The Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1877-1885, 1884-05-06
WASHINGTON LETTER.
From orr Regular Correspondent.


WASHINGTON, d. c., April 3, 1884
Mr. Walter Evans idea of civil service
reform is embraced in the remark made by
him, semi officially, to the effect that no
man has a right to be in antagonism with
the administration under which he holds
official position. This idea, entertained
by the Commissioner of Internal Rev
enue, is doubtless harbored in the minds
of many another Republican official who
is working up Mr.. Arthurs boom, and
compelling his suborinates to do the same,
though their preferences may be all in
different direction 1t would be exhiler-
ating to know just how many of the pledg-
ed Arthur delegates to the Chicago shake
up are not figuring in some capacity or
other upon the Government pay rolls, and
how many Of them will swear that they
were never for Arthur in the event of his
discontinue, but were always for the other
fellow who is successful. But what was
going to particularly remark about, is the
anomalous manner in which the chieftains
of the Grand Old Party are conducting
their preliminary skirmish for nomina-
ton. There never was such an era of
high toned back biting, such season of
polite mud singing, and such campaign
generally of political slop work. Though
the country will be the gamer from the
exposures made by these despatched
statesmen against one another, it is hu-
initiating IN the extreme that there should
have been so long lease of political de-
pravity that has had no check through
legal conviction or punishment through
the form of law
The evidence thus far adduced in the
Kellogg case would be most damaging
were the culprit any other than Kellogg,
but in a land where courts are organized
to acquit, who shall say that the jury
shall be compelled to give weight to any
amount or character of testimony? What
a terrific mountain of evidence was piled
up against the Star route cabal, and how
easily was it all swept aside through the
agency of political influence The point
blank testimony Of Price inNhe case Of
Kellogg, starts him out with $4,000 re-
ceiYed for his influence as Senator in the
xpediting of two routes in Louisiana and
Texas. Price dared not, or at any rate
did not approach Brady with his money,
but he boldly went to Kellogg and offered
him the $4,000 to boss the job with
Brady, which Kellogg agreed to do, and
finally dtd 10 to the eminent satisfaction
of Price whose pay was then increased
from 80 1888 to 1913 403 on one route, and
from 81. $50 to $22, 1867 on the other. 1t
will probably not disturb the serenity of
Mr.. Brady to be advised that Price swears
that this money was to be divided between
himself and Kellogg, and it only remains
to be discovered from the testimony of
Mr.. Walsh, the broker in the case, wheth-
er the money was so paid. and if 80 paid
what are You going to do about it? ]
don't know what the line of Kelloggs de
fence is to be, but it is highly probable
that his counsel will contend that it was
prefectly legitimate transaction through
out and will place his client upon the
country with the plea that they all do it.
And what power there is behind 8
politician after he gets up among the high
muck mucks of the party Here is
Sabin, OF Minnesota, who was never heard
of until last fall, furnishing to the count
ry successor to Knox, Comptroller Of
the Currency in the person of another
man who was never heard of or hear(
from, although his name is Cannon. Tht
responsibility that attaches to this Office
Comptroller is simply Unreasonable, ant
the men are few who possess the requis
tie capacity for discharge of the vastly
important trusts involved in it. Mr. Can
non may be most excellent man for thu
position, but the business men of thu
country, and particularly the men WHIT
run the National banks, would much pre-
fer to know something of the man who il
to boss the finances of this great Nation
The moment in behalf of revenue re-
form inaugurated in New York the othe
day, has done much toward encouraging
MIR. Morrison in pushing his bill to spec
dy, ii not completely successful conclu-
sion. There is no installing the fac
that the present majority in the Hous
are going to do their part towards light
ening the burdens upon the people by re
ducing to the lowest possible limit thos
taxes that have been imposed by reason
of the war. 1t is matter of detail onl.
which the Democratic members are dis
agreed, for Mr.. Randall himself has re
peatedly declared himself in favor of tn
indentical propositions embodied in tn
New York resolutions. No one know
any better than Mr.. Morrison, that hui
man ingenuity is not capable Of devisin!
measure that will subserve every loca
interests in the country, and if Ohio woo
and Pennsylvania pig iron and Louisiana
sugar and Maine hackmetack and Mas
sachuetts calico cannot each look out rol
themselves when it comes to Compression
al action, it will be of no use to try +
find anybody to look out for them.
PHoNo.