The Democratic advocate., 1882-02-25
Reformers Much Wanted.

The Washington correspondent of the New
York Sun says Mr.. Warner, of Tennessee,
recently introduced bill in the House of
Representatives proposing to reduce the sal
ary of the President to $4,000, off the heads
of departments to $1,000, of the Speaker to
$1,000, of members of Congress to - 900, of
Judges of the Supreme Court 50, 900, and of
certain other officials proportionately. The
scale of economy is certainly not large, and
the bill leaves untouched the great army of
one hundred thousand oficeholders that stand
behind any Administration in power, prepared
to execute whatever orders they may receive.
Mr.. Warner addressed his retrenchment to
the heads of the civil service only, and left
out of view the army, the navy, and the dl-
plomatic and consular body.
This bill was referred to ''the Select Com
mittee on Reform in the Civil Service, of
which the illustrious Mr.. 0rth of Venezuela
fame is Chairman. 1t was not strangled, as
many other projects are, in darkness and in
silence Mr. Horr, of Michigan, one of the
humorists of the House, had charge of the
subject. and he reported against every feature
of the proposed reform, as might have been
expected.
These so-called reformerS would not tolerate
even this most moderate measure, and con-
fined to a limited class of the highest salaries.
They reported against 1t as an invasion of
their privileges and perquisites, and insisted
upon maintaining the high pay which was in
corporated in the salary grab of 1878.
Since Congress met, the Republicans in
both Houses have increased the number of
their subordinates without the least good
reason Committees that have never before
pretended TO claim clerks, and some of which
do not meet more than once in a session, have
been put on n footing with the busiest, in or
der to furnish the Chairmen with private sec
retaries The Doorkeeper's force, and the
Postotfice service of the House, without any
pretence of greater labor than in the last Con-
gress, and with the same number of Represen-
tativeS, have been augmented, to provide
places for politicians.
Six additional messengers were added to
the rolls of the Senate a few days ago, at ST.,
40 year each, merely to make room for
partisan pensioners of the Republican brand.
The Sergeant-a Arms had applied for this in
crease. upon letters prepared to order. as a
basis for the action of the Senate. Mr.. Ferry,
Chairman Of the Postofiice Committee, said
In behalfof the Committee on Pos,ofiees aud Post
Roads desire 10 say that so far as that conmtte Is
concerned. neither the Chairman. nor. so far as
know. any member OF the Committee has asked for
messenger specially.
Yet he was voted ore Of the six additional
messengers Mr. Vest was very outspoken on
this subject, but he does not appear to have
the same reverence for his order that most Of
the other seventy-tive Senators possess. He
said
| wish 70 oppose eyery increase o. the officers of
the Senate. | claim to be ordinarily liberal in the
matter o( expenditures for the conduct OF the pub
tie business: but Ia my Judgment an INCREASE Of OF
house has come to De an ahsurdity. If no, public
nuisance.
q empioyes here absolutely doing nothing. In one
Of the public journals yesterday noticed state
meni. unoontradctea. and presume 4 IS true; that
the-c : an empioye on the rolls OF the senate draw
ing SD year, and performing no conceivable duty
nothing At ali
There are several cases quite as well known
a. that cited hy Mr.. Vest. Mr.. Blaine broth
er. after being superseded in the place he held
in the Senate. was subsequently given a sine
cure. the only duty Of which was to draw the
monthly salary. He Is now in the House of
Representatives under Clerk Mcpherson, with
better pay aud little more work 20 do,
4 resolution is pending before the Senate to
give every senator not chairman of com
Initsee a clerk for his private use, upon the
ground that the public interests require il.
Every Judge of the Supreme Court has a body
servant at IS day. Originally these Judges
we're allowed messenger at - day during
the sttings Of the Court. on the pretence that
they were required to carry the Law books Of
reference 10 residences distant from the Cap
ifel <ow, however, what was formerly
pretsuce has become an absolute fraud, be-
cause other means Of transportation are fur
nished And this Is not the only disgracefGl
sham abous the expenditures Of that Court.
uder the claim of necessary furniture, such
a. a desk. table and chairs for the Judges.
rooms ia the lodges private residences are
falls equipped in iinc and costly style. which
Is a disgTacciul perversien Of privilege hardly
warranted hy law AT all.