Daily globe. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1878-1884, 1878-04-04
House of Representatives.

WASHINGTON, April 3.-Mr. Banks, from the
committee on rules, reported back resolution
admitting one representative of each public
journal which employs permanent correspond
ent for reporting the proceedings of Congress
to the hall and passage ways around the hall Of
the House. Adopted.
Consideration was then resumed of the case
of Col. Polk. doorkeeper of the House.
Messrs. Cravens and Henry spoke in oppose
tion to the majority resolution, and in favor
Of retaining Doorkeeper Polk.
Mr.. Frye spoke in support of the majority
resolution. He created much amusement by
criticising the appointments made to the sol
diers' roll of the House. The New England
Democratic delegation had brought out as its
disabled soldier man who had served three
years in an independent company at Boston.
Another man had been put on who had served
four years in the navy as apothecary. Still
another had sprained an ankle during the war,
and another had had fever. One man had
testified that he had been mustered in the
army for ninety days in Pennsylvania and in
answer to question as to whether he
had been wounded said, No, but he had had
a disease for number of years." He had
no doubt there were hundreds of thousands of
Democrats, who had been diseased for num-
Der of years, then on the roll There was
veteran of the war of 1912, and one of the
Mexican war, very good soldiers. probably, and
good Democrats but having no right whatever
to be on that roll Then there was anotker,
who had suffered from asthma, and several
others who had never been in the army. Then
there was Ftzhugh, who could not have been
born at the time of the war, and, therefore,
could not have been disabled in the army.
Probably he had been put on the roll for the
the children of dead soldiers because
his father was dead Democrat
Were disabled Democrats so rare and scarce
that enough could not be found to fill the
soldiers roll. In conclusion he said, ooh
spirit of immortal Falstaff give us one hour of
thy time, and let the tap of the drum and the
sweep of the fife drill this glorious battalion
of Democratic crippled and disabled soldiers,
for, see, out come the venerable gentlemen of
the war of 1872, and the Mexican war; and then
the navy sends in its part, and the son of the
dead Ftzhugh cometh into view, and then the
Irish brigade and Michael j. Flaherty deceased
for many years, and then the man that famed
his ankle in 1861, and then that asthmatic fell
low, and SO they come through the door, one
after another march out to drill, and the spirit
of Falstaff, Disguised with the display, takes
heavenwards his fight"
the discussion for the day by saying it would
not be just to Mr.. Polk to discharge hi m from
the Office and put the brand of disgrace upon
his brow simply because he had employed an
extra force. He would not, in violation of the
rules of law and evidence, vote to stamp any
man, however humble, with infamy and dis
grace. He would have no lot or part in it. If
the Democratic party could not live and do
justice to Polk it ought to die, and if Re
publican members could not do JUS
tice to him they ought to resign.
There was no partisan advantage to be
gained on either side. He gave notice he would
offer the substitute answering the doorkeepe1
and recommitting the whole subject, and in
structing the committee on civil service reform
to report the number and pay of employees to
whether the employment of laborers should
not be committed to the charge of the super.
intendent or janator.
Mr.. Regain, from the committee on appropri,
ations, reported the river and harbor appropri.
alton bill. Ordered printed and recommitted
! Adjourned.