The Eaton Democrat. (Eaton, Ohio) 1875-1903, 1884-06-19
A vexatious Dilemma.

LII app6dIS lrOIu h6puUllCdu SOuTC6S
of good repute, be it said. that their
party's Congressional Committee is con-
frof1ted with a vexatious dilemma, and
much anxiety is expressed as to which
horn it will employ to reach dry ground.
When that unselfish and exemplary set
of statesmen gathered at Washington
the other day, one of their number read,
for the ediieation of his fellows, the fol-
lowing extrsct from the Civil-service
law, it being Section No. II of that act
It provides that mo Senator or Repre-
sentative or Territorial Delegate of
Congress, or any officer or employe of
either house, and no executive, judicial,
military or naval officer of the United
States, and no clerk or employee of any
department of the Government of the
United Estates, shall, directly or indi-
rectly, solicit or receive, or in any man.
ner be concerned in soliciting and re-
ceiving any assessment, subscription or
contribution for any political purpose
whatever, from any officer, clerk or em-
ploye of the United States, or from any
person receiving compensation from any
money derived from the Treasury of the
United States -
Then, to emphasize this, the reader
followed with section IA of the same
law. It is, in substance, identical with
the above, but applies to Congressman,
who are prohibited from receiving
money or any valuable thing from any
officer or employe of the Government.
The Committee received these disclos-
ures with astonishment, but the climax
was reached when the next clause was
made known. This '.section 15,
makes the penalty for the violation of
these sections five thousand dollars fine
and Imprisonment in the penitentiary
for five years.
Profound gloom followed these preg-
nant revelations. The Committee was
not ignorant that such measure had
occupied public attention for some lit
tie time, but few had the positive
knowledge that it had become law,
with the usual provisions appended.
The disposition to tritle with the meas
ure was extinguished by the portentous
section Is, and the committeeman un-
consciously put their clenched hands
deep down into their pockets, at the
same time indulging in a little mental
arithmetic as to how many days, hours
and minutes were contained in the
space of five years.
The exhumation of the law, for the
benefit of the Committee, mas per.
formed, very properly, by its secretary,
Mr.. Edward MCPHERSON, and as that
body is composed entirely of Senators,
Congressman and Federal officials, its
sweeping effect will at once be ap.
preciated. One of the Committee is
reported as tersely remarking that the
full significance of the Civil Service law
did not appear to have been entirely re.
allied by his party, when the measure
passed Congress. According to the
strict letter of the act, therefore, an
official who demands money to abel
his party, can safely be housed in a
penitentiary. This fate may be in
store for the members of the Republican
Congressional Committee unless they
return to first principles.
The province of the Democratic Com.
mittee has been confined to the collec
ton and distribution of Congressional
documents, while their opponents have
been devoting their time, exclusively
to the collection and distribution OF
that persuasive little ::oter which Presi-
dent Arthur has DUBBED SOAP"
The case of General Curtis, the firsl
Republican victim of the rigors of civil
service, is at once a warn pg and men
ace. If the measure be carried int
forcc, the Republi an National, as wei
as the Congressional, Committee viii
have to be turned out. and in theil
| places private citizens will be ensconced
| and if this is done what will become o
the coming campaign if these importan
duties are entrusted to uninitiated indi
vidualsp But Senators and Congress
men are not only those who are con
cerned, for the law also applies to Fed
eral officials who are members of State
county or township political or town
ship political organizations. .-Albanl
/ Ar0xS