Freeland tribune. (Freeland, Pa.) 1888-1921, 1889-11-14

WASHINGTON, November l2. 1888

WASHINGTON, November II, 1889.
1t is stated that the civil service commission
has evidence which establishes conclusively
violations of the law concerning
the solicitation of political contributions. If
this be the case there will happily be no occa-
sion or temptation to resort to the strained in
depreciation of the law which some enthusi-
astic civil service reformers and the shrewd
spoilsmen alike advocate. The law is designed
to protect the government clerks against the
solicitation from them of political contribu-
tions by co-employes in any place, and by other
persons in the buildings where the clerks are
employed. The government does not intend
that compulsory tribute shall be extorted from
the clerks by a request for money for political
purposes from superior in Office, whose sug-
gestion is equivalent to demand, enforceable
by removal of the disobedient. 1t does not in
tend that official duty shall be associated with
political contributions by conversion of the
departments into the unrestricted hunting
grounds of the campaign solicitor. 1t lays
down certain regulations concerning the con-
duct of its employees in their relation to one
another, and it restricts also the right to enter
for certain purposes upon government real
estate. But as the Supreme Court of the
United States has stated, it does not make the
general giving or receiving of political contri-
buttons illegal. And the invitation to contri-
butte is also itself an innocent act
The section of the law in reference to solicit
tation of assessments by and from officeholders
receives perhaps the most vigorous straining,
but stretching of the section concerning soli-
citation in government buildings is also threat
ened in constituting the mailing of circular,
giving information where contributions may
be received, to the department addresses of a
clerk as a solicitation in the building and as a
misdemeanor.
SURPRISING ANNOUNCEMENT.
There is a rumor (which comes with unusual
weight in fact, it emanates from certain per-
sons very near the Boss HIMSELF to the effect
that Harrison has finally determined to make
William Henry Harrison Miller of Indiana, at
present Attorney General as Associate Justice
of the United States, and to transfer the Secre-
tary of the Navy to the Attorney Generals
Office. Did not the story come with such marks
of truth l should incontinenty say it was i'm
possible for such thing to be. The PROPOSE
ton to put the present Attorney General on
the bench of the Supreme Court has been sufi-
ciently discussed. Harrison knows already
what the country would think of such an ap-
pointment, and If he has the capacity he is Gre
dited with he understands at what cost to his
own reputation such an appointment would be
made As for General Tracy, he is in the right
place now. He is the ablest man in the Cabinet
ut this time and he is doing about the only
work that reflects much credit upon the pre-
sent administration. He is the first thoroughly
capable Republican Secretary of the Navy
since the end of the civil war. He is u wcrthy
of the Democrat, William c. Whitney
To the great work which Mr. whitney began
Mr.. Tracy has applied himself with an energy
and intelligence that promise the results the
people want. Political friends and political
of Gen. Tracy agree as to this. He
S in the right place now To move him out of
t in order to put Mr.. Miller into place he has
no fitness for would be such u blunder us few
men ever make in lifetime.
TO PROTECT THE NIGGERs.
The Attorney General of the United States
Dogberry in his reply to the de-
nand of the Reverend William Gray's colored
delegation from the recent General Baptist
The delegation alleged assassina-
tion of colored voters in the South intended
murder of colored witnesses I'm an election trial
to take place in Jacksonville Fla, and de-
Federal protection. Mr.. Miller's Off
ca reply assures the colored brother in every
particular-after death AS the delegation did
not see the use sin enforcing the law for their
protection dfter they had been dssdssindted,
they concluded that Mr.. Miller's assurance was
rather cold comfort, and left wondering what
the grand old party was coming to, anyway!
DEsERTIoNs FROM THE MARINE CORPS.
Desertions in the Marine Corps seems to be
even more prevalent than in the army. The
of that amphibious body reports
that out of total of 1923 enlisted men, 5l5 de-
serted last year, which is equal to ~ per cent.
of the entire force. The commandant believes
desertion is due mainly to overwork, the num-
Der of enlisted men in the corps not being suili-
cient for the performance of the required duty.
He says that at least 400 additional men are
needed to meet the demand for guards for the
new vessels and at the same time leave men
enough for shore duty at the stations. II.