New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1882-08-11
FYECTTTVE LOBBYISTS.

1t is rather an interesting Illustration OF the
swift mutations of politics chat whereas yea
ago the Chief question agitatng the public
mind was the attempt OF the Senate to dictate
to the Executive, the situation is now exactly
reversed, and the Senate, or large part OF 1t,
has had several occasions recently to resent at
tempted dictation by representatives OF the
Executive branch of the Government
wear ago the startled Senators, aghast at
the thought that President Garfield proposed to
exercise his constitutional functions instead
of drlegatng an important part of them to the
Senators from the various States in turn, were
sending Safety Committees as they were
called. to the W bite House, representing that
he was violating the established etiquette gov
ernipg the relations of the Executive and
Senate, and challenging vast dangers and
disasters This strange situation existed Tor
several weeks. During that time, the President
heard such representations with patience, ana
while he never for moment abated the firm
ness with which he had taken his position
neither he nor his Cabinet, as everyone
knows, attempted to exert any undue influence
upon the Senate.
Indeed, the recent uncOnccaled lobbying on
the floor of the Senate by Mr.. Howe and Mr..
Hatton is something for which no recent pre-
cedent. if any, can be found, and it is as mex
cnsable rs it is unusual. 1t is Il common prac-
tice for members of the Cabinet to visit Con-
grcss while it is in session, and they are OIL
cially designated as among the few persons who
have the freedom of the floor of beth Houses.
But the very readiness with which the pr1vi-
lege is granted MAKES it all the more necessary
that it should not be abused. For Il Post
master General and his chief assistant to use
il for the purposes which Senator Miller is
stated to have described without contradiction
in his executive session speech was as discredit
able to them rs 1t was insulting to the Senate.
Where the Senate has rejected nomination,
ms in the Penn Yam case, after full discussion
of the issues involved, and purely upon the
merits of the case, the President and his Cabi-
net owe it to the body TO which the duty OF
rejection alone belongs to respect that decl-
sion and not to attempt to Overturn 1t by offers
of patronage and influence if Senators of either
party will change their votes. Where the
Senate has confirmed nomination, as in the
Lowville case, the President and his Cabinet
and their representatives owe 1t to the Senate
to LET the appointment stand. the more espe-
cially as it originally proceeded from them and
was in this instance accepted without a word
of opposition from any quarter. 1t is source
of satisfaction TO see it stated that the attempt
to reopen this latter case, probably from some
petty factional reason, was resented 10y some
Senators who are in full accord with the Ad-
ministration, but who evidently felt that this
interference Oh the part of an oiiiciOus sub
ordinate demanded some notice even at their
hands.
As an individual politician Mr.. Ilatton, from
whom this last attempt is understood to have
proceeded, is a person of the least possible con-
sequence. Neither his standing nor personal
influence alone would enttle him to the small
est share of public attention. But, considered
as a willing instrument in the scheme for
deliberate and thorough Stalwartizing of the
Federal service, which seems to be in progress,
even a person of little intrinsic Importance may
become of public interest Mr. Hatton is one
of a quadriateral who now direct the political
side of the four great Departments of the Gov
eminent which can be used for patronage-the
Post Office, Treasury, Interior and State
Three Of these Departments are presided over
by gentlemen somewhat advanced in years, as
our public men go, whose personal sympathies
in political Affairs are strongly marked and
well understood, but who have not had a close
contact with recent politics. They have been
supplied with assistants who have more poti-
cal knowledge of this sort and more energy,
and whose Stalwartisn is, il anything even
moro positive. In the Post Office Department,
Mr. Hatton in the Treasury, John C. New in
the Interior. Mr.. Joslyn. an appointee Of Sen