The Helena independent. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1875-1943, 1889-12-20
The New Hampshire Senator Springs
a Sensation on His Unsuspect-
ing Co-Workers,
The Plans of Army and Navy OH
GERS to Increase their Salaries
Commented Upon



day the house concurrent resolution for
holiday recess from Saturday next till Mon
day, January &, was concurrcd in. Stewart.
from the committee on military affairs, re-
ported a resolution directing the eNauiua-
tion 10y the treasurer of the war claims of
the state Of California. growing out of
Indian hoStiilics and disturbances. Collom
introduced hill to provide for the ccle-
bratiou Of the four huudrcdth anniversary
of the discovery of America by the expo
sition of nrts, industry. manufacture and
products in lSl9. Iiy George 90 permit
states to tax national bank notes and
United States notes.
Chandler called up the resolution offered
by him in regard "a organizations among
naval officers to influence congress
si0nal legislation, and made state
ment ON the subject. lie desired, If
possible. o protect naval officers
from being levied upon and induced or
compelled tu pay money (Which they could
poorly sparel for the purpose of influencing
legislation lie said n year OF two ago
Thomas i. Lowrie. passed assistant pay-
master M The navy, prepared a bill for AN
increase of the rank and pay of officers of
the navy, II WAS a very comprehensive
bill. II contained no feature of ecOnmy
whatever. that bill had not been intro
dueed IN either house, hut II had been
Hitting around privately IN print. In con
nectlun with that bill there had been u
movement urgniizod IL secure money from
naval officers. That movement had taken
the shape ot certain printed
circulars, One of these circulars
Chandler sent to the clerks desk
and had read. II was from L0wrie, and
dated December ., lsS.i, II stated that
John II. 'lhomss, of Illinois. had been
engaged rs attorney to take charge vt and
advocate the passage of the bill framed by
HIM for Tie reorganization and equaliza-
| tion of the pay of the personnel of the navy,
and II expressed the hope that all officers
would respond promptly Ia Thomas com-
muncallous, In connection with this cir
cular one from Thomas himself was stnt
tu the clerks desk and read. II states he
lrid been requested to act IN the matter;
That expenses must necessarily he
incurred, ana time aud labor must bo de
voted ~ tie work, and his II omn.'l ac-
ccptance of the proposition depended upon
| is approval lay the officer addressed. upon
his sending u retaining fee oi - and sigu-
| ing a contract iOf which form WIS s,nbl
to pay contingent of ~ per cent, on the
| increase Of pay for one year. Chandler
added that th,re were l.6O naval officers.
and this attempt 10 get them into the move
menl had taken an extremely offensive
shape. lie submitted Ia the senaie 1t WIS
an extremely objectionable and discrcdit-
able attempt to influence legislation.
He did not believe such "a con.
tract, even If entered into, would bc
| laEuIlkf Isulinsf4 Luf ut rat a "a
contract which would absolutely patalyAo
the committees of congress, who would
have the bill under consideration. There
were Il great mnny men living IN Washing
ton tand living pretty well whose source of
Income WIS derived from their supposed IN
iluence on legislation. lle hoped the rcso-
lutiOn would bc ngford 90, and promised
when the Information WAS received the
naval committee would give the matter n
thorough investigation.
Mcpherson defended the action of Pay
muster bowrie and said If that officer had
discovered method by which the pay of
officers Of the navy could be equnlizcd 90
the satisfaction of all naval officers. hc
should be regarded M n public benefact0r.
Butler snid while he suggested the other
day the resolution bo referred to the COM
mitice un naval affairs he had no objection
tu Its being adopted. nor 90 the fullest in
veHtipation Of the whole subject. The spirit
of reform WIS abroad IN the lnnd-political
reform, educational reform, and now there
WAS 10 be lobby reform. lie supposed
that II WIS better late than never, but II ap.
pearcd to him to be tempest IN Il teapot.
An officer 0f the navy, because he chose,
IN the exercise Of his right M citizen OF
ule United States, tu employ counsel tu rep.
resent him before congress, WAS denounced
ns If he had been doing a very improper
thing, and h reputable attorney, because be
chose ca make "A contract with nHynl OIL
Ger. WIS held up 10 the country as violating
some code Of propricty and rectitnde. lie
Thought the whole performance war unnco-
essury; and hr wished the effort 10 drive
away lobbyists would be- applied in other
directions ns well ns 20 officers uf the army
md navy, whose mouths were closed.
Cockrell expressed establishment nt hear
ing the senator from South Carolina say
the officers Of the army and navy had their
mouths closed and could not approach con-
gress. Congress WIS Just M open to them
ma any citizen of the United States. The
question wis whether officers had the right
To ~ into u combination, paying fixed fee
IN advance and ngrering 20 pay cpntin
gent Zee.
Butler Why should not officers do il AS
well ms other citizensf
Cockrcll-lhe public will answer that
question. hold in my hnnd a similar cir
culnf, issued short time ago in
rctCronrc IA another bill ~ increase
thc snlaiy of Ofl'c rs, IN which it is
stated The fee il - M a retainer, With a
contingent fee of 81. Such things, he de-
clared, wore u disgrace 10 the army and
navy. After further discussion by Butler
Cockrell and Call, the resolution was agreed
10. The resolution offered yesterday cnli-
ing for information Rs to the disposition of
the lands of military reservations fein-
qushed by the war department, WAS re-
ferred to the committee ON military affairs
The resolution offered Yesterday by Coke
NJ To the attack on Justice Field Ia Cnli
fornn. and the killing of Terry, was re-
ferred tu the judiciary committee.
Mitchell offered nn amendment 10 the Pa
cihc railroad funding hill, which WAS referred
~ the select committee on TINT subject He
explained the bill itself WAS confined lo
the Union Pacific and It's branches, and his
amendment applied to the Central Pacific
and ~ branches
The senRte thou went into executive scs-
sion. After tie doors re0pened, u message
WAS received from the house Announcing
the deaths during recossl Of Representa-
tives Laird, lownshond and Cox, Kesolu-
tions expressive Of the regret Of the senate
we're offered by Mnnderson, Cullom and
Eyarts and agreed 10, and as further mark
of respect 10 the decsased, the senate ad-
iOurned.