New Ulm weekly review. [volume] (New Ulm, Minn.) 1878-1892, 1886-07-14
WASHINGTON LETTER.
Washington, July 9. 1885.

w dSulUSeOh3 o~'J -
Il would not be surprising if Congress
| adjourned in grand row with the Presi-
don't There is a swell of resentment
in both branches at the manner in which
he has used his veto power. The light
and playful way in which he tramples
upon legislation may be amusing to q
certain portion Of the public,
but it is not funny to the lesis-
lators, Mr.. Cleveland is the hrst Pre-
! sident since Andrew Johnson VINO has
spelled Congress with little &C. and
none of his predecessors ever dared to
entrench themselves behind their con-
stitutional prerogatives as he has DONE
and fire shot at the Capitol.
Senator Blair has attacked the Ere
sidcnt's veto policy in words OF gall.
He complains that the President relies
upon the Commissioner Of Pensions Tor
the facts upon which he bases his vetoes'
but adds that the jurisdiction OF the le-
gislative power Of this Government is
LARGER than that of the Commissioner OF
Pensions. and that sooner or later, al
though it may cost the country pro-
longed and steady effort, this truth will
become apparent.
The Senate Committee on Pensions,
in their report recommending the pas
sage Of certain private pension bills
over the Presidents veto, say they will
make strong effort to restrain feel
ing of indignation, which. if permitted
to assume the proportions which the
proyocation justifies, would wholly de-
stroy those respectful forms OF express
sion which must be maintained in OIL
cial intercourse.
Senator Hoar made an able attack
upon the Presidents Civil Service pre-
tension, q few days since. He said IN
Judging of the Presidents fidelity to
to the cause of reform, one must look
not only to the President 8 own conduct
and policy, but to the conduct and poll
CIV of those officials whom he had select
ed and clothed with power, whose exc
cution of the law it was his sworn duty
to supervise and control. Judging from
this test the Senator from Massachusetts,
did not find that the Executive had
kept or had attempted to keep the
pledges which had preceded and follow
ed his election.
He also said that no President of the
limited States, not even Washington,
had been treated by his countrymen
with an indulgence like that which had
been extended to Mr.. Cleveland. This,
too, while his competitor for the great
Office of the Presidency, with his brilli-
ant record of public service for twenty
wears, idolized by such large numbers
of his countrymen, who believed that
had the peoples will had its lawful and
constitutional expression he would now
be in the seat which is of right his, had
been pursued even to his retirement
with malignity unsurpassed in political
warfare.
The bill introduced by Senator Ed
munds for increasing the Presidents
appointing power, while it trees the
President from Senatorial checks IN the
appointment OF large body of public
servants, yet takes from him the power
of removal or suspension. 1t enlarges
the scope of the civil service law by fix
ing Presidential appointments for four
years. 1.-The difficulty with the present
Civil Service law" said Mr.. Edmunds,
'.is the power of unlimited removal
that exists in the President and heads
of Departments. If the people OF the
United States really wish for civil ser
vice reform that will take the great DO
dy of these merely administrative OF
fees out of the circle of politics. SO tina
they will cease to be the prizes and re
wards for party services, they have tn
. power to do it through Congress.
II believe, . continued Mr.. Edmunds
..that the work of the Government vii
I.go infinitely better Gust as it has bee
found in all the States), and that cor
tests of politics will become, to niue
greater extent, contests as to pull
measures, and will cease to be strue
gies rs to who shall have the honor
and emoluments of offices. And in tn
course Of few years, if this law wer
now passed, and q Republican SUI
cessor of Mr.. Cleveland should find a
offices filed with Democrats, the who
thing would adjust itself, because dul
ing each four years all the office
would have become vacant, and hay
{ been re-tilled, and consequently thel
need not be, in the coming of any A.
minlstration or the outgoing of one ar
: scramble or hurrying on to Washingte
of thousands to secure places. Vacanci