The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1884-05-23
Republican CAMPAIGN Committee Paralysed


llcan Congressional Committee and
such members of the republican Ma
tional Committee as are in the city
held an important meeting last night TO
discuss very serious obstacle which
has arisen in the way of their campaign
work, and which is likely TO cause
reorganization of the entire machinery
of the Republican party throughout
the whole United States. In the civil
service law which was passed last year,
since any Congress or National election
has been held, there is a section (No 1l)
providing shat no Senator or Repre-
sentative or Territorial delegate of
Congress, or any officer or employee of
either House, and no executive, judi.
cial, military or naval officer Of the
United States shall, directly or indirect
ly, solicit or receive or in any manner
be concerned in soliciting and receiv
ing any assessment, subscription or
contribution for any political purpose
whatever from any officer, clerk or en-
ployee of the United States or from
any person receiving compensation
from any monies derived from the
Treasury of the United States" Sec
tion IA of the same act is repetition
of the foregoing, but applies only to
Congressman, who are prohibited from
receiving money or valuable thing from
any officer or employee of the govern
ment. Section Is makes the penalty
for the violation of these sections $4,000
fine and imprisonment in the Peniten.
tiary for five years.
Edward Mcpherson, Secretary OF
the Congressional Committee, has Just
discovered this provision of the civil
service law, the significance of which
does not appear to have been realized
when it was under debate in Congress.
The Congressional Committee is com.
posed entirely of Congressman and
Senators, with Joseph r. Hawley, of
Connecticut, as Chairman. If it can
be proven that the Treasurer of the
committee has received financial con.
tributions from any one of the mem.
bers or from any clerk in government
employ, or from the President of the
United States himself, to aid in the
work of the coming campaign, Senator
Hawley can be made to head a proces.
sion of about thirty of his colleagues tc
the Penitentiary aud remain behind
the bars for three years. The law is
construed by the members of the COM
mittee to include themselves, and pro
hibits them Offering to or accepting
contributions from each other. The
committee is regarded as responsible,
for the acts of its agents under tn.
clause "dlrec,ly or indirectly" and
General Ha yley is liable to 60 to the
Penit.ntary if Secretary Mcpherson
receives contribution from the Presl
dent, from the Chief Justice, from any
porter in the New York Cusiom House
or any carrier in the postal service.
Thus is the committee 'paralyzed.
1t cannot accept financial assistance
J from any man vino receives compensa
tion in any form from the government
and the National Committee is in th
same fix. The law also applies to Fed
} eral officials who are members of State
county or township political organiza
tions. There is scarcely county il
the United States in which there is no
Postmaster serving as n member of
: political committee, and if anothe
J Postmaster should subscribe a dolla
} to the expenses of the campaign h
would be liable to a $4,000 fine and a
Imprisonment. The law applies to tn
use of money ''for any political purpos
whatever" and includes conventions
torchlight professions. the printing @
posters or the hiring of brass band,
l not only after the nomination of dele
, gates, but before the holding of col
g ventions. 1t will be seen that the la1
, is very sweeping arbitrary and that a
r political committees. must hencefort
t be composed of private citizens. Sec
4 retary Chandler, Senators Logan, Fry,
n Sabin and Cameron must resign fror
the National Republican Committe,
e and number of other members c
: that body, Runell, of Iowa Martin, {
e Kansas Stone, of Michigan Enos, {
r Wisconsin, and Canady, of North Cal
: Olina, must DO the same. There was
: good deal of astonishment at the di
: cl closure, and some members propose
= to make test of the law but the fac
q that General n NJ. Curtis, of Ne
d York, was fined $1,000 for similar o
: Tense after contesting the question
I several Courts was not regarded as a
a encouraging precedent.