The Portland daily press., 1878-04-04

other had fever. One man had testified that he
had been mustered in the armyl9o Gays in Penn.an
in answer to a question as to whether he had been
wounded said, 'no" but he had disease for a num-
Der OF years. (Laughter) He had no DOUBT there
were hundreds of thousands of Democrats who had
been diseased number Of years. Qaugbter) then on
the roll There veteran OF the war OF 1872 and
one of the Mexican war; very good soldiers probably
and good Democrats, but having no right whatever
to be on that roll Then there was another who had
suffered from asthma, and several others who had
never been 10 the army. Then there was F1tzhugh
who could not have been born the time OF the war
QIaughter9 Probably he had been put gu the roll
for the same reason that pensions were granted to
children of dead soldiers, because his father was
dead Democrat. Laughter.) Were disabled Demo-
Gratis so that enough could not be found to I'LL
the soldiers roll?
Fastaf give us one hour thy time and let the tap
of the drum and let the sweep of the fife drill this
glorious battalion of Democratic crippled and dis
abled soldiers. 49,
Mr.. Cox Of Ohio, member of the committee on
civil service REFORM supported the majority resou-
ton and argued upon the necessity anu hy
whole thing was sham and Jsggle upon the
government and upon employees. Ii the making OF
ment would lie against the doorkeeper Tor every
change he made on the pay Tolls. Ihere was not
wrong principle in the matter that was not Delog
doing work for which other men were drawing SbO
month. There has been no improvement except in
the reduction of the number OF employees and that
only on account of the warnings of the committee
accounts and committee appropriations that they
would not recommend payment.
Mr.. Eden spoke I'm defence of the doorkeeper. He
argued that if the first instance the charges had
been confined to the employment of an extra force
they would never have been referred to committee
The main charge had been that Polk had been en-
ployed in lobbying measures before the House, and
that charge had been thoroughly dsproved. 1t
wond not therefore be just to Polk to discharge hin
from Office and put the brand of disgrace upon hi
brow simply because he employed an extra force
With all the prejudice against extravaganza and il
favor of the stricest and closest economy, he would
not in violation of the rules of the law of evdenc,
vote to stamp man. however hum BILE, with imam,
and disgrace. If the Democratic party could no
live and do justice to Polk 1t ought to die, and if thu
Republican members could not do justice to him the
ought to resign. There was no partisan advantag
to be gained either side. He gave notice that b.
would offer substitute concerning the doorkeeper
recommJting the whole subject and instructing tn
Committee on Civil Service Reform to report tn
number and the pay of the employees to kept in tn
doorkeeper's department and whether the employ
ment OF laborers should not be committed to tn
| charge OF superintendent or janitor.
Mr.. Cook also spoke in favor of the doOrkeeper an
declared that not one Of the charges made agains
| the doorkeeper and referred to the committee ha
| been sustained He yielded to the motion to ad
journ.
Mr.. Reagan. from the Committee on Approp-a
lions, reported the river and harbor appropriation
| bill. Ordered printed and recommitted.
Adjourned.