Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1893-04-08

when the republicans were in power. There
has never been a time when the evil was more
general and undisguised Here is q story
to illustrate:
Only short time ago, when Crounse and
Nebeker we're appointed respectively assistant
secretary of the treasury and treasurer of the
United States, each of them made his son his
confidential clerk, with a salary Of $4,000
year. Secretary Foster felt panied He sum-
moned the assistant secretary and protested.
Mr.. Crounse replied:
''Mr. Secretary, myself am opposed to ne
potism. 1 think it is a bad practice. But
President Harrison has appointed his brother
marshal of Tennessee, Mr.. Blaine has secured
the employment of his son clerk to the House
committee on foreign affairs, Attorney General
Miller has obtained for his son the place of
private secretary 10 the Secretary of War, and
l might easily continue the list further. Ii this
system is wrong let it be wiped out; but don't
see why the line should be drawn me. Since
1t is the custom | propose to engage my sons
services. If he cannot retain the Office 1 will
offer you my resignation"
This statement rather staggered Secretary
Foster. The attitude of Mr.. Nebeker was not
less firm. He said:
Mr.. Secretary, President Harrison has al
ready spoken to me about the appointment of
my son. He remarked that if he had been in
my place he would not have given the position
to his son. Out of respect 1 bowed and said
nothing. If had felt at liberty to be frank l
would have replied: Il wouldn't have done SO
either. if l had a son like yours, Mr.. Presi-
dent"
UNDER THE LAST ADMINISTRATION.
At the very outset of the last administration
Mr.. Blaine excited severe criticism by appoint
ing his son Walker to be solicitor of the De-
Partment of State. Young Miller, having been
employed as Proctors private secretary at
81. 400 year. was retained through the four
years term by Elkins. Secretary Noble, whose
action in this matter was unique and unprece-
denied. refused to hire the private secretary at
So 400 TO whose services be was entitled. In
stead. he took an ordilary 81 500 empIoye of
the department and used him as n clerk His
predecessor. Lamar. gave to his own
clerkshiD in the Department of the Interior.
When Henry +. French was made assistant Sec
rotary OF the treasury in 1876 he gave employ
ment to every available cousin, even to tine most
remote degrees of consanguinitv, thus exhibit
ing his faith in the theory that to the family of
the victor belong the spoils
The political upset which has turned the con-
troll OF the Senate over to the democrats has
robbed many relatives dependent on republican
Senators of jobs which they had come to re-
gard as permanent. On the other hand the
reorganization Of the committees has enabled
n number of members Of the upper House 20
provide for young men allied 20 them by ties of
kindred. The democratic Senators who have
been placed newly in charge OF committees
have each had profitable cierkship to dispose
Of. Henry l.. Pugh has been appointed clerk
to tine Judiciary committee of which his father,
Senator from Alabama, is chairman. with a
salary of 2,22O year. George W. Morgan of
Alabama has been made clerk of the committee
on foreign relations, of which his father is
Chairman. at 1920 per annum. Senator
Smith Of New Jersey has appointed his son
clerk at 81, 900 to the committee on contingent
Of n,
chairman of the committee privileges and
elections. has made his son clerk to that COM
mittee al 1920. Senator. Voorhees, of Indiana
chairman of the committee finance, has ap-
POINTED his son clerk at 50 go.
Vice President Stevenson has chosen for his
private secretary his son. Louis G. Stevenson,
who will draw 81, 400 per annum for the next
four years. The chairman of the committee on
District of Columbia is Senator Harris Of Ten
nessee. He mas already appointed his son as clerk
OF that committee at 1920. John J. ingalls,
used to be at the head of this committee Its
clerk was young man named Hag who had
done long and faithful service. On March g.
1891, which WAS the las. day of ingalls, term
he discharged Haig, without a moments
notice. and appointed his own son as
clerk to the committee. Thus Ralph Ingalls,
drew salary FOR doing nothing for the next
eight orths, though his father was no longer
III the senate. This was considered at the time
about the smallest act Of nepotism committed
up to date, and 1t gave rise to much unfavor-
able criticism.
PETER APPOINTED HIS DAUGHTER.
The political landslide having placed Senator
PETER Of Kansas at the head OF the committee
on civil service, he has taken a new departure
by appointing his daughter as clerk to that
committee Each member of the upper house
who Is not chairman Of a committee is entitled
to a personal clerk at 800 month during ses-
sions OF Congress. Among the Senators who
have employed their SOM as private secretaries
under this provision are Blackburn of Ken
lucky, Daniel of Virginia, Jones, Arkansas,
Squire OF Washington. Gallinger of New Hamp-
shire and Biodgett of New Jersey Logan Car
Isle, now assisting the Secretary Of the Treas
ury, was his fathers clerk in the Senate The
sons OF Dawes OF Massachusetts, Blair OF New
Hampshire and Cockrell have each been drawing
5000 quarter for some years past as clerks to
the committees of which those Senators were re-
spectively chairmen. Senator Dolph's son-in-
law. Richard Nixon, has received like paw as
clerk to the committee on coast defenses. Sena-
tor Reagan gave rise to much cavil by appoint
ing his wife 10 be his private clerk
The son of Senator Harris now clerk to the
committee on the District of Columbia was pre-
viousy clerk to the special committee on epl-
demic diseases. which never made a report
There are number OF committees appointed by
both Senate and House, but mostly by the former
which never do any work. majority of them
are special committees. They are given ordi-
narily to leaders Of the minority in order that
the latter may have the use OF committee rooms
and clerks. Naturally the clerkships are sine
cures. The fact is that nearly all the clerkships
to committees are very easy jobs. Whatever
| real toll there may be is usually performed by
undercerks, called messengers The clerk
ships which require skill and labor like those
attached to the committees on pensions and ap-
preparations. held by men Of experience.
who cannot be dispensed with even for SO i'm
pOrtant purpose as the giving Of employment
| to relatives.
Looking over to the other wing OF the Capitol
| one finds the same sort Of nepotism governing
| In the Congress just ended Ruter W. Springer.
| son Of Chairman Springer of Illinois, served as
| clerk to the committee on ways and MEANS
| The pay attached to this position is 50 900 a
| year, because the committee is such an import
ant one. The son Of Chairman Enloe Of Ten
nessee, B. A. Enloe, IT,, was clerk to the COM
| mittee on education at $4,000. The son OF
Chairman Stump of Maryland. Ber.ram u
| Stump, was clerk to tine committee on imrfigra-
| ton and naturalization at $4,000. The son OF
Chairman Peel Of Arkansas was clerk to the COM
mittee on Indian affairs at 81 900. The brother
Of Chairman Wise Of Virginia, Peyton Wise,
\ was clerk to the interstate and foreign COM
merce committee at %, 600. The son Of Chair
man James b. Reilly of Pennsylvania, James
p. Reilly, was clerk to the committee on Pacific
railways at $4,000. The son Of Chairman Till
man OF South Carolina, James Tillman, was
clerk to the committee on patents at 81, 600
| The son Of Chairman Bankhead OF Alabam,
Il Lob n. o,l.~ 80 ~