The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1878-02-02

matter alleged against the Doorkecper and report
charges and also whether that ONCE ought not TO be
abolished
Mr. MILLS (dem.) Of Texas, said that hc was glad
that the other side OF House was awakening TO
the question OF civil service reform Several years
ago at the Boston Navy YARD several thousand men
above the number authorized by law were employed
In order TO bring about the defeat OF the gentleman
from Massachusetls mr. BanKsl, ana the ofacer who
had been responsible TOR that had been
the whole time oil that administration.
THE AFPIDAvIrs READ.
Mr.. BAKER then had read at the Clerks desk the
afdayts referred TO- Tho first one was signed by In
gram Coryel charging that Mr. Polk was Interested in
claims before Congress, and had promised him an in
terest In them In consideration OF MS resigning his
position q clerk.
The second statement was signed by Mark A. Duffy.
assistant superintendent Of the document room,
making Substantially the same charges and declaring
that Polk had tod him tDunyl that nc had "corner
upon Congress" In the way OF appointments and that
he could get the Committee on Accounts 10 DO any
thing Tor aim.
The SPEAKER stated that It would DO almost impos.
sible Tor the Committee on Rules to perform the SER
vice. as he know himself that It was already occupied
TO tho extent OF Its powers, and because such
vessaion did not properly come within the scope Of
Its dutiea
Mr.. BAKER then suggested that the matter should
be referred 10 u select committee OF live members.
Mr. WHTTHoRxE thought that tue powers OF the
committee should be enlarged 10 allow It to In
vesgals the whole system OF obbylsm. In regard to
Mr. Polk he did not believe that 10 dishonest or
corrupt, and he should be surprised at any evidence
to that effect He believed that gentleman tho
V'S W ON =, aenuera's, 'ooa conspiracy.
Committees ON accounts aelemd,d Tint commi,tao
, ~ ou M,.nss ssonu1 , ,'as sv u,' ,S
vt,. and 800 ,ns, - ,ha .,nnrt col, a,
nil hc wa.taa ,r"m ~ no wan,.a verv ,,,tis tor =, ma
been tho rule OF that committee u give nothing except
c,s,,a~s w,,h vr pin =. h.s ,,.,d Mn nsssec,
gcntlemau He did not believe that u select commit
tee should be appointed but that tho matter should be
reierred 10 the Comnttee ON civil S.rv,ce Reibrm
The great trouble was In the system winch allowed
men TO be removed from office without cause.
Er tn lApe Af No rnurnr fovtz nd
ho,avs. ,ps, S on," Came M, ot INC nu
MIN nm uns",nishod and unsuiI,ed name
AT the end OF an hour the House refused to second
the previous question and so the discussion went on
milt.e on Accounts intma.cd that The gentleman
ION diana tMr Baker, seemed DESTROYS OF placing
,on Oh 600 10 uay the extra vru. or me noorf"ep
err roll wnlo he Mr. Bakcrj was as much rcspops,.
bic iur as any body csO The Committee on Accounts
had made no recon in regard 10 It, Ii TINS
was 10 10 made party question then he would 20
back of last Congress and show that under republican
rulo like system prevailed aud the extra employees
were paid out Of an appropriation In bulk Tor Inc
ioders room which AUTHORIZATION lad been cut down
from $50 OVO or SlOO. UOO TO $1,000 II the Door
keen Ind boen using the Committee on Accounts
Improperly he trusted that not only the
hui every member Of the Com on Accounts
sTIRcn OF MR. WRIGHT
cmpioyes was not suicen.iy large It oSgh. 70 be en-
October by tie Doorkeopsr-the only hing ho had
Rot-and this man had been assigned TO q committee
room as messenger: but because his name nud not
been put on the roll no Mr. Wrigh) had TO pay the
mans compe nsution himself People should not talk
about economy when they robbed the laboring man.
some peouIc believed US o matter of faith in what
MAS called purgatory.
A MExBER-That has been abolished
Mr. WRGur-I know thut Mr. Becchcr has abolished
o branch OF IL; but do not understand hell and
purqatory as SYNONYMOUS Purgatory is where you
re, the rst biazing then you como to the real arc
at.erward. That's hell Shouts OF iaughter.)
MKMBER-It III q case or going further aud faring
worse. lI.auenterl
Mir. WRIGnr-Exactly. l know that there Is purga-
tory IN the vicinity OF this chamber and know that
Mr. Polk has bcens walking up to his armpts In pur-
Catory ever since the opening OF THIS Congress He
"a KIND. indulrent man, promising 70 40 much and
doing but little. (Laughter.I | do not know
why man earning his 81 uay Is not as good as
man who il paid Sl3 q day. Gentlemen on the other
SIDE Will probably call that demagosism. do not
mean 30 much my friends opposite DO mean
docking up a. the reporters gallery you mon up
The SPRAKER--The gentlemen from Pennsylvania
must address tho members.
only switcninx oil IN the OF tho Speaker
uaughter) have gone through that ordeal SO often
mat liKa the eel which Is skinned often that Il
ceases 10 bs sensitive, not sensitive 10 these
cries OF demagogism. s. FgN - +fi~e
Mr.. BRiDGHs, (dem.) Of Pa, asked his colleague
whether the man whote compensation he paid had
not been discharged BY Mr.. Polk without any cause
beng assignedf
Mr. WR0Hr--No, sir; that u the unklndeet cut Of
ALL
Mr. BRipaKs-Ho discharged q man OF mine with
out assigning any cause.
Mr. WKIGHT-I believe that the Doorkeoper has
done the best thing he could, for never has mortal
been oppressed with applicants for office he
has been slnco be has been in that position have
seen corridor opposite his room throngcd with
men, ami children that II was almost impossi.
bio 70 get through, and he has told me on repeated
occasions that he almost "wished he were dead -
(Laughter) THIS matter should not be made p0iti.
cal question.
Mr. ELLswoRrH--Has not Nj. Polk made political
question IN refusing to appoint republicans his
rolip
MIR. WRIdHr-It has always been the custom OF tho
party In power take the spoils Of Office l hope
you will not bogrudge US the petty patronage OF the
House when the republicans have all the patronage
OF the government
Mr.. Frye, (rcp) Of Mc.-lE with only the patronage
OF the House at your disposal Mr.. Polk Is 80 over.
whelmed the corridor opposite his Office Is full OF
hungry applicants, IN Heavens name, how will II be
when you have tho Presidency OF the United States
with 80 900 oficesY
Mr.. Csy%ns DEM OF Pm. consrasted the exoenses
Congress. nc gave the clerical anu contingent ex-