
dehce. The Senate might either pass a
resolution which would indicate real dc
sire to discover and expose the abuses, or
1t might pass the pending resolution of
Mr. ANTHONY, Which would show the
people that the defects and C0rruptiOns in
the government service were to be white.
washed and covered. The country would
hold hoparty In the majorltyrespOnsible.
Mr.. SCHURZ remarked that this was
not by any means new proposition. II
was merely proposition on tho part Of
Mr. TRUMnULL u revive the old commit
tee on rctrenchment, armed with powers
that made the old committee so useful
and efficient. The Senator from Yer.
mont, Mr.. EDMuNDs, had told the Senate
that the civil service had improved great.
ly under the existing administration, and
undoubtedly it had, yet, in the whole his.
tory of the country, 1t would be difficult
or impossible TO find four consecutive
months during which 50 many delalCG'
tions and embeE2lements by public ser.
wants have been brought 10 light as in the
Inst four months Most Of these cases
had been discovered, too, without careful
search or investigation; they had been
almost stumbled upon, and therefore 1t
was fair to infer that II careful invcstiga.
ton would expose II great many more
now hidden.
Now, gentlemen, tell you whatever
may bC said OF the improvements that
have taken plNCe, the people Of
the United States are startled at the
frequency and enormity of the disclosures
which arc made from day TO day. Do
not give yourselves up to any delusions on
the subject The American people are on
the point of demanding honest govern.
mCnt, and they want to have all the
means used for that object that arc COM
patible with the laws Of the country.
They demand tic exposure and over.
throw Of corruption, regardless OF the
interests of any party or of any person.
II seems to mo we are standing at the
threshold of moral revolution that bids
fair to go beyond the overthrow OF Tam.
many Hall In that revolution the science
of how not to II will be Of very little
avail; neither will cheap deClama!iobs
against corruption in the abstract, or
against the sinfulnesG Of sin In general
and the beauty Of virtue, avail much.
We have hhd enough of all that. The
people will not much longer take that
worthless currency as legal tender. If
we wish to serve the country and com
mand It's confidence, evil have to make
IL clear to the country that we hate no
party more than we hate corruption, and
that We love no party more than we love
good government.
Mr.. CoNKILHG-The question before the
Senate Is whether q committee about to
be created shal be created In the ordina.
~ way, or shall he given, powers of an
extraordinary character. II Is no credit
to the Republican, ,party, or to any mem.
Der Of 1t, TO profess to DO unwilling 10 in.
vestigato It's administration OF affairs and
to purify whatever is found 10 need puri.
fication, for | undertake 10 say that never
in American history was there party
that had less to deter 1t from rigid inves.
tiration and more to tempt II TO go for.
ward. The strength Of the Republican
party resides largely in the fact that II is
able and willing to purify and purge itself.
lie referred TO the Hodge case as evidence
that the Republican party means TO hold
public servants to a strict accountability
Mr.. MORTON declared himself in favor
of Mr. ANrHuNY's resolution, because 1t
was broader thnn Mr. TRuMBULLs and
embraced all matters relating to retrenCh-
ment. lie alsOspoke of the extraordinary
purity Of the present administration and
It's pfomptncss in Furnishing derelictions
of duty In its officers, and cited the Hodge
case as an illustration.
Mr.. CAssERLY asked whether the Sena-
tor from Indiana (AIoRToN) could mention
any other case OF prompt punishment Of q
deIaulter. .I.... aH.
Mr.. MoRToN said he did not remember
any at the moment, but he would venture
the assertion that wherever there had been
dcfalcatton brought to the knowledge of
the administration, the deiauller had been
punished.
Mr. CAssERLY-IIow about Pension
Agent Lawrence and Collector Barly?
Mr. MORTOY-Thpv rnn aWaV before