The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1882-12-16
sQUIRMING.

SQUlEHlNu'
While in their dismay at the overwhc!m.
ing defeat of the Republican party in NO
ycmber lis organs, IN their confused efforts
TO account for the catastrophe, grew quite
clamorous in pointing to Jay Hubbell and
his blackmall system as one OF the CHIEF
causes, now, when it is proposed in con-
gress to investigate Hubbell and find out
how much blackmail he really levied OF
the clerks, janitors, laborers and scrub
women and what he did with 1t, the tune
of these organs suddenly changes and quite
a bray about persecution and injustice goes
up. If 1t IS right TO compel Hubbell to
show up how much money he squeezed
out of the government employees and how
he used 1t, then it is also right 10 compel
the Democrats to show up and tell how
much money they levied upon the brewers
and disullers, and what they did with 1t.
"If congress is minded to carry out
the wishes Of the people" says the
Chicago tribune, "let it so ahead and
investigate both sources OF corruption. The
public would not only like to know Just
how much Hubbell collected at his dona-
tioa parties, but they would also like to
know Just how much the Democrats col.
lected IN the dstilleries, brewerles, saloons,
dago shops and gambling houses to offset
the Republican fund. There should be no
discrimination"
The Tribune in this but re.cchoes Mr..
Hale IN the L. s. Senate, when Mr.. Beck
offered his Hubbell investigating resolu
tion, the Maine senator proposing an amend
ment to extend the investigation to the
operations of the democratic congressional
committee and the various party commit
tees in New York, Ohio, NC. In short, MIR
Hale, like the Tribune and the rest of the
republican organs taking their cue from
him, proposes, in the first place, to ward of
the blows at the Hubbell cnormty by max
an excuse to say you're another" and Ing
secondly to dissipate the force of the lnvcs
tigation by scattering 1t over large sur
face.
The dodge Is too thin. An investigation
like that proposed by Mr.. Hale could be
heightened out ten years and then only
show that at each recurring importan
election large sums were spent by all par
ties. some very properly and others impro
perry, and that no conceivable action or
the part of congress would be likely tt
affect the practice one way or the other.
The important point In the Hubbell bus
mess Is this: Congress has passed law
making the levying of assessments fo
political purposes upon government em
ployees by officers of the government ,
grave offensc. There were many goot
reasons tor the law. The salaries of em
ployes OF the government are their own
but as every levy OF such an assessment
implies threat Of removal for non com
pllance, IT amounts to q brutal cItortion
Again, the contributions levied off gov
eminent clerks and other employees Gre
so much distracted from their salaries, anc
the government. to maintain the efficienc,
Of the public service, must pay such sala
ries - shall secure the highest competency
tor the service required. But BY these
assessments salaries arc 80 cut down tina
the government, TO secure the best talent
Is obliged TO raise the salaries. Politics
assessments thus become no more nor len
than drafts upon tho national treasury
Congress has no higher duty than to guarc
the public treasury against such leaks, ant
therefore the investigation Of = notorious
and scandalous raid upon the treasury Xix,
that involved In Hubbellism becomes al
Imperative duty, while the impertinen
smousing into the action Of state, count.
ana school district committees proposed
by Mr.. Hale would be an idiotlc farce.