New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1882-12-17
NEWS FROM WASHINGTON.
A STATESMAN FROM NEW-JERSEY.
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WASHINGTON, Dec Ex-senator Mcpherson, OF
New-Jersey, added nothing TO mis- reputation for
fairness and frankness to-day. Last session the
fact was developed IN discussing the appropriation
bills that out Of 3, 400 employees of the Treasury
Depar ment 1,700 were not spcclhcally
provided for by appropriations. Their employment
was fully authorized Ly law. but their number and
the rates AZ which they were to be paid were not
designated in the appropriation bills but were left
TO the discretion of the Secretary These persons
employed in the Bureau Of Engraving and Printing
and in the Custom Houses for the payment of whom
sum is appropriated in bulk every year. These
facts Mr. .ndletrn embodied in his opening speech
upon the Civil Service bill. He stated nothing
which was untrue. but he failed TO state
the whole truth, and left inn
preston that these were all evidences of
Republican miymaragement and corruption. Sena-
tor Mcpherson laie yesterday afternoon made
statement which did not mt the time attract the at
tcntlon of the Republican Senators. lie in effect
combined the old condition OF affairs in
tho B1reau Of Engraving and Printing
with the lapscd fund and the system
of employing persons to be paid from the general
appropriations, aud in substance stated upon the
authority ~ he gave it oar, OF Senator PendctOn
that thore were 100 people in the Treas
ury Department who had nothing to do,
and who were paiIin some manner unknown to
law. THIS, he declared, was what the people were
demanding should be reformed.
senator Sherman mace most convincing eX-
panation OF all these matters to-day, and
Senator Window followed witl IN Endorsement
of his statements. H. concluded with suggestion
TO Senator Mcpherson that justice and lar dealing
reQUired an acknowledgment OF his mistake.
Senator Mcpherson in replying cvaded the
point by quoting from the report about
tho Bureau OF Engraving and Printing
before It's re.om Being asked if he stlI wished it
10 go 10 the country upon bis authority that there
were /, 200 peogle in tho Treasury with nothing TO
do, be replied Il will not say thero are 1,700
now employed, but do say there are large NUM-
her employed not 9ppr0pra ell l0r by law. say IS
a fraud upon the people and the taxpayers This
statement was entirely uufonnded and Senator
Window and Senator Sherman showed that there
was not an cInp.oye in the Department for whose
payment ongic55 had not specifically, or IN some
general tuud. but III either case directly, made an
appropriation
senator Niodom asked if the Senator from New
jersey knew of onc-eYen one empl'Sc IN any
department for whom tlcre WIS nO;hIng 10 40.
Senator Nci'hersOn oncned himself by charac-
terlZnl tnS question rs pclulOgglng way Oh
dealing with tLr suoj,ci.
"Nuw," sald Mr.. Window, in conclusion, -" we
are sOou 10 lr-lsate upon these jects. ask the
senator IL II knows of one em0i0ye m any Dcpatt-
ment tor whose empo oyment there Is no necessity
ury. ask him to-day if he personally knows there
Is one. ana he calls nat pettiIoggins submit IL
t. tb1 country. and tn people Will decide between
us who Is pettllOgging.'