New-York tribune., 1878-03-06
TEMPORARY CLERKS.

TEE DISCHARGE OF 90 IN THE TREASURY NEcEs-
sARY UNLESS MONEY Is PROVIDED TO PAY THEM
"A SHARP DISCUSSION IN THE HOUSE.
ley TELEGRAPH TO THE TRIBUNEl
WAsuINGToN March 5.-The House of Represen-
tatves spent an hour to-day in work on the neces-
sary business of the session the appropriation bills
and then allowed Judge Kelley to occupy the re-
mainder of the afternoon in making speech on
finance in reply to that of General Garfield delivered
last November
The FortifcatIons Appropriation Bill was disposed
of in Committee of the Whole in about ten min
utes
The deficiency bill TO provide for the employ
ment of temporary clerks in the Treasury and In
terror Departments gave rise to considerable Discus
sion. The amount originally appropriated for TEN
porary clerks in the Treasury Department for the
present fiscal year was $4,000 During the ex-
ira session of Congress, last Fall, Secretary
Sherman asked for $4,000 more. and Con-
gess granted $4,000. AT the beginning OF the
present session he wrote a letter to the Speak
er, saving that unless further appropriations
were made to pay these temporary clerks the whole
of them ninety-fvc in number, would have to he
discharged. He did not say III this letter that the
services of these clerks were absolutely needed or
that the public service would suffer by their dis
miSsal but he did say that they were deserving men
and women IN needy circumstances, representing
States whose quotas in the Treasury Department
were not more than full, and they could be en-
plOyed to advantage il Congress would vote $4,000
to pay their salaries.
In view Of the fact that the Secretary has called
the attention of Congress to the estimate that, un-
less there is sharp reduction Of the appropriations,
the revenues of the Government will fall short OF
the necessary expenses by about $11 100000, the
Committee on Appropriations concluded that 1t
would not be wise to provide for work
that can Just as well be done at some
future time, and by the suspension of
which the public service will not suffer.
This explanation, which was made bv Mr..
Durham, who had charge of the bl was not salts
factory to some of the Republicans. but Mr. Frye,
of Name, put the matter in its true hight and ex-
posed the real anmus OF the opposition to the com
mttees report when he said that every one of these
nlnety-ive clerks had behind him. or her. two Sena,
tors and five six Representatives, begging and
demanding of the Secretary OF the Treasury EN-
ployment for their protege lie sad that there
would never be an end of this sort OF thing
until Members of Congress were prohibited from
imDOrturing the heads of departments for employ
Mr.. Duriam's remark that the distress was among
COngTeSsmen, and not among the clerks was not
however, a Just one 1t Is true that there Is more
suffering and poverty in Washington to-day than
there has been any previous time within the MEM
ory Of the oldest resident and there IS 10 doubt
that every one Of the ninety-tive clerks to whom
Senator sherman referred in his communication
has family. or friends dependent on him for sup
port All the old charitable associations of the city,
and many new ones, have taxed their resources to
the utmost to relieve the suffering, and yet the
streets are full of beggars. The committee
has IN this matter taken, the only tena6le
ground that no matter what the needs of the clerks
In question may be. Congress has right under the
present circumstances, if 1t would have the right
under any circumstances, to appropriate money for
the employment of people whose services can be dis
peDsed with The Committee Appropriations
Of the last Congress made many reductions that
were not wise, and which crippled the public ser
vice. This is not one of them.
The committee. IN its bill, provides for the en-
ployment of twenty temporary clerks during the
session of Congress- at 81 day, to perform such
labor the frequent calls of Congress tor informa-
tion make necessary.