The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1886-08-22
EOMUNDs' WANING PRESTIGE
His Friends Discouraged by His
Blunders and Failures:

The friands and admirers of asr. Ed
munds have had their faith in his wis
dom somewhat shaken by his course
during the last six months, writes a
Washington correspondent of the New
York Commercial Advertiser. His at
tempts to lead the Republican party to
adopt the policy Of tying the Presi-
dents hands in the matter of the nom
nations last spring resulted in a practi-
cal failure, because the Senate has not
adhered to either the letter or the spirit
of the resolutions, which il passed by
the smallest possible majority at Mr.
Edmunds' instance. But il Il not this
blunder and failure which has chiefly
injured him. tits the persistence with
which he has worked and voted N the
interest Of corporate monopolies all the
session. His actions and attitudes have
been such rs to make it almost irapos
sible to avoid the conviction that be IS,
10 say the least, fully as mach engrOes-
ed with his own affairs and certain cor.
porations as with his duties 10 the pub
lie in his capacity as a United States
Senator. This is what is being said q
him. not by malicious enemies, but with
sincere sorrow by friends. The average
citizens would probably rather say and
think this of any other man in the gen.
eral estimation.
Senator Edmunds' course in regard to
the Beck bill, prohibiting Congressman
from serving as attorneys for land
grant railways, has alienated many who
have winked at all previous doubtful
points in his record. Although Mr..
Edmunds' name does not appear prom
inently in connection with this matter.
il Is generally understood, and is pToba-
bly, true, that he has been the master
spirit OF the opposition TO the bill, with
Mr.. HoaT rs an able lieutenant. 1t is
supposed to have been at Mr.. Edmunds'
suggestion that Mr.. Hawley moved a
reconsideration Of the vote by which
the bill was originally passed, and had
IL referred to the judiciary COMMITTEES.
OF which Nr. Edmnnds is chairman
Mr.. Beck's bill may have been crude
and imperfect, as alleged, and il so II
was the duty oi the committe TO rectify
its errors and report il back in an i'm
proved form, 50 that the object Of the
bill, confessedfy a good and desirable
enc. could be more swiftly and surely
attained.
instead OF teis the committee has re-
ported a substitute which, were It a less
serious matter, would be the laughing
stock of Congress, and. IN fact, does
provoke much quiet and unholy mirth
among those Congressman and Sena-
tors who are opposed 20 the Beck bill
The substitute aims simply at q TeduetiC
ad a6surdum. U says IN effect, "If you
force US to give up our railroad Law
practice we will force you to give up
your practice altogether" Byits term:
no members of Congress can act asat
1 torney in respeot to any matter whict
comes directly or indirectly within The
control OF Congress, in the very slight
est-degree. Fer instance, L would b.
FORBIDDEN to a CongTessrza2 to defenC
or Oppose sait touching.on the manu-
facture of tobacco. because Congress
leyies a tax on tobacco. ThaS right
eors measure directed against glarinI
and notorious evil has been deliberatel,
overloaded by the Judiciary COMMITTEE
lunder the le6d of Messrs. Edmund
and Hoar, obviously with the expires
purpose of killing e outright m orde
TO further the personal interests OF tn
railroad attorneys in the Senate, o
whom, according 10 a leurTeat rumoI
there are not few
Nr. Hoar reported the substitute. bu
Mr.. Edmunds is credited. or debited
with its paternity. Mr.. Hoor, indeed
reported another measure stih as sub
stitute for the substitute The Demo
cratic members reported back thu
original bill. slightly altered, as repre-
senting the views of the minority.