New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1888-10-04
MOST DISCREIITABLH OF ALL.
SENATOR'S DENoUNCE BENETs CIRCULAR.
MR.. HALE's RESOLUTION ON THE SUBJECT UN-
DER DEBATE.

washington, Oct 3.-The Senate today resumed
consideration Of Mr.. Hale's resolution OF Monday
last calling the Secretary Of War for an explanation
of General BeDet's circular to discharges OF
Republican employees in United states arsenais ana
armories. Mr.. CoclTell proceeded to discuss tho
resolution. Mr. Cleyclands Administration had en-
forced the Civil Service law, and in his r CockrcF
Judgment fits spirit had been too strictly adhered TO-
In the OF Mr.. Cockrclrs speech, various In
terrcsyatores wero put TO him and remarks made by
Senators Teller and Edmunds On ono OF these oc-
cosCsDs Mr. Teller declared that while no was sec
rotary OF Interior inquiry had ever been made
as 10 tho politics OF the soldier, woman or minor VINO
was IN Office or who applied for Office. Mr.. Cockrcl
announced that II he had been at the head OF a
Department under the present Administration he
would have weeded out ell the ncompetcns appointed
under the spoIs system, and would have done his
best to see that honest. competent and well qualified
persons certified by the Civil Service Commiss0n)
were appointed In their place. and he would have
prayed that ninety out of every hundred OF them
might DO Democrats.
Mr. Edmunds showed how under the Civil Service
r,cs Cbo head OF a Department could select for ap-
polntnscnt men Of his party and no suggested
that that was defect in the law and that the proper
way TO prevent such evil was to deprive tho Pres
dent or the Secretary of the power TO make the remov
ais without
Mr. Hale commented upon the fact that Mr. Cock
rell The thicS-a thin defender OF the Admins
tratlonr had not been able In two hours speech 10
say one word in defence of the rough order In which
the War Department proclaimed war OF extermina-
ton on women and children. II Mr.. Cleveland was
the SINCERE ref0rmer which he was claimed 10 De-
somebody ought to be punished for violating every SIN
gle principle which he had advanced as the guido aud
rule Of his Administration lie held in his hand clrcn
lar issued by Mr. Boadsley, calling upon postal CLERKS
In Utica for contribution Of s23 to the expenses
Of the Democratic campaign.
Mr. Chandler characterized the Benet circular as
the most discrcditabc Of all the emanatl0ns IN voia
lion of the Presidents professions and OF civil YER
vice reform Mr.. Chandler criticised the recent en-
plovmenL of a largo number of additional nen AT the
BROOKLYN Navy Yard as a political movement ON tho
part of Secretary Whitney. Passing on to the ques-
lion of political contributions, he stated that II the
President. or any Government Official had contributed
any m,G,cy TO the National Democratic COMMITTEE
(which had several Senators among its membcrs such
official had violated tho statute of 1883 lilo had not
seen any denial Of the avermcnt that the president
had contributed 10000.
Mr. Hawlcy earnestly invited the attention OF
Democratic Senators to the question OF Mr.. CieVe-
lands contribution to the Democratic campaign fund
If IT were true that Mr.. Cleveland had sent $4,000
TO a political committee Ton which were prominent
officers of the Government, the conclusion was In
evitablo that he had committed a crime, punish
able by fine or Imprisonment or by both.
Mr. Hale moved TO amend the resolution by adding
TO II instructions the Secretary OF War 10 transmit
copies of any further orders circulars relating to
the employment of persons in his Department since
March 4, 1885, and copies Of any correspondence
with any subordinate or other person relating to the
LOtcs of any cmplOye.
Wthdut action on the amendment or resolution the
matter went over till tomorrow.