The Colfax chronicle. [volume] (Colfax, Grant Parish, La.) 1877-1981, 1884-08-23
A yexatlous Dilemma.

II appears from Republican sources
Of good repute, be it said, that their
party's Congressional Committee is con-
fronted with 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 ediication of his fellows, the fol-
lowing extract from the Civil-seryice
law, it being Section No. IL of that act.
1t provides that mo Senator or Repre-
sentative or Territorial Delegate of
Congress, or any officer or employee 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. States. 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 en-
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 ii of the same
law. 1t 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 employee of the Government.
The Committee received these disclos-
ures with establishment, but the climax
was reached when the next clause was
made known. This "section Is, ("
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 COMMITTEES was
not ignorant that such a 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 triilo with the meas
ure was extinguished by the portentous
section ID, and the committeeman I'M
consciously put their clenched hands
deep down into their pockets, at the
same time indulging in 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, was per-
formed, very properly, by its secretary,
MIR. Edward MCPHERSON, and as that
body is composed entirely of Senators,
Congressman and Federal officials, its
sweeping effect will at once be APP
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 abet
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 joker which Presi-
dent Arthur has dubbed ''soap."
The case of General Curtis, the first
Republican victim of the rigors of civil
service, is at once warning and a men,
ace. If the measure be carried into
force, the Republican National, as well
as the Congressional, Committee will
hoe 10 h. IL
places private citizens will be ensconced,
and if this is done what will become of
the coming campaign if these important
duties are entrusted to uniniiiated indi-
viduals? 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 township
political organizations Albany argus.