The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1885-05-09
IMPOSING ON THE PRESIDENT.
Reprehensible Conduct of Wicked aud Un
principled Congressman.


principled congressman.
Washng ton Special to Courier-Journal
The President has some cause for complaint at
his treatment by Democratic members Of the
Senate and House in the matter of recommends
tions for Office His position should certainly
enttle him to frank and sincere talk of nfiuent-
ial men in his party as to the standing and
qualifications of applicants. They should cer-
tainly protect him against bad and unfit men for
places, and see to it that deception or imposi-
tion is practiced upon him. Unhappily for the
President, for the party and for the applicants
themselves, members of Congress, as a rule,
have not dealt fairly with the President in their
recommendations. Men have been recommended
for Office who should not haye been recon-
mended, and others have not been recommended
who by their merits deserved recommendation
The result of this has led to five or six unfit ap-
pointments, which has evoked great dea! of
unfavorable criticism. The continuance of this
bad system will, of course, make more trouble
in the future. The cause of all this seems to be
and doubtless is in the desire of con-
gressmen to feather their own nests. I'm
mediately after the inauguration Of the
President many of them began to scheme out
the best way to set up their districts. so that
their return to Congress would be in a great
measure assured. They considered it their first
duty to SO apportion out the offices among the
men that could and would render them the most
valuable aid in the machine manner of packing
the next district convention. survey carefully
made of the congressional field disclosed that
Jim johnson was the man who could set up the
Sweetbrer precinct Fred Hemphill could man.
age the Silverthorn precinct and Mike Malloy
bring out the boys in solid phalanx and make
the bloody Sixth ward invncible. This being
well understood by the smart political congress
man, he Immediately goes to work to- secure for
Jm Fred and Mike little office, and then they
are fixed. He next turns his attention to the
formidable congressional aspirants in his dis
trict They must be got out of his way at any
cost. The best and cheapest way for him to get
them out of his wayis to give them respectable
Office, and ne goes to work to accomplish that
end. What do you suppose the average congress-
man cares about the qualifications Of Mr. Tur-
moil or Mr.. Kicker for an Office? Nothing in the
world He would recommend hod carrier for
the place Of an expert in the Treasury il he
thought he could make him solid for necessary
dirty ward work. or to get him out OF his way
1t has only been three days since congress
man stood up in the executive chamber OF the
White House and recommended to the PRESIDENT
for q responsible Office, drunkard and deadts
beat The congressman certainly did not know
this you may say, but he did know it better
than any one else. He wanted to get rid OF an
annoyance. One simply wonders that such
things can be, but they can be and are. Hun
dreds and thousands of men utterly worthless to
perform the duties of faithful public servants,
have been recommended here for Office. 1t is
amazing to see some of these recommendations.
The names of distinguished senators and promi-
nent members of the House are to be found
upon them.
What am I to do said the President, fow
days since, 'if cannot trust the men whom tho
people have placed in powers | must mako
these appointments; the applicants are all I'M
known to me, and If cannot rely upon the sen-.
ators and representatives, what can dop
This is knotty question to solve, and tho
more 1t is studied the harder it is to answer. In
the disposition of patronage here by the Demo-.
cratic administration it does seem to me thai
either by accident or luck the most true compe-
tent and deserving get left, and the most unde-
serving and incompetent meet with success :
have in NV mind { dozen cases where men have.
succeeded over others in races for office Ono
of the most active and brightest and best edui
Gated young men in this country. honest an
capable, and Of irreproachable character, Wls