The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1878-02-02
THAT UNFORTUNATE DoORKEEPER
John w. Polk OF tn, House OF Representa-.
uvcs In Hot Water Again.

WASHINGTON Feb. 1.-Mr. Phillips rep,
Kan.l introduced u bill to provide for funding
the national debt In home bonds convertible
into currency. Referred.
Mr.. Baker rep. Ind. rising 10 question OF
privilege. said that several days ago u man well
known to him had brought him certain state
ments in writing involving misconduct OF n
grave. II not a criminal character on the part OF
the Doorkeeper OF the House. He had taken no
notice Of the matter nj the time. but when that
gentleman returned shortly after with his state
ments In the form OF an anldavit. he Baker, felt
he would he false to his duty II he did not bring
the matter to the notice OF the House. Besides
those statements there were also two others
which he would present. The first document
contained the names Of .63 employees on the
Der authorized by law He desired to have it
rcnd >,
would not he better to offer some resolution re-
ferring the whole matter To- some committee.
Mr, Baker Gn.r9d a r;snnlglion recciting the
or. has been guilty of corruption and malfeas-
ancc in Office: that he has required employees
To pny 10 other employees part OF their salaries
ami that he II Interested in claims and bills now
pending before Congress: and directing the
Committee on Rules Ia inquire into the matter
and report whether the Dourkcepcr il guilty.
and nlso whether the Office should not be
Mr.. Baker had tho ailldavits read at the
Tie ~, ono signed by ingram corvcll CHARGED that
VIZ Polk was Interested ~ ciams ncfore Congress aud
hi. sssuns h. pa.,i"n Ne clrk 1he .econi .isnoS s
MARI Duny. Assistant sruenHcut NJ the ocumcnt
cinrci that rok had told him nufr,l thAt he hat a
e,rncr. gpon co9sr,s. N the Msy Of .rpoinim.n Mt
anything tor him
The speaker said that II would hc almost i'm
possible Tor the Committee on Rules to make
Tie Investigations.
Mr.. Baker suggested that the matter should
be- referred 10 a select committee Of five
Mr.. Whiuhorne Dem. Tenn suggested that
IN" commtir" Investigate tn" whole system Of
louhyism. He did not believe that Mr.. Polk WIS
dishonest or corrupt. but thought him the vie
tim Of q deliberate. foul conspiracy.
Mr.. Mcmahon tDcm., Ohio said that he had
always found Mr., Polk 9 perfect gentleman.
tee on Civil Service Reform. Tho great trouble
WIS in the system which allowed men 10 be re-
moved from Office without cause.
Mr.. Bakers resolution tmodined 20 as 10 di-
mittce on Reform in the Civil service) was
adopted
Mr.. Ellsworth rep. Mich moved that the
OK parte afildavits read ut the Clerks desk be
omitted from the record and IL was So ordered
Mr.. Baker who had no, been In his seat when
U" motion was madcl denied the right OF the
House Ia order the eNpurgatlon ~ any part Of
hl- speech. He had made these aiildayiis part
OF his speech.
Tho Speaker ruling the point well taken the
rulod ont Of order.
Mr. Harmrr rep. Pa presented petitions
signed hy over 1000 workingmen Of Philadel-
phin, demonstrating against any chnngr ~ tho
tarr laws which would reduce the duties on
foreign goods. and also against m. rnimposi-
tiou of ~" war tax on ten and coffee. Referred.
Mr. O'Neill lt"p.. Pa presented n petition Of
the reduction Of the tax from "a to ~ cents per
pound mud rebate. Referred,
The House then went into Committee ~ the
Whole on the private calendar, and soon after
adjourned