Knoxville daily chronicle. [volume] (Knoxville, Tenn.) 1870-1882, 1882-06-27
Civil Service Reform.

New YORK, June 25.-George vii
liam Curtis, in behalf Of the Civil
Service Reform Association, has
written an open letter to Congress
man Jay Hubbell, of Michigan, chair
man of the Republican Congressional
committee, in reply to that gentle
man 5 recent suggestions testing the
legality of the political assessment
methods of his committee, by subs
hitting the question to the Attorney
General. Curtis says the legality
Issue will be tested in the courts
the proper place for such test And
in addition to this, Curtis challenges
Hubbell's authority to act in behalf
of the Republican party, and
asks what authority constituted
his committee, and in what way it
is responsible to the Republican
pa1 ty. Tho OWL 5vI .iUo Reform
Association have designated Everett
2. Wheeler and Francis Whittridge
as their counsel, and say that it is
the official action, and not the
opinion of Mr.. Brewster that they
have right to ask for, and they Of
fer, in letter to Mr. Brewster, to
let him select for a test a case III
which some New York officeholder.
who has paid the assessment, shall
be tried in the Circuit Court in this
district. Also, they offer to join Mr..
Hubbell in asking the President to
announce that no otficeho1der will be
removed for refusing to pay,
K. to His Son-An Open Letter-Our
Congressman, &c
North SIDE, June %, 1882
DEAR Son: The elections are coming on,
and as | have few leisure moments, per-
haps few thoughts from your aged father
will not be out of place. You are aware.
John, that have never taken much part in
politics; that L have always adhered more to
principles and representative men than to
political factions.
1 have been thinking very seriously OF
late III regard to our next Congressman.
Shall Judge Houk succeed himself How
many times l have asked myself that ques-
| ton
! Some of our people are very strong for
Houk. They say he has done a
| great deal for us, &c, DC. Well,
now, | have thought much on that
subject, for we are apt to be for men who
are for us, but l will touch upon that in my
next, as 1t is an important consideration.
! But what | want to say in this letter is this:
! As you know, l live in small country
| town, and very few strangers visit our
! place. Of late l notice a good many
| visitors here. A few mornings ago
was introduced to rather
prepossessing young man, who, they say,
is goiIg to be here all summer in the inter
| esS of the Quartermasters Department
That seems all right. Perhaps it is, but
| why is the Quartermaster's Department
represented here just before our county
convention? l am told also that other de-
partments of the government are repre-
| sented.
| And, John, l am further told that
| these government officials hold private
meetings and request men to meet them
/ here on certain days, from the country, and
! l did hear something said about money,
! giving $500, &c, but say nothing about
that, John. l hope there is nothing in all
| this, but some of our good substantial men
say there is. Now, John, tell me, for you
get the daily papers, and sup
/ pose you understand these things, Yes,
John, tell me, and tell me right away; for |
| do not see how L can support our present
Congressman, unless these things are made
plain. 1t viii never do for men who are
paid salaries-big ones-by the government
to spend their time in such way, for the
people are taxed to pay for all this.
Your father, K.
P. S.-Write soon, John