The south Kentuckian., 1879-07-29
Washington Post.

The assessing machine of tho Re-
publican party is in full operation at
No. 1917 L street, under the direction
OF Hon. Jay A. Hubbell and Billee
Chandler. Solicitors" are going
through the departments in the same
old way, seeking voluntary" SUBJ
scriptions. This system of "volun-
tary contributions" is worth describ-
ing, in order that people who don't
draw salaries from the Government
may understand it.
The names of all the department
clerks and Government employees in
Washington is first obtained, with the
salary that each receives. Lists of
names are then made out for the col.
lcctors, and opposite each name is put
an amount equal to two per cent. of
tho salary. Each collector has the
names and the amounts he is to see
10 written in small memoran-
um-book, and when he shows it TO
the clerk assessed that is the first i'll
tImation the latter has that he has
voluntarily" contributed anything
towards the Republican campaign.
The clerks and employees are not seen
first and asked whether they are will
ing TO contribute, and If so what
amount; not at all. That would af-
ford too good an opportunity for
them 10 decline or make excuses. The
collector calls upon them at their place
of employment, whether it be in the
Treasury, navy-yard, or elsewhere
under the Government: the clerk or
employe is shown his name in the
book and the amount set opposite,
and notified that the Republican Con-
gressional Committe have "put him
down" for that much. On the first
page of the book are few lines to
the effect that eve the undersigned"
ETC., voluntarily contribute the
amount set opposite our respective
Names" etc. Each employe thus Yis-
tied understands what is meant by
the summary call upon him and re-
alizes that refusal to come down
with the cash will cost him his posi-
ton. Men who have not the money
ready to pay at once generally find 1t
safer to go to headquarters and ex-
plain ; they are not willing to risk
report by the collector that they are
unwilling 10 pay.
This is the volunteer contribution"
system now being put into daily
practice by the Republican committee.
For few weeks last year Mr.. Hub
bell, member of the committee, had
charge of tho business, and he
squeezed the clerks 80 successfully
that this year he was put at the head
of the committee. He began his ca
reer as chairman by collecting for the
National View, a Radical paper is
sued enthusiastically under the
guise of Greenback organ. "Hub.
BELLS mistake" as collector for the
Weekly VieW, has become notorious.
lie mistook Mr.. Turner, Democrat,
for Gen. Robinson, a Republican, and
the the Post exposed the whole thing.
This exposure involved the entire
committee as well as Hubbell, and
they sought to devise some scheme
whereby they couldl relieve them
selves of the odium of that dirty piece
Ot business. Finally 1t was deter
mined 10 load the entire responsible
ty upon Hubbell, and say that he had
undertaken to help the View with
out any authority from the commit
tee. Mr.. Hubbell emphatically re-
fused TO shoulder the burden. He
informed his associate assessors that
If they gave out any such statement
he would publish card sho wing that
he was duly authorized by the eom-
mittee to raise money for the Vieao.
A proposition to run the paper in the
Republican interest by opposing any
coalitions between Greenbackers and
Democrats, in consideration OF finan-
cial assistance, was laid before the
committee and accepted by them; II
was in pursuance of this that Hub
bell was acting when he run against
p Turner, and he threatened to expose
the proceeding over his own sigma
ture If his associates went back on
him. "I've had the brunt OF this
whole thing to bear anyhow" com.
planned Hubbell, "and it's been id
disagreeable, l can tell you; so
won't have any more put on me-
This settled the matter, and the com
mittee surrendered to Hubbell. The
Executive Committee, which is en-
trusted with the assessment and man
agement of the campaign consists ol
the following: j. A. Hubbell, chair
man; VIM. e. Chandler, secretary
Senators Allison and Rollins, ant
Representatives Hiscock, Dunnell
Orth (Venezuelr), Mckinley, Jorgen
son, Davis and Fisher.
The somewhat notorious Capt
Blacktord, formerly of the Capito
police, has been commissioned col
lector for the Treasury Department
His little book has been rugged III
and he can be seen daily toiling u
and down stairs in that department
hunting for "voluntary" contribu
tions. lie is allowed five per cen
upon what he collects, as q slight in
ducement for him to "squeeze th
boys" He was nothing but secrt
agent for the Radical party durin
his service as Police Captain, an
when he was dismissed he claimed h
reward, and was made Assessor. HI
list is headed with the names of Hav
ley and Treasurer Gilfillan, who al
put down for 800 each. Wymal