The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1888-10-04
4 YpESErs INFAMOUS CIRCULAR.

Senator CocisI,en Jnstsfies the Order, and
Messrs Hale and Chandler Denouncs 1t.
speciaI TO the Ipdianapoiis Journas
~WAsHISGroN, Oct 3.-Three and half hours
we're devoted in the Senate. this afternoon, be-
ginning immsdi ately after the tariff bill was re-
ported, to debate upon the infamous circular
order issued by General Benet, of the ordnance
department. directing the removal OF women
cratic heelers and voters. which
document was discovered aud exposed BY the
Journal Senator Cockrell. OF Missouri. opened
the deoate by announcing that hs intended t.
justify the letter and the spirit of this order,
and that IL should have been issued aud en-
forced long before IL was ever seen. He then
deviatsd from the direct line Of debate by
branching of into circulars issued during Re-
publican administrations long before the present
civil-seryics reform secured foothold. He de-
clared that the Republicans were the original
spoilsmeu, and that the Democrats should not
be criticised for consendine that s clean sweep
of employees in the civil and military branches
Of the government should be made when finally
0 change OF administration came. He said that
the object Of Senator Hale and the Indianapolis
Journal in bringing about this agitation Of the
Benet circular Was to drive away from Presi-
dent Cleveland his muewump supporters. "Re-
publicans have held on to the Offices be said,
las though they thought nobody else could fill
them, aud they have been keeping them till
they considered it q crime when they were
finally removed" He then read from the Jour
nal General Benet's statement setting forth the
o1
issued, at the instance Of Secretary EndcOtt,
and to appease the demands of Democratic poll
ticians, aud defantly inquired, "Is there any
crime 10 thatl'
Senator Chandler asked how the politics OF
women and Children could be ascertained, to
which Mr.. Cockreli replied: ''How could you
know the politics of EllOn Foster and Anna
Dickinson, now tho stump in Indiansi"
"But Mrs. Foster and Miss Dickinson are net
in Office" said Senator Hale.
''Oh, well" exclaimed Cockrell, "they are will.
ing to be- and intend to be. if Harrison is elect
ed, and may add that the women and children
who are in these arsenals now were placed there
ty Republicans. have been retained under Re-
publican administrations. and fail to see
any crime in the Democratic administration
removing them" In various forms of language,
Mr.. Cockrell justified in the strongest terms
the removal of women and children, to give
place 10 Democrats. He said that the Demo.
cratic party should not be censured for the re-
movals made, but for not making enough re-
movals He would turn them all out.
Senator Hale followed Cockreli. and declared
that the political prescription which, under this
administration, had deprived women and chill
dren OF employment was unparalleled in po.
htical history. He reviewed tho classes affected
by the enforcement of the Benet circular, rep
reseota,ives of soldiers who do menial labor for
small salaries. ranging from s20 to $50 a mouth,
WOMEN and children who keep gates and sweep
floors, little boys who run errarGs at q remun-
served for this civil service administration,
which had come into power with bIare of
trumpets about reform, to eend out this in.
famous circular He said no one would be
called before TIE President about il, and no one
would be punished for its issuance; and he said
that In the investi ltiop which he proposed 20
institute hs would show that it was only ore of
many similar orders issued, and that removals
OF men, women and children non political po-
stions were being made by wholesale. He said
that he would uncover the hypocrisy OF this ad-
miuistration in his investigation. and that he
hoped be could investigate all OF the
fragrant violations Of the civil-service Law and
reveal the injustice in cases which were covered
by the law. He said that he laid especial stress
upon this order and the many outrages 10 the
civil service under this administration. bscauss
Cleveland. wnep he came into powe-, and during
his campaign four years ago, had >prated about
reforming the civil service; no bad preached
continually his superior virtues. Senator
Chandler spoke at length, and vigorously de-
nounced the Benet circular and the whole civil