Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1884-02-13
FORTY-EIGHTH CONGRESS.
First Session.



on recent visit to Europe, was presented.
petition was presented praying for the
appointment of commission TO investigate
the liquor traffic, for the submission TO states
OF constitutional amendment to prohibit
the sale or manufacture of alcoholic liquors
in the Uni,ed States.
bill was reported favorably BY Mr.. Hale
authorizing the construction of additional
steel vessels for the navy
The chair laid before the Senate q resolu-
ton recently offered by Mr.. voorhees,, di-
recting the attorney general to report to the
Senate the cause of the delay on the part of
department of justice in advising the post
master general as to the proper construction
OF the act OF March 3, 1888. in relation to the
salaries and pay of postmasters, the question
OF proper construction of such act having
been referred to the attorney general By the
postmaster general in August, 1888, and no
answer has yet been made.
Mr.. Ingall stated the law of 1888, to which
the resolution referred. was one intended to
carry out the act of 1866 and the parties TO
whom money was due had been waiting Is
years for very simple provision oflaw. In
stead Of executing a substitute or endeavor-
ing to make il effective the postmaster gen.
eral sends its to the Attorney general. Mr..
ingalls, expressed himself exceedingly sur
prised that the postmaster general should
feel called on not to execute the law, bat
find if possible, the reasons why he should
not execute it. Congress, it seemed, had
been tritied with 10 the matter, and that there
was no disposition to carry out the law. but
rather to find some reason for not carrying il
out
MIR. Butler said he had received letter
from postmaster enclosing printed circu-
l4r al.
collect his claim for 20 per cent of the whole
amount. Mr., Butler had written to the post
master general inquiring whether the ser
vices cf claim agent was necessary, to
which the postmaster general had replied
that claim agents services were not necessary
to obtain money to which a man was un-
questionably entitled.
After futher d bate the resolution of Voor-
hees was agreed to.
AT this point Mr.. VOORHEES, asked and OBJ
tanned unanimous consent to introduce. out
OF regular order. a bill to prohibit officers
and employees of the United States govern
ment from contributing money for political
purposes. On presenting the bill, Mr.. Voor-
hees said that it had become notorious that
notwithstanding the present law on the sub
ject of political assessments of clerks in gov
ernment employ were being compelled under
the device of voluntary contributions" to
give away money needed for the support of
their families. The bill, he said, made it a
penal offence for any person in the govern
ment emyloy to employ to contribute money
for political purposes.
Mr.. Hawley contended It would not do to
say that a man should not contribute any
thing to a party of his own free will, and the
law making snch declaration and providing a
penalty for such act would be utterly useless
in free country. but blow aimed at the
commonest right of mankind. BY the law
it stands a government officer is prohibited
going into any of the government offices to
collect money for political purpose and it
is provided that no man in the service
of the government should be put down or
put out by reason of any failure to contribute
any money for such purposes. No man had
any right TO go into government office and
collect such moneys.
Mr. Voorhees, remarked: "But they do
though
Hawley replied In that case they should
be punished. Everything that could be done
had been done to punish such conduct, but
the measure proposed by the gentleman from
Indiana, is a most extraordinary and unjusti-
fable one. | would be ashamed to have
placed such law upon the statute books
against the freedom of action of American
citizens For himself Hawley claimed the
right to give money to any proper political
purpose. Some gentlemen Seemed to sup
pose that everything political was dishonora-
Bile, whereas, politics, next to the service of
God. is most honorable work in which we
could engage.
Mr. Beck said that men had been before
Congress seeking confirmation, who had re-
tanned 10 or l5 per cent of the salaries of
government employees under them, in order
to send delegates to political conventions.
Mr.. Dawes wished the gentleman from
Kentucky, CA. r. Becky to be more specific.
"Who 10 it, he inquired, THAT has retained
10 or l5 per cent Of the salary of such en-
ployees?"
II do not care" said Mr.. Beck, ''to state
the names, bu, officers of the government
ssThen will not ask the names," said
Mr. Dawes. "But does the gentleman state
here that he knows any officer of this govern
ment has retained per centsge Of the salary
of employees of this government for political
purposes?"
eyes do" Mr.. Beck replied, "and the
finance committee all know it. and plenty of
others know it,
s.Then," continued Mr.. Dawes, "the gen.
tleman should have called for information
and laid the facts before the Senate and
public"
'sIt will be laid before the committee" Mr..
Beck remarked, "when this bill comes up"
Mr.. Dawes hoped that that individual, who
ever he may be- would be arraigned before
the proper tribunal and impeached of high
crimes and misdemeanors.
Mr.. Hawlsy said he had no doubt there had
been infamous abuses in connection with po-
litical assessments. Speaking to the broad
proposition, however. he would say that no
citizen of free country should be prohibited
from voluntarily contributing.
In mo, ing . reference of the bill to the
committee on judiciary, Mr.. VOORHEES, re-
marked that whenever, in . court of law, he
had case in which the judges mind was
made up before the trial, he always took
charge of the venue. For that reason he
was, he said, unwilling to let the senator
from Conn. have the bill. (Hawley is chair
man of the Senate committee on civil service
and retrenchment).
Mr. Hawley said he had not asked that it
should 20 to his committee.
Then the Senator does not object to its
going somewhere" inquired Mr.. Voorhees,.
II don't care" replied Mr.. Hawley.
"well, do" said Mr.. VOORHEES,. These
enormous sums, he continued, now expended
on elections, corrupted the ballot box and
debauched public virtue.
Mr.. Harrison made . vigorous speech in