The New Orleans daily Democrat. [volume] (New Orleans, La.) 1877-1880, 1880-04-06
POLITICAL AssEsSM ENTS.

The select committee appointed by the
United States Senate to investigate the
frauds perpetrated during the last presiden.
tial election, have in the course of their ex-
aminations discovered what was very gen.
orally known by the public at large, that the
statute Of 1876 relating TO the subject OF levy
Ing political assessments upon the employees
Of the government was practically dead
letter and had never been observed. The as
sessments instead OF decreasing have largely
increased, and though the imperative de-
mands have ceased, and clerks and other
officials are no longer ordered to subscribe,
yet the method substituted for the old is
none the less effective, and the unfortunate
and helpless employee is forced to subscribe
voluntarily or may prepare to pack up and
seek for employment In other fields and pas
lures new.
Every Radical administration has resorted
to this shameful system Of Matchmaking the
employees In the various departments OF the
government, and Mr.. Hayes, with all his
high-sounding professions of honesty and
civil service reform, has permitted this rob-
berry to go on, nor lifted hisvoice or finger
to prevent 1t. In the election of 1878 the Re-
publican National Committee managed, by
sending duly accredited agents into every
executive department In the United States,
to wheedle or extort from the officials and
clerks the sum Of $4,000 for campaign pur-
poses, and 1t Is reasonable to assume that
at least double that sum was squeezed from
the same cheerful aivers during the Presi-
Dental struggle Of 1876.
The plan pursued Is somewhat peculiar, but
rarely fails to bring to time the most impe-
cunious or reluctant employee. First, pref
lilly worded circular Is sent to each individual
In the pay Of the government, the purport OF
which is that the country Is In danger of fall
ing into tho hands Of the Democracy, and
that In order to avert such dire calamity 1t
is absolutely necessary that every true lover
of his country, l. g., every good Republican,
shall do his utmost In the coming campaign.
The intimation is made that the voluntary
contribution of specified sum would do
much towards saving the country from de-
and woald be gladly received by the
committee.
Should any official or clerk fall to discover
the true inwardness Of that circular or be
PAhpoSoAy oSeeoCJ Lo 40 oubcOAuShely WhhbSu
upon by ian agent from Washington. who
presents him list headed by the names and
Of his superior officers, and Is
given an opportunity to make himself solid.
Should the unhappy wretch declare that he
has conscientious scruples against violating
the law by subscribing, he Is left to his fate,
and Immediately 1t may be said of him that
he aras In Federal employ, for his discharge
follows instanter, and he retres sadder and
wiser man to ponder upon the beautiful
moral maxims uttered from time to time by
the pious and truly good head of the nation.
To correct this system of blackmail, this
shameless plumber of public servants, on the
part of the party In power. the committee
have, after much thought. drawn I'D very
carefully worded bill, which they recommend
for adoption; but it is very doubtful IL any
law, however ingeniously worded, can ever
be made effective until there shall be In the
White House a man who will not only talk
reform but enforce reform measures. It is
about as certain as anything can be that
every employee In the Federal service will be
bled very freely In the interest of the Radical
nominee for the Presidency; but the effort Of
the committee is a step In the right direction
and should be persevered In. Let the