The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1888-08-23
MATsON's WATER PITCHER.

a Governments Employe Tells Why 1t Was
Not Accepted by the Congressman.
Special TO the Indianapolis journal.
WASHINGTON, Aug 22-Last week 10 was an
noupced that tho employees of the Government
Printing Office had presented Colonel Ma,son
with an elegant silver water pitcher, platter and
goblet. In recognition Of his services in getting
tho bill extending their leave OF absence passed
through Congress. It is announced this morn
Ing that Colonel Matson modestly declines the
present on the ground that II might DO looked
upon by unfriendly persons as bribe. An en-
ploye Of the Government Printing Office. in
speaking about the matter. said: II do not see
how Colonel Matson could have done anything
else. In the FIRST place. il was not Q tribute TO
him for any service rendered, but was sim
ply gotten mp - boom for him politically. In
the next place, be had rendered no conspicuous
service meriting such recognition. 1t 10 true
he introduced the bill which finally
became . law with certain amendments, but
Colonel Matson will hardly claim merit for all
the bills he has introduced this Congress As a
matter Of fact. the introduction Of bills is q
mere periunctory duty. Bills are prepared by
persons interested and given to some member of
Congress with whom the person or persons hap
pen 10 be acquainted. with . request to intro
ducs them when his State 10 called. Half the
time the member takes no interest In the
measure, aud frequently does not even know
the character or object Of the measure. That is
the case with the bill In question. Matson in
troducsd 1t and 1t was referred to tho committee
on printing. The real work and service Ia
6 <k,f, 6rnA l. - L.. -
measure to see that it does not sleep in the
committee room, and that it is promptly re-
ported and passed by the House; in watching it
and seeing that it 10 reported from the Senate
commttse and passed by the Senate. None of
this was done by Matson, but il was done by
John NJ Farquhar, Republican member from
New York. and to him more than anyone else
arc the employees benefited by the
act indebted for the passage to law
It is true that when the measure was reported
back by the committee on printing, and il came
I'D for passage, Matson said few words in it's
favor but did many others, among them Mr.
Farqubar, Mr.. Gallinger, Mr.. Brumm. Repub.
iicans, aud Mr.. Richardson. Democrat There
was no opposition 10 the bill from any source, IL
passing wholly Or its merits. The only service
that could be rendered by any one. as said De-
fore. Was In watching that the measure did not
get lost or fail through neglect. and that duty
was performed by Mr.. Farquhar. If Mr.. Mat
son is so anxious to aid the working people ia
the Government Printing Office, Why does he
not help along the proposition to restore the
wages to the basis they were before they were
cut down by Democratic Coneressl There is
real service, an6 meritoriQus, to be rendered
here, but have not heard OF Mr.. Ma,son
losing any flesh n efforts in that direction. In
1876 Democratic chairman of the committee on
printng-John l.. Vance. Of Ohio-reportsd a
bill cutting down the wages Of the Governments
Printing ONCE 20 per cent. and it was passed by
q Democratic Congress. On Feb. 13, 1878, Mr..
Ballou. q Republican from Rhode Island, made
q report from the committee on printing re-
storing the wages, but Otto H. Singleton, the
Democratic member of the committee from Mis-.
slssippi. submitted en- adverse report and the
measure was killed by Democratic House.
Among the reasons given by Singleton was that
before tho reduction the Office was under the
domination OF the Typographical Union. and
that IL the measure passed it would be 90 again
The bill for the restoration of wages ia the Gov
ernment Printing Once is again before Congress,
and il Matson wants 70 really benefit cs let
him put his shoulder to the wheel and push it
through. II he will do that will say he will
have earned silver water pitcher, and will help
buy him one; but. 90 the case stands now. / do
not think he has done ANYTIME to warrant the