Omaha daily bee., 1889-06-09
THE SOUTH WANTS IT.
The Craftsmanship Of the House
Committee on Elections.
oFFIcE-seekINe COSTS MONEY.
What n Western Republican Senator
Has 60 Say About lt.-Fair
Treatment OF Applicants.
Col wilson's Cigars.
Their Eyes on the Chairmanship.

Their Eyes on the Chairmanship.
WASHINGTON, June Especial TO THE
BEE. There is going to be great deal OF
contention when the Fifty first congress con-
venes over the organization Of the house COM
mittee on elections. 1t has already been an
nounced that the south intends To combine
and demand the Craftsmanship of this commit
tee. A majority has undoubtedly selected
Colonel Houk, of Knoxville, Tenn, who has
been a member of the house for FIVE or six
terms and during most of that period one OF
the committee on elections. The south will
furnish more contested elections than any
other section Of country, ana each contestant
has his friends in the house. There Is one
popularity In the southern contestants over
those from the north: they would like TO
know In advance how the jury is made up
which will hear their cases.
Before the speaker is elected some Of the
southern members will not only demand the
Chairmanship of the committee on elections
for their favorite, but they will demand OF
that favorite an expression as to what he
thinks of certain contests. Judge Houk is a
man of good judicial mind, and eminent fair
ness, and it Is probable that he will refuse to
say what his opinion OF case is before he
has made judicial examination of it. This
Is very likely to result in the south dividing
and in this event the south may set left.
Already there is a good deal of talk on the
subject, and considerable feeling Is being
shown. 1t is claimed that more than any
thing else decisions in favor of certain con-
testants IN the south will help break up the
solidity of democratic maiorities which have
been secured by fraud. They want some
example, and are determined to begin at this
time.
"Ofice seeking costs lots of money!" said
o western republican senator this morning.
Hundreds of men have been hanging
around Washington ever since the 4th of
March, seeking places either for themselves
or somebody else. presume there has been
an average of LOCO men here daily from va
rsous parts Of the country during the past
ten weeks, and they are either at their own
expense or that of those they represent
About half Of the men who come here seek
ing r!aces for others have their expenses
paid by he applicants. These men will aver
age a cost OF al Least IS day. and that means
not less than $1,000 daily for Office seeking.
You can see that already half million dol
lars have been expended. doubt very
much If all the offices secured pay salaries
worth $500, 600 for four years.
"fhave encountered a good many mon
strosities and great many peculiar situa-
tions in connection with office-seekirg. l
know n father and son who are both seeking
positions in the same branch of the govern
defeat of the other. There are two
brothers here seeking place in the treasury
department. Each knows full well, and ac-
knowledges it, that if the other is given a
place he will be left out Neither the father
nor son, nor either of the brothers, will be
given q place. l advised them repeatedly to
get together, and. one withdraw in favor of
the other, but they were unwilling to do
this"
There is a good deal of superstition in con-
nn<,ttn nfap lnl of hn nnct
energetic and strongly endorsed office seek
ers carries real rabbit foot in his pocket.
He calls it "a graveyard rabbit foot" 1t Is
an ordinary cotton tail's" foot, of light grey
color, and around it is tied pretty little pink
ribbon. This man is strong of mind, and
young of years, yet he declares that If he was
to lose this rabbit foot he would not achieve
success in his ambition.
~
1t is refreshing to know that those who are
compelled to meet charges against their char
acter, intended to defeat applications for pen
showing now. The administration of Presi-
dent Cleveland inaugurated a system of Sec
recy which was very reprehensible, In that
while man could ascertain that charges had
been preferred against him which were likely
to defeat his application, he was not permit
ted to see them, and could not, therefore,
meet them.
Strange as it may appear, such informa-
tion as the names of bondsmen for federal
officers was refused everybody who applied
AT the departments. I he date of issuance of
commissions was kept a secret as frequently
as possible The time when q change was 10
be made in an Office was profound secret,
much to the disgust Of those who were inter-
ested in securing changes. The greatest harm
and the most fragrant injustices were perpe-
trated in the pension office by this system
OF secrecy. If a soldier should apply for a
pension, or if the widow or orphan of SOL
- l,.,
file charges, defeat the application, and the
applicant would never know why he or she
failed of success 1t was like man being
tried for his life having an opportunity to
present his evidence in rebuttal without
knowing what he was rebutting. 1t was
hearing one side openly for the purpose of
meeting the side which was secret
There Is only one case on record where an
applicant for favor at the hands of the gov.
ernment defeated this outrageous scheme.
He lived in indiana. Nff His case W was hung I up
indefinitely, and he was for many months
unable to ascertain what was the reason of
the delay. Finally no learned that
charges had been preferred against
the address Of those who had testified in
opposition to his claim. He learned this
much in Washington, and Immediately put
out to his home with the determination to
out-Herod Herod When he arrived at home
a
fac-simile circular representing himself to be
special agent of the pension office. He
addressed one of these to each man who had
testified against him, and over an assumed
name asked these witnesses TO repeat to him
the testimony given in the case. Every wit
ness fell into the trap, and by that means he
was enabled to get a duplication of the testi.
mony FLED at the pension Office against him
self. That man is now pushing his claim for
q pension before Commissioner Tanner, and
the fact that this secret evidence weighed
heavy against him, ard operated unfairly
under the last administration, IS regarded as
a strong element in his favor. 1t Is not on
record, in written or unwritten annals, that
person or administration gained anything
by dealing unfairly, or that there was ever
any gain by secretiveness when justice was
at stake.
s'%
Assistant Attorney General Wilson, of
West Virginia, is an inveterate smoker. Go
ing up to his floor in the department of JUS
tice the other morning he was accompanied
by an old friend Colonel Wilson was with.
out q cigar, and he wanted one very much.
"What kind Of cigars are you carrying
this morning." inquired Colonel Wilson, seri-
ously.
~ haven't got any to-day, colonel,n was
the reply; "Dut II had one should be very
glad TO give it to YOU"
~ thA