The Evening critic. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1881-1885, 1882-09-08
THEY ALL DO 1T,
Thnt IN TO Say. Levy Political Az
easements,


There has como up hcayenwnrd from oyery
Democratic organ IN tho land howl against
political assessments. They have denounced
the Republican Congressional Committee
from ono end OF tho country 10 the other as
being but little better than n plckpockct, be-
cause It has asked voluntary contribution
from those In the employ OF tho Government
for campaign purpose, and tho press called
ON the powers above and below to protect tho
poor oyerworkcd and undorpaid Government
clerks from the rayagos OF Jay Hubboll. They
have alleged that such thing as assessing
Government employees by the Democratic
party whom I'm or out Of power was thing un.
heard Of. Tho Democratic organs, assisted by
few Halfbroed Republican papers In tho
country, have time and again denounced tho
Republican Campaign Committee for asking
aid from Government employees.
Perhaps no paper In tho United States has
had more TO say on this subject than the Dalti
more Sun. 1t has, in season and out OF season,
denounced the principle OF assessing en-
ployes OF the Government. The following
from that Journal OF this morning tolls Its own
story, and renders further comment unnoccs-
sary, except 10 add that tho Sua has to-day
half.column editorial dcnunclatory OF jay Hub.
bell and his committee, while 1t has not n
word OF condemnation of tho political assess
ments In Baltimore;
Campaign Funds.
Tho invitations TO Democratic city ONCE
holders TO contribute to the party fund for tho
fall campaign are being sent out In the usual
way, and tho requests arc about on tho snmo
percentage os last year. The lamplighters,
who receive Si16 year, can settle up by So
contribution; the 500, $500 and y, 5000 men iSa
one who gets above that sum Is asked Tor
per cent OF his salary, until the $4,000
salaries are reached, when the request
to o,IN.an IN II. M
sanried officials. who are the big chiofs, OF
course do not walt to be asked, and send In
per cent. contribution; Mayor Whyts, IKE
year at least out of his salary OF $4,000. The
aggregate OF these contributions Is put at sl2,'
600. II was stated ut the headquarters OF the
city executive committee that garbagemen
and some other small.pay mon are not Invited
to assist Mt the collection, and the police force
and public school teachers are also exempted
Several years ago Professor Shepherd, SUI
perlntendent OF public schools, received an
Invitation, which he Ignored, and tho next
year his salary was reduced from $4,000 TO
$4,000. The school department has been on
the exempt list over since. The only change
this year over last Is in the case OF baillns OF
the Appeal Tax Court, who are now asked for
the delinquent tax list and the increase In tho
number OF bailiffs.
After the invitations go out from tho party
headquarters u regularly employed collector
| follows In their wake. He deposits his col.
| lections directly in the National Mechanics
| Bank to tine credit OF the Baltimore City Demo'
| cratic Executive Committee 1t can only be
| checked out on the signatures OF the chair
| man and treasurer, md the matter Is man
| aged with the methodcal detail OF mercantile
| business. II is said the $4,000 collected last
year paid all the general campaign expenses
| and left balance In bank of 5000. 1t Is stated
| that nothing is given from this fund toward
| primary elections, but that when candidates
| are nominated they are expected To give OF
| their means, and their contributions, added
| to the sum collected by invitation, go toward
| paying tho general expenses. This is tom
| lied as advertising, printing tickets, for mass
| meetings, rent OF poll.rooms, pay OF ticket
| holders, carriages, otc. II is said that one
| Congressional nominating contest cost q can
| didate $50, 900, but this was exceptional. Two
years ago the executive committee was pre-
| scented with $1,000 by one of the Congress
sional candidates and $500 by another aftor
| thc nominnfiOnsD