New-York tribune., 1879-05-19
SENATOR MAXEY,s CLERK.
HIS SALARY RAISED WITHOUT REASON AS A PER
sONAL FAVOR.
IBY TELEGRAPH TO TIE TRIBUSE.l


sONAL FAVOR.
lBY TELEGRAPH To TIE TRIBUNE.l
WASHINGTON, May Ex-senator Maxey, OF Texas,
now comes TO the front as the founder of new de-
parture in public economy.
About half a dozen of the thirty or forty Senate
committees have heretofore been allowed to employ
permanent clerks at the rate of $2.22O per annum.
All the other committee clerks have been pald at
the rate of Sc per day during the sessions OF the
Senate and it has been the custom at the end Oh
each session to give them bonus equal to one or
two months pay. When Senator Maxey was made
chairman of the Committee on Post Offices and Post
Roads he Amounted as his committee clerk the son
of his Texas law partner.
On last Wednesday the Senator moved an amend
ment to the Legislative bill creating permanent
clerkship for this young man, and after cOntehdlhg
for the measure during three morning hours carried
it through the Senate.
This in its direct results is small matter, but In
the principle involved and as precedent, 1t merits
public notice. The young man had already accepted
the position at the old rate of compensation, ana
would probably have done so had 1t been even iosS'
A thousand men might be found in Washington or
any other large city tomorrow equally well quail
fed IN nerforn the duties of this cershp who would
consider the old rate of compensation very handsome
paw This young man. as has been shown, has no
many other Senate employees have, and it will be
impossible for Senator Maxey to show single
reason for this change which would hold good II
tested by private rules of economy. Its only OBJECT
is to enable personal friend or dependent to draw
large salary during the intervals OF from hVe 10
nine months Of each year when the Senate is not III
session. and when the young man Will not do a
minutes work for the Government. 1t sets
precedent which other committee chaiTmen Will
not be slow to follow
senator Ferry ioined with Senator Maxey in sup
mort of this measure. although when he was chair
man of the same committee he was able to secure
tbe services Of most efficient clerk for the old rate
Of compensation. 1t was opposed by Senators Beck,
Dovis Chandler and Salisbury. The success of
the measure after such ample debate serves to Illus
tIates the insincerity of the professions MADE Dy
certain members of either party 10 love loI isiu
economy in public expenditures , I'D,
The following is the vote upon the measure NE
publicans in Roman, Democrats III , dtanG'l: :pusido
Yeas-Anthony Bailey, Bell, Booth, BURNSIDE
Batler Call Cameron, of Penn, Coke, Ferry, car
lond Harris, Hill. of Col Houston; ingallS JonGi'
Jones of Fla, KirkwoOd. McD0RGid Macy h0IT,ll,
Plumb. Rollins Teller VGnce. pest, IOorhees' HaKT
NGw-Beck. Cameron of Wis. Chandler DGris of
H., Eaton, Hereford. heRan Logan McAl iii'u'
SaalsJury Slater, Thurman, Udtace, u tH@0-lf'
WHAT LIE DUO SAYS OF HIS ACCUSERS.
He SPEAKS WITH MUCH FEELING OF THE PEOPLE
WHO WANT TO INVESTIGATE HIS DEPARTMENT
IBY TELEGRAPH TO THE TRIBUSEI
WAsUIsGToN Nav 1S.-General lie Due, Com
missioner of Agriculture, seems to be getting
excited over the the criticisms OF his administration
that have lately appeared and the investigation
recently proposed in the House of Representatives
In conversation with correspondent day or two
ago he said:
Il have at heart, and am too earnestly engaged
IL the effort to aid the present Administration III te
important work of bettering the condition OF this
country, TO turn aside to kill mosquitoes or other
chronological vermin that will buzz and threaten
and, perhaps, sometimes annoy. 1t would be I'M
possible to 90 on with my work If j noticed the
street OF newspaper rumors banded about for
what purposes know not, and by whom l neither
know nor care.
Suppose some chuckle-headed, beetle-browed,
loDgeared jackass was TO set up tiendlsh braylng
out here in the street. and should take offence at
MS brayng (which would be Objectionable as the
eatter of these bTawling liars and should get down
On all fOurs and kick with that jackass and should
Whlp and kill that poor jackass, what would have
done l would have whipped contemplate
!ackass. have better employment and do not
want jackass scalp in my belt 4; and do not care
0r the dirty work Of tanning his hide unless 1t be-
comes necessity.
NWould seem that people OF common business
''nSe ought to know that the correctness of my
hOanIs, and tie accounts of every department. for