The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1879-04-17
"voluntary Contributions"

Mr.. GoRHAM late Secretary Of the Senate,
testified before the wALLACE-TELLER Com
mittee that he had collected nearly round
hundred thousand dollars from the office
holders to aid the Republican Congressional
campaign last fall, and he was candid
enough 10 tell how he distributed that fund
among the close and doubtful districts. It
also appeared that agents went through the
departments at Washington, precisely as
they did in 1876 under GRANT, with lists OF
all the clerks and the assessments on each
salary, upon payment OF which these agents
faxed q commission, as In q regular bust
ness transaction.
The Fraudulent President not only APP
proved this blackmailing Of the clerks, but
he gave his name at the head Of the list, as
notice to subordinatcs that they were ex-
pected TO contribute voluntarily" the per-
eentage on their pay which had been levied
by GORHAMs Committee. His name was all
they got for aid and comfort but it was
tower OF strength among the alarmed clerks.
EvARTs, SCHURz, MCCRARY, SHERMAN,
THOMPSON, DEvENs, and KEY also sub
scribed literally In their own persons, and
their autographs, for the first time, became
OF intrinsic value, as an intimidation in
their respective departments.
This was done to conform to the following
order, which had been officially published
and communicated to every branch Of the
Government:
"ExFcuuvT MASsoS wAsuSGroS. June q.
"siE desire to call your attention to the following
paragraph In letter addressed by the Secretary Of
The Treasury the conduct be observed by officers
the general Government in relation to the elections
No officer shall be- required rmitted TO take part in
The management OF political organizations caucuses,
conventions or election campaigns Their right to vote
and to express their views public questions. either
orally through the press. is not denied provided It
does not interfere with the discharge their Official
duties No asSHaaf for Jn'tioH pap~s oArfs ,5nr
i0ui,' A0uii 0, a''seL Tho rs isdIq1ri5i ,re iar
Of he ora 1t should be understood by every
officer Of the general Government that he Ia expected to
conform his conduct to Its requirements.
VERY respectfully RIB HAYES"
1t is Of common repute that this general
order was drawn by reformer EvARTs, who
at that time was supposed to be engaged
with reformer ScHURz in preparing rules to
elevate the civil service above the range OF
human nhrmities, and TO inocuate the
bureaucratic practices OF Germany upon
the American system. They set up as the
chosen apostles of reform, and did business
rs firm at wholesale and retail, with some
little success, until the fraud collapsed sud
denly and the bankrupt act was the return
made to coutiding creditors.
The messages, speeches, cant, orders, and
assurances Of HAYES have little concern for
the public ON this or any other subject. His
hypocrisy and his consistency are Of no ac-
count. He went into Office fraud; he will
remain fraud all through. and he will
/. al.
was 10 have been expected of him or Of his
surroundings; and if anybody has been de-
ceived into confidence by these cheap pro-
fessions, it certainly is not the fault Of the
bogus Administration, but Of a weak ere
dulity.
1t is Of some consequence, however, wheth-
or the law has been deied by the Executive.
The Legislative, Executive. and Judicial
Appropriation bill for the year ending June
30, lS77-eight days after HAYES had issued
the foregoing order contains the following
clause:
"slcros c That an eIo,fr, egle,' ,pri,g,., ~ h.
Unifi state u uIg.nioi ~ me P'~iLHi h he adri'e aHd
s1n,nto' n, Sealts pfui fom ro3aeqg gieiy
esclag from, any oher Qfsr sHIgss NJ NE GDrernme
any injury or property oi,r h'q NJ rnr Jor ioii T
t.,, unj s sub g,,r employee rlo aR gpi ugrip the
rroiof hb s,ci,a hal h at discharged from N,
se # he Caf-i Stie dNd he JH a's h d,smei guilty n
.sis,aoraor and 0sef hal L. dasi
neeedUy 500
In order to clrcumvent this law, two out
siders were appointed TO make the cOllec-
tons; but the fact is notorious that chiefs
of bureaus, head clerks, and others Of strong
partisan bias who got into Office by politics.
and whose only hope Of retaining Office is
by extreme devotion 10 the Republican
party, made themselves Extensively conspic-
uous in this vile work. They carried tine
lists through their Offices, demanded sigma
lures, threatened removal for refusing, and
enforced the tax. The only man who dec
orously declined to pay, because it was for
hidden by the Executive order was at once
reported TO JOHN SHERMAN, and turned out
on a false prctext The chief who betrayed
his daily associate was a low and scurvy
politician, who, with twice the salary OF the
excellent clerk that he caused to be dis
missed, never pretended TO do an hours
work day.
The time has come for stopping these
scandalous abuses II the Democrats are sin
cere. There is no Republican Senate now TO
interfere with their measures. A proper in
vestigatlon will showup the oppression that
has been practised in the departments and
how they have been converted into a mere
machine for carrying elections. Enact Il
law forbdding outsiders or other agents
from collecting money, for political objects,
from oiliceholders, under penalty that will
keep them away, and the thing will come to
an end very quickly.
How Business Looks.
The revival which Is now beginning slowly