Telegram-herald. ([Grand Rapids, Mich.) 18??-1892, 1891-06-05

ths pleasure Of tie legislator had re-
eeiyed consideration, instead Of the IN
,sFests of the State; that the legislative
sessions were unduiy prolonged. anc IN
fact that the ship of state, without any
guiding hand, was being driven by the
winds OF incompeteacy and cor
ruptlon upon the reels and
rocks OF destruction at q rapid
rate, and that the only method 10 save
Il from sure annihiistion Vas 10 pat it
IA charge or the Democratic party, and
run Il under Democratic policies. Well,
much 10 the surprise of individual
Democrats and the party, the people
voted the party into power IN the sSy-
eral departments Of the state, and what
has been the result .hus far! How
do their practices accord With their
promises, In the hrs, place, had the
party had any confidence IN It's ability
TO succeed At the polls last fall, il would
not nave nominated the persons II did
for . number of the heads OF depart
nlents. aud having nominated them,
aud they being elected, the party finds
them Ike 60 many white elephants
upon its hands. But the worst
feature in this matter is, that the inter
ests OF the people and the good name
OF the State are involved IN their
election. In one department. At least.
not only no degree of competency has
been shown, but downright scandalous
conduct mas been overlooked, although
well-known. because of the disgrace it
would bring to friends, and to the State.
to have the facts made generally known
to the public. and this fact Is not con-
fined to single isolated instance.
The greed for position. which I'M
mediately after the election manifested
itself, gave the people to understand
that the professions in relation to re-
duction Of expenditures were made
merely to catch votes, and were not
made upon any weli-grounded convic-
ton that there was any valid demand
for such reduction. Employees in the
departments have not been diminished
in number, but increased. and ever
since the present Legislature convened,
it has been the object and study Of the
Democrats how they could best create
official positions, with salary attach
ments, in order to satisfy the iuordinate
hunger of the hordes Of Democratic de-
mandants, and schemes for raids upon
the treasury, under the guise Of neces-
sary additional Offices, have been devised
and carried into effect. In the Senate
two of its Republican members we're
in All entirely unparliamentary and
revolutionary manner unseated to give
places to two Democrats, in order that
Democratic desires and illegal schemes
could be effected; and not long after
the seating Of these Democrats, one Of
them, a self-confessed criminal, sought
sanctuary in the Lieutenant Governor 8
private room IN the capitol. to avoid o
feared arrest, where he was carefully
guarded by the Lieutenant Governor
himself, and the Democratic faithful.
The short session which was promised
has been prolonged until the ending of
its fifth month of existence, and the
most important legislation remains nm
touched, and no prospect of an adj
iournmenti in the near future. Frequent
adjournments of the Legislature
and junkets, which were so fiercely
condemned during the political canvass,
have become the common practice OF
this session. Railroad passes. the TAX
ing of which was so loudly and ostenta.
tlously condemned by the Democrats
before the session, have been taken and
freely used by them. And now, at this
late day in the session, when important
legislation is demanding the attention
os the members, a charge of bribery is
made against two of the reform
members, which Will have to be invcsti-
gated, and the time which ought to be
devoted 10 the passage OF needed legis-
lation will have TO be wasted in the in
vestigation of this charge. Truly DEM
ocratic practice and professions are
entire strangers to one another.