, 1888-01-12
CONGRESSIONAL.
Senator Henderson Introduces
q Bill
For Two Additional Land
Offices in Wyoming.
Hale's VindictiVe Attack on
Civil Service.
Congressional

SSSNSAS W. laLu OllNN III
Wyoming Territory; to enlarge the juris.
diction Of the probate courts in Wyoming
and to provide for minimum Invalid pen
sions of IS a month.
MIR. Salisbury presented a Joint resolu-
ton declaring that no further effort can
properly be made by the United States to
obtain the cooperation of European gov
ernments in establishing a common ratio
of values between silver and gold as
money. Laid on the table.
Senator Hoar offered a resolution re-
questing the president to transmit to CON
gress the report OF the Pacific railroad
commission. Adopted.
A resolution offered by Mr.. Hale on the
10Th of December for a select committee
to examine fully into the present condi-
ton OF the civil service was taken up and
Hale addressed the senate in explanation
and advocacy of it. He declared that his
object in offering it was to secure an in
vestigation with the sincere purpose of
bringing before congress the present actual
condition of the civil service of the coun-
try and also the performances of certain
high and low officials of the government.
Hale attacked lIamar's administration
OF the interior department, saying that
during Lamar term of Office every terri
torial governor has been removed, sixteen
out of eighteen pension agents, every sur
veyor general, four ffths of the local land
officers, nine-tenths of the Indian iuspec-
tors and agents, seventy nine out of
e~ighty-three special agents of the general
land office, and two-thirds of the special
examiners in the pension office. Yet
Lamar stood to-day on his record, by his
uttered words, as against the spoils sys-
TEN, and posed as a reformor. Senator
Hale claimed that in the political conven.
ton of New York, Pennsylvania and
Maryland, prominent federal officials had
been active participants, and in answer to
a question from Hawley, said he had
heard OF no removals or even censures.
So gross had been the violation of every
principle Of reform and of the direct
pledges OF the president. that even the
Evening Post of New York had said of
these things that they would be used in
the campaign there with terrible effect,
The president had not hesitated himself
to deal deadly blows at the cause of re.
form.
In this connection, Hale referred to the
recent municipal election in New York
and attacked the President for not espous.
ing the cause OF Nicoll in his race FIR the
district ~attorneyship of New York against
Fellows, claiming that the latter was a
relic of T~wecdism.
Senator Vest interrupted, defending
Fellows, and Mr.. Hale said he got his
information from a newspaper.
In closing, Hale intimated that the
government employees were being assessed
for political purposes, and remarked that
the means and appliances and practices of
the Democratic party of the past would
all be resOTted to in its attempt to re-
tain its hold on the national government.
Intimidation, outrage, murder, if needed,
would open again the bloody grave
which would be entombed a
new free ballot of the South.
would be m~arshalled to the conflict and
would be seen and heard and felt every
where. Nor would it stop there. Every
piece of work performed by contract for
the government would be levied upon for
political contributions and every man who
did work under such contracts would be
called upon to add his vote to his labor
tor the wages he received. No govern
ment building would be erected whose
workshop would not be made a recruiting
place Tor the Democratic party; no war
ship would be built from whose shipyard
would not issue on election day streams
OF Democratic voters. There was no de-
vice, no plan of campaign ever resorted
to by the Democratic party in the days of
Polk, Pierce and Buchanan, which would
not be resortcd TO this year. The thing
which has been is the thing which will be-,
and there will be found no new thing un-
der the sun" In the mean time where
would independence then be?
Mr.. Butler sent to the clerks desk and
had read a circular sent out in 1878 by
authority of the Republican congressional
committee (Of which Hale was a member,
calling on government employees for polit,
zeal contributions.
Hale justified the circular and said that
it directly and explicitly excluded the
idea OF extorting contributions.
The Blair educational bill was then
taken up and Coke spoke in opposition
to it.
The senate then adjourned.
Shortly after assembling the house went
into committee of the whole upon the
state of the Union for the consideration
of the presidents message.
Mills offered a resolution referring the
message to the committee on ways and
means. The resolution was agreed to,
and the house then went into committee
OF the whole OIL the little deficiency
bill" -
A long debate ensucd, and during its
progress the question as to where the re-
sponsibility for the defeat of the deficiency
bill at the last session rested, was fully
discussed. The custom of holding back
appropriation bills also received consider.
able attention.
On motion of Burne's an amendment
was adopted appropriating 100000 for
the payment of judgments and awards
against the United States on account of
damages caused by reason of the improve
ment of the Fox and Wisconsin rivers.
The committee hen rose, the bill was
passed, and the house adjourned.