The Wheeling daily register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1864-1878, 1878-04-17
Ix.DoORKEErEH FOLK.
Wnat the West virginia Delegation
Did, ana Why.


Washington Republic.
Now that the excitement attendant
upon the Doorkeeper's war mas cooled 1T ii
proper TO call attention To the somewhat
anomalous not TO say undeserved posi-
ton in which e1-Doorkeeper Polk hs:
been placed by the action of the House
That gentleman was proceeded agsinst
upon allegations OF fraud and corruption,
and was dismissed from ais position. Yet
it seems little difficult to understand
how this came about, in the face OF bo.h
the reports of the majority and the
minority of the committee having the
matter in charge. Both reports exon
Grated him from fraud and corruption,
and yet he was dismissed for fraud and
corruption. Such course OF proceeding
looks a good deal like convlcting a man
OF d specific Onense of which he was found
mot guilty"
Before the House took action upon the
reports, the West Virginia delegation IN
talking the matter over among them
selves decided 10 offer o substitute which
would have done tull justice to tie House
away with the inconsistency which is
now so glsring between the committee
reports and the action taken upon them.
Hon. Ben. Wilson, Hon. John h, Kenns,
and Colonel Martin, who represent West
Virrinig in the House are all unusually
clever lawyers, who have had large ex
peTience IN criminal practice. They
were of the same opinion as to the pro
posed action in Colonel Folks case, and
with the view of doing justice TO an
amiable gentleman and placing the
House in consistent position, Colonel
Wilson offered the following, which they
had agreed upon as q substitute, for Mr..
Harrison 5 resolution.
WHEREAS, II is the opinion of this
House that John w. Polk, present door
keeper thereof, has not been guilty of
fraud or corruption in the administration
of said office. Nevertheless the admins
tration Of said office by said Polk has in
volved practices, especially in the en-
ploymcat of persons beyond the number
authorized by law, and in placing upon
the soldiers roll persons other than
wounded or disabled soldiers, which
practices, although they have existed in
in former Congresses, and the employ
ment OF such unauthorized force has
been repeated and practically ratified
by the House in former years by the
acceptance and payment of accounts and
compensation for such unauthorized SER
vices, yet are reprehensible, againt public
policy and at variance with proper sd.
minlstration of SAID office; therefore
RcsolUsd, That the position of Door.
keeper of the House of Representatives
be, and hereby is declared vacant; and
further,
ResolrcI, That until the appointment
meut OF new DoOrkeeper the duties of
the office be and hereby are deVolyed
upon the Sergeant alarms.
The elect of this would have been to
vacate the office of Doorkeeper without
fixing upon Colonel Polk the brand of
fraud and corruption, and in view OF the
facts would have been but simple justice.
The House refused to permit the sub
s.itute to be offered, unanimous consent
beng necessary, and consequently placed
itself in the absurd position to which we
have referred.
Although the West Virginia delega-
ton fgiled in the accomplishment OF their
purpose, they have nevertheless the sat-
istaction Of knowing that they did not
hesitate - demand that right should be
substituted for injustice, while Mr.. Polk
will feel that these very able and upright
lawyers composing the entire delegation
Of West Virginia, regarded the action in
in bis case US contrary to law, to prece-
dent and to fair play.