Daily Kennebec journal., 1884-02-15
Political Assessments.

Out OF office the democrats are great
political reformers In office they are ex-
actly the reverse. They were great civil
service reformers not long ago; but they
voted Senator Pendleton Of Ohio Into re-
tirement this winter. because he took his
party to be in earnest on this subject. and
introduced bill in the Senate TO reform
the civil service which became law.
They were entirely willing that MIR.
Pendleton should talk civil service. but
they decapitated him politically because
he framed and supported the civil service
bill adopted by the last Congress. That
Is the way civil service reformers in the
democratic party are treated.
In the Senate. few DAYS ago. Mr..
Voorhees, asked and obtained unanimous
consent to introduce. out of the regular
order. a bill to prohibit officers and en-
ployes of the United States Government
from contributing money for political pur-
poses. In presenting the bill Mr.. Voor-
hees said IL had become notorious that not
withstanding the present law on the sub
ject of political assessments. clerks and
others In Government employ were being
compelled under the device Of voluntary
contributions, to give away moneys
which they needed for the support Of their
families. This bill. he said. made it
penal offence for any person in Govern
ment employ to contribute money for
political purposes. BY thus imposing
= penalty. not only on him who
receives, but as well, on him who
gives. this thing could be stopped.
and IL could not be stopped in any other
way. This is a sample of democratic taik
In favor of reform. The proposition of
Mr.. Voorhees, was to punish person
in government employ if he contributes
money for political purposes. No matter
il the government clerk willingly gives of
his money. he must be punished for it,
The privilege of spending the money
which he earns is to be taken away from
him. Government employees are to be
placed under espionage and guardianship.
with penalties Of fine or imprisonment ii
they venture to contribute of the money
which they earn tor political purposes.
Senator Hswley at once objected to the
bill. though he is we'll known as an op-
poser Of political assessments. He sensi-
bly, argued that It would not do to say that
q man should not contribute anything to q
political party of his own free will. and a
law making such declaration and pro-
viding penalty Tor such an act would be
not only utterly useless in free country.
but il would be blow aimed at the CON-
monest rights OF mankind. BY the law ~
Il stands. government officer is prohi-
bited from going into any government Of
fee to collect money for political purposes.
and il is provided that no man in the SER
vice Of the government should be put
down or put out by reason of any failure
TO contribute any money for such pur-
poses. No man had any right to 90
into = government office and collect
such moneys. and il they did govern
ment had done all it could to
punish such conduct. The measure
proposed by the gentlemen from Indiana,
he said. "was most extraordinary and un-
justifable one, and we ought to be sshsm-
ed to place such law upon our statute
books against the freedom of action of
American citizens. -
This case illustrates the absurdity of
much of the reform tail by leading
democrats. In order to pass before the
people as virtuous reiormer in favor OF
striking down political assessments
though the democratic party never fails to
resort to them when il has the power-he
would take from the Government en-
ployee the commonest and most necessary
right secured to him BY law and custom,
and reduce him to the condition of persons
incompetent BY reason of mental imbecil-
. ity 10 manage their own Affairs.