The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1878-04-11
Failure Of an Effort 10 Condemn the
Civil Service Reform Order.
THE COMMITTEE APPOINTED.
Growing Evil of Private Claims
Before Congress.
FHE OPPOSITION TO THE NEW TARIFF
Debate on the Pension Bill in
the House.


the House.
FROM OUR SPECIAL CORRESPONDENT.
,t@w WASHINGTON, April TO- 1878.
TIE REPUBLICAN CAUCUS - UNEXPECTED
QUIErUDE ON THE PART OF THE MALcoN-
rENrs-ExcELLENT LESSONS TAUGHT By
COMMUNICATION WITH CONSTITUENTS.
Tne joint OF the republicans tonight proved
DO unexpected and decisive victory tho Presi-
aent II was reluctantly called by Mr.. Hale at tho
urgent and repeated solicitations OF q consider
,blo number OF nnti-Hayes men, and only
after no had several times put them
or Some Of tho malcontcnts boosted
beforehand OF their determination speak their
minds freely tonight about the outrageous conduct OF
the President and the deplorabe condition OF the
baggers in the South and the disappoinsmcnts Of
o1lce-seekers IN tho North. These matters II was
thought DO freely discussed, but tho assembly
was almost as mild as Quaker meeting
After ama0lo address by Mr.. Hale, and tho Sc
lection Of Congressional committee. Mr.. Sargent
rose and offered resolution that the President be
asked to recall his civil service order. Mr.. Sargent
spoke at length, with good deal OF bitter
ness Of the Presidents misconduct OF his miserable
Southern policy, Of his management Of tho civil
vice, oftho blight he has brought the party and
made some feeling illusions to the msiortunes which
The party had suffered In California through Mr..
Aayes' course.
TO Mr. sargent's amazemcnt he found no second.
Senator Edmunds, In very quiet way. rc-
marked that 1T was not useful for tho caucus
70 do what Mr. Sargent had proposed, and
suggested that Il would be- much easier 10 allow
tho nk .,iol NJ ala
who could do In the matter what seemed thom best
and who ought to have authority 10 their
discretion. Mr.. Edmunds' remarks turned the tables
SO completely on poor Mr. Sargent that he was not
heard from again.
Mr. John T. Watt, OF Connecticut, had the audacity
20 Get up and mako civil service reform speech.
Mr. conger, OF Michigan, followed, with the remark
that II was hardly worth while for the 10
firm the people IN the belief which they already
tcrtained that Congress trying bully the Pres
dent ami that whole difficulty about the Offices
Tho action proposed by Mr. Sargent would. he thought
look to the people like Office holders trying TO rule
about Offices no did not think It prudent to put
themselves In that position before the public. He
was not satisfied with tho Presidents policy IN some
things especially tho Southern policy, but no did
want TO take any action which should put them tho
position before the country OF qrarrellng about Office.
On Senator Edmunds' motion, Mr. Hale. as CHAIR
man Of the caucus, was instructed 10 appoint CON-
mstes OF eleven, with power to admonisn the Pres,-
DON'T II they think best, and she caucus adjourned
neither Mr. Jorgensen, nor Mr. Martin l. Townsend
nor anybody else showing any aacrity IN attacking
either the Pfesiden. or the Cabinet Not evon Mr..
Schurz named. ~
Several members Of the caucus friendly 10 the
President had anticipated stormy time bad pre-
pared themselves to defend Mr. Hayes and his policy
but when Mr.. Sargent sat down II was by them
that the game Of the ntiHayes men up and that
they need not trouble themselves about a dcicpce
and alter quot consultation they determined that
there necessity for them even to speak.
The caucus was pretty FULLY attended, but neither
Senator Blaine nor Senator Conkling was present
The Hayes republicans have within q few days bo-
como much holder and outspokon than before. The
people generally the Presidents side and
that there Is certain amount OF indig-
nation with tho republicans here for their &c.
ton toward Mr. Hayes and especially at Senator
Howe's speech. Wnen Mr. Foster. tho other day, at
the Gorham meeting, asked II anything could DO
said In defence OF Mr.. Hayes, no bluntiy replied,
''cerainly" aud proceeded 10 point out that Mr..
Hayes bad given pence TO the south and nm
honest administration to the country. Ho has
received dozens Of letters already from all
parts Of tho country approving OF his
language, and several republican Representatives who
have lately visited their districts return hero with
tho quiet report that their people BY NO means
pleased with tho Senase's attitude toward the Prcs
dent. Ono Of these gentlemen remarked that he
thought two-,hrds Of the republicans Of h assr,o.
nsnt. but dsinclincd to have anybody make fuss
with Mr.. Hayes \
PRIVATE CLAIMS BEFonE coNoREss-REPRE-
BURDEN FROM OUR NATIONAL LEGISLATORS
AND DESTROY THE LOBBY.
Mr. GARRISON Potter introduced q bill In the House
to-day Intended relieve Congress Of The grca, burden
OF considering the mass Of private claims constantly
pressing upon It. or l. 100 bills which have pcsn
brought before tho House since last October least
one half OF this kind in pubic letter to Senator
Herman IN 1870 Mr.. Potter spoke Of the evil which
this bill s INTENDED 10 cure showing that by the ruos
Of the House two days In every week, or
ono third OF tho session, Is given to tho
consideration OF private busnessshat IA, TO bills for
payment, or gins, or bountcs, or rccf, form
OF privilege 10 private persons These claims are lrst
referred to a committee OF ten so, Who In turn,
refer them to member, who hears tho state.
ments or ex.parte evidence offered by the applicant
and reports the bill back to tho committee wno III
they approve 10, report u to tho House, by whom,
nftcr brief discussioo ~ 10 passed. or rejected All
TINS Is usually done cx.partc without any opposing
interest being heard witnout my general publicity,
without any oral examination OF witnesses, WITH
out any check against fraud and without any
prescribed rules or regulations That such q dctermi.
nation Of claims should necessarily result In great
abuses is unavoidable. It's hardly too much 70 say
that person with just claim upon Congress might
almost we'll abandon IL as pursue H. and that no
ono with unjust claim II only plausible, persistent
and needy, need be without somo hope OF success
Beyond this such claims furnish the chief source or
In Congress. Public measures must DO
mainly determined with reference to public ends,
and therefore rarely furnish either induccment or
for corruption. But with private meas
ures tho reverse Is truo, and " members
Of Congress are ever corrupted or purposcly mis-