The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1878-02-04

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The Senate and the House of Representa-
tives seem TO he greatly troubled over tho
patronage OF their respective houses. The
Republicans OF the former have had Mr.
FRENCH. their Sergcant-at-Arms, who makes
all the appointments OF a certain class, sew
eral times under discipline in caucus, upon
charges Of malfcasance In office, instigated,
IL is said, by ambitious patriots who desire
to serve their country on the pay and pick
ings Of his profitable place. And now the
House of Representatives has ordered an In
vestgaton into alleged abuses OF their
Doorkceper. MI. POLK on serious charges
formulated under oath, the truth OF which
remains TO be proved.
II is undoubtedly the fact that the patron
age Of both chambers is largely in excess Of
their needs. and that these abuses are sane
toned for the convenience and ease Of Scna-
tors and Representatives, who utilize clerks
and messengers and laborers as private
secretaries, and in other capacities not con-
templated by law By conventional rule
in the appropriation bills, each House is
allowed to determine the number and pay Of
its own employees. Some idea OF the extent
OF this extravaganza may be formed from
the circumstance that In the last Congress
the cost Of employees in the Senate and for
contingent expenses aggregated $685. 80.
or say s3,6ss for each Senator, and in the
House for the same items S3O5,9j3 or say
81 ,0l3 for each member.
Baths, BARRIERS, bootblacks, and various
| luxuries OF the toilet are furnished free OF
expense TO members, with a retinue OF SER
wants to wait upon them and to prepare
| their persons for the arduous duties OF leg
islatlon. Although the law fixes definitely
the limit OF persons TO be employed, 1t is
constantly evaded by resolutions increasing
| the number for alleged special objects;
and all these questionable items are thus
! saddled on the back Of the contingent fund,
the accounts OF which few people ever see.
! Consequently, the appropriation acts never
specifically show tho actual expenses OF
| Congress since these are covered up largely
IN such so-callcd contingencies.
Under Republican rule the abuses in the
House almost equalled those in the Senate,
30 that ia single year the cost Of the
folding room alone often reached 100000,
from the excess OF favortos on the pay
rolls many OF whom did no work at all, ex-
cept for the members who had them APP
| IOlHt'u. Ill lll' ltiSb btluN'ib ii'hSN eiir
iniauitous system was checked, but not en-
tlrely killed for it had taken root SO deeply
in ten or twelve years Of reckless prodi-
galty as to be difficult OF absolute cxtir-
patton. Two Doorkcepers were elected, and
serious scandals attached TO both.
The appropriation for the current fiscal
year fixes the exact number and pay OF all
persons employed under the House. and the
present Doorkcepcr was elected with full
knowledge Of that law. His first duty was
to inform himself, and TO administer the law
rs he found 1t. II he was not able to resist
Importantly for Office and was willing t.
violate the law, TO serve any combination 10y
which he may have secured the place. h,
thereby deserved expulsion from Office, II
not sevorcr punishment. The record shows
that he appointed some sixty-three persons
moro than the law authorizes.
There is a Committee OF Accounts in tho
House, to supervise all this class of eXpen
diturcs. That committee reported a rcsOlu
ton, on the eve OF the holiday recess, fol
- 800 to cover these Illegal appointments
and yet, alter distribution, this appropria
ton leaves $1,000 stu unpaid. To that ex
tent the Doorkecper's action was condoned
when he should have been brought at One
before the House, and made to answer. Tn
excuses offered for his conduct, and the pro
texts urged as defence for his fragrant vic
lation Of law, arc unworthy and discrodit
able.
They come, too, with a bad grace iron
. men who, before their constituents, shou
reform and retronchment," and in the con
ridors of the Capitol demand eXorbitan