The Helena independent. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1875-1943, 1893-05-15
GLAD TO GET RID OF IT.
Representative Bynum's Plea for
Relief From the Burdens
Of Patronage.
He Wants It Made Illegal TOR
congressman to Ask
for Friends.
Legislators Have Other Duties to Perform
Besides Getting Places for Constituents
Tho Presldents Freeae-Out.

Tho Presidents Freeae-Out.
WASHINGTON. May 1T would like to
see every senator and member of congress
relieved from all connection with or respon-
sibility for appointments to Office" Rep
resentative Bynum. Of Indiana, thus ON
phatically expresses his opinion about the
pressure which is brought to bear upon leg
islators to secure places fos thsir constitu7
ents. 1.-THE truth is" he continued. "the
time is not fnr distant when a law will be
passed making it illegal for a senator or
representative TO solicit any Office or to
have anything to do with an appointment
unless he il called upon by the head OF the
department to give advice or make a sug-
e~estion. It will then be understood that
this information. rendered by request. is
not to be considered as having any moro
weight than advice or suggestion coming
from anybody else" When asked If
the political status of senators and nom.
bers would be injured If they were deprived
OF the power of pa ~tronage. he responded
emphatically: mo. sir. We would be
stronger if We had no Offices to dispense.
The only trouble / ever had in my district
grew ont of an appointment to Office. A
reform in the present system is impera-
lively demanded. A few nincompoops think
that senators and members are opposed to
reformation. This ia q mistake. The be-
lief that members are able with the use Of
patronage to secure nominations and cleo.
tons is " serious error. Patronage, as it is
called. is IN element of weakness. and there
is not a single member of the house who
would not be infinitely stronger with his
constituents without II.
1.-THE present custom originated when
circumstances we're different from now.
Forty o. fifty years ego but few applicants
could afford to come to Washington. The
president and heads of the departments
could secure but little information as to
cants, except from members of coneress.
The custom probably originated moro
from tho requests Of the executive officers
for information than from the Emporium
tiles Ii demands Of congressman, but the
situation is now changed. Offices have
and within twenty-four hours ride from
Washington are 40, 600, 600 of people. The
population in congressional districts has
been largely increased. SO that the custom,
which in other times was the only practi-
cable method, is a responsibility, too great
to be borne now. Senators and members
of course are better acquainted with the
situation In their states and districts, and
their advice could not be wholly dispensed
with.
Under the present system our situation
10 this: While our recommendations are
not binding in any degree upon heads of
departments. they are 80 universally acted
Svnc0 That IN Nnnakk,oNko aRn vorrAcnA1
with tho belief that we control appoint
ments. Under these circumstance we are
compelled to fQht to uphold them. Ii our
recommendations are disreRarded our con-
stituents either charge Us with treachery OF
want of standing and influence. What
must relieve us from responsibility. 1t the
president and his cabinet can devise a new
system that will give to applicants a full
and equal hearing without forcing them to
seek our aid and intercession I will not only
make no objection, but will aid them in
carrying the same out to the strict letter"
1T was not to be expected that the grent
body of office seekers now in Washington
would take kindly to the announcement by
the president that he would see no Office
seekers unless he sent for them. There has
been RrumblinR at the downtown hotels,
where most of the Office sesking army is
sncamped. but the grumblers find no s5m-
RNSAA VASOlo LAC AopCA ASVRV4o aAA VIE
proprietors of boarding houses. The out
going trains. crowded with patriots sor. ,
that they did not start for home weeks ago
and stop the heavy expense to which they
have been subjected since they began their
hunt for places, prove that President Cleva-
land has been taken at his word. There
have boon a nunbe of amusing incidents
in connection with the orier. A fat man
from one of the southern states. who has
been in Washington since March 4. and has
made many a trip to the executive mansion,
heard OF the announcement early in the
morning and came putting down Newspape.
row to ascertain it it were true.
thing he saw wac the presidents declara-
tion under a 'scare head" Hc read il
G ~refuliy. folded up the paper. and then. in
tones which faithfully indicated the state
of his mind. he said to the newman;
"Does that man think he owns the White
to dispose of, and the fat man wnddled
back to his lodgings to pack his grip.
A prominent treasury official said this
afternoon that the embargo placed upon
the office seekers had made it necessary for
him to dodge two prominent democrats
from his state to-day. One Of them" he
said in explanation, II 8 a candidate for the
rostmastership in n OF our principal CIT
les. He spent a good deal of his time here
after the Inauguration OF President Cleve-
land in looking after HIS candidacy. About
two weeks ago he came to me for advice.
He wanted to know whether it would be
better for him to 60 to the White house at
once with u letter ftom me and plead his
cnsa, or go home md return n fort
night later with a friend of his who
was intimately acquainted with the
president and was willing to introduce him
and put in a good word for him l told
him that it seemed to me the wiser plan &c
go home and wait until his friend was
ready to come to Washington. He took my
advice. This morning he returned witt
his friend only to discover that the white
house was closed to him. l have felt un-
happy ever since l saw the look OF DISCUS,
which he wore when l met him this morn
ing. Hereafter l shall try to avoid giving
advice in political matters."
1t ia predicted that ono effect of Presi-
dent Clevoland's statement will be to in
crease the number of callers upon cabinet
o%flicera. Under the present rules these Of
ficers are barred from the public on Tues
days and Fridays. which are cabinet days
and some Of them have hedgsd themselves
behind rules which effectually keep ofice
seekers at bay for several hours in the otheI
working days of the week.
1t is reported tha: President Cleve-
land is disposed to adhere strictly to tht
purpose Of the law of the last congress- ie-
epectipp the gDr ointment of army Oificcri