Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1882-07-07
POLITICAL ASSESSMENTS.

1t was thought at first that the objections
to the systematic levying Of political assess
ments by the Republican Congressional
Committee would evaporate in the usual
newspaper criticisms and ridicule, but the
New York Civil Service Reform Associa-
ton has taken practical step which it is
to be hoped will not only do something to-
ward lessening the nefarious revenue OBJ
tanned from the assessments, but will bring
the matter into such shape that the issue
can be passed upon by court of law.
OF course, Congressman Hubbell, the
chairman, is disguised that his "circulars"
have been transformed into polite invita-
tons to furnish his committee with funds
for campaign purposes" He knows that
the sole object of his scheme of raising
money rested in the fears of the Federal
employees addressed, that failure To respond
would involve the putting of their names
on the "black list" for removal, hence the
promptness and clustering style of his in
dignant offers to the Civil Service Reformers
to "test" in his own person the right of a
Congressman to send campaign assessment
circulars. Only by bluff game could he
hope to keep up the scare among the poor
Federal officials long enough to "bleed" them
to his satisfaction.
1t is gratifying to know that the Associa-
ton to which we have alluded has the in
dependence and the nerve to follow up each
circular letter of the Congressional Commit
tee with one of its own in which the per-
picked office-hold is informed that jR<pe
opinion of eminent counsel "the 'dsslhbcrs
of the committee are officers of the United
States Government" and that he is "liable
under Sec. 6, Chap. 289, of the United States
statutes, 1875, to punishment by fine or re-
moval from office, or BOTH" in case he SUBJ
scribes as requested. He is further warned
that the National Civil Service Reform
League proposes to bring the matter to
the attention of the Attorney-General and
other prosecuting officers of the United
States,' and is advised to put off subscrib-
ing to the Congressional Committees fund
for election purposes until the peril of doing
so is proved not to exist.
This letter SO disturbed the arithmetical
calculations of the virtuous Hubbell that
he wrote fiery epistle to Mr.. George Will
liam Curtis, President of the Civil Service
Reform Association, accusing him Of pur-
fidy to ''the party" and offering to join with
him in submitting the legality Of the assess
mcnt TO the decision of the Attorney-G
eral, said Hubbell having already informed
himself in advance that the decision would
be in his favor on some technical ground.
To this proposition Mr.. Curtis has made
the very proper answer that the legality oil
the assessment will be tested in the Courts
and makes the counter offer to let Mr.. Hub.
bell select test case in which some New
York office-holder has paid the assessment
and try him in the Circuit Court of the
District.
A verdict against the assessment obtained
in this manner would go far toward render
ing the system unremunerative, but aftel
all the battle has got to be fought and the
victory won by appeals to the moral sense
of the people. The law, no matter how
stringent, will always be evaded but wher
the people are made to perceive that sucl
disguised brigandage is anti-Republican
antiDemocratic, immoral and subversiv,
of our institutions, it will go the way o
other abuses upon which the seal of public
condemnation has been placed.
Mr.. Curtis has also been equally prompt il
the announcement that Collector. Rober.evr
meant to hold the Custom House as citide
OF Civil Service Reform against the con
gressiona bull-dozers, and the denuncia
tons of the best newspapers of the country
have been swift to warn Mr.. Hubbell that h
must divest his Circulars" of any thin
which would imply demand or threat.
As the case stands to-day it is the avowe,
best public opinion of the country that Mr.
Hubbell must let go his clutch upon tn
throat of salaried Federal officials, the spiri
of our institutions, the Independence of man
hood speak trumpet-tongued against sucl
enervating and degrading policy. That
party is to be kept together and mad
triumphant by assessments levied upon it
official employees is revolving to every sens
of right and honor, and must eventual
work disintegration from which it cal
never recover.