The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1888-03-25
What the Honorable Senators
Are After.
THE CIVIL SERVICE INQUIRY.
II Movement on the Pension Sharps
-Phe Recent Blizzard in
Washington-Etc.

the country which mas Oeen IOf nearly
q week cut off from Geographic and
mail communication with this city has
missed but little in the way of Congress
sional news for the simple reason that
neither house transacted much bust
ness of general interest. There was
the usual amount of talk both by Sena-
tors and Representatives,, but it has not
been above the average, and certainly
those who know what that average is
will not complain that they have been
deprived of the reports of what the able
Senators and Representatives said.
The Senate has, however, laid the
foundation for some work that promise
80 be of a lively character. 1t has
ordered special committee. of which
Mr.. Hale, of Maine, is chairman, to in
veStigate the administration of the civil
service law under President Cleveland.
OF course, the object of this investiga-
ton is similar TO that aimed at in so
many things that the Republican Sem
ate does, and in so many things that
Republican Senators say, which is moth
ing more nor less than the
MANUFACTURE OF CAMPAIGN MATERIAL.
The majority in the Senate, by the way,
seems to have resolved itself into a
regular campaign committee. 1t does
mighty little that takes not on political
hue. Despite, however, the obvious
motive of the Hale investigation the
o7erhauling that the different depart
ments will receive will bring to light
many things of interest. Mr.. Hale is
already assured OF great number CT
witnesses who wish to tell to the public
their tales of WOE, and talk of the in
justice with which they think they have
been treated. If any man or woman
who has been removed from position
under the government, MIR. Hale will
find a witness, for If is an automatic
fact that no discharged employee thinks
that he has received justice at the hands
of those who are supposed to dispense
that article, while the discharged one
who does not hold that his official de-
capitation was in direct opposition to
the law is a rarG aviS. With these dis
gruntled ones for witnesses, Mr.. Hale
can turn loose upon the country many
a wall. But he will not have it all his
own way. While he will be trying to
show how the hungry and thirsty"
hordes of Democrats have rushed into
Office within the last three years, the
Democratic members of the committee
will take care to show up the large and
list of fat Republicans who
still adorns the official registers of the
different departments, and whose
alacrity in visiting the disbursing clerks
on the 18th and last days of each month
has been in no way decreased by the
long series of similar visits that they
have paid during their years of incum
bency. AS most of these
RosY-GILLED GENTLEMEN
could have been removed long and |
merry years ago without tho slightest |
straining of the civil service law, Mr..
Hale will find that his committee while |
t may grind out something for Repub-
ioan partisans to bake into campaign
pies will, at the same time, furnish Dem
Ocrats with a great many facts to show
that the principle of civil service re-
form has, as a general thing. been fully
upheld during Mr.. Cieveland's occupa-
lion of the White House.
The Senate committee on pensions
fill also inquire into an interesting
natter. Its inquiry will be the result of
letter which Senator Plumb, of Kan
las, had read the other day. 1t was a
etter written by a firm of pension
agents in this city to one of Mr.. Plumb's
who is an ex- Union
that ex-Union soldier that they
had written to him before, and wanted
TO know why they had not heard from
him about his pension. They said that
as this was q Presidential year, and as
both political parties sat up nights
how to best catch the soldiers
vote, there was every chance to secure
the passage of special pension bills by
Congress. They said they we're right
on the scene, and would go to work for
Mr.. Plumb's constituent upon the re-
ceipt of SIS and q promise of further
10 when a special bill for his relief had
d. 'ssed both houses. The general bur-
!" l of the letter was of a noW-is the
ca E,. ,-to-subscribe character. Other
LUZ a tors came forward and said that
e go tuents of theirs had received
;Ia;Ia, letters. 1t was shown that no
arson pension agent or otherwise,
onIS bo, re any influence in inducing
Ou.I I nv, lsion legislation, and that for
pSC1a 1a - put forward claim that he
10y 10y r "a 'g upon the probability of
t l'o ,i r9mbs of the pension committee
1 Ie iu Lever he ar arguments in favor of
~; 20 b-,t sit and judge upon the |
e .,ctlli a. n +ho csse This opening of
WAR UPON tn fiN'hoN 'nAAr'
. vorn oon,iS;no sign. and is exactly |
, line with the DO. icy OF the Demo-
rats in Congress. II 2ey nave no Cd
ectiou to appropriatink al 'ne money