Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1894-02-27

senator Cullom always had PEN
chant for creating new Offices. IL
was during his regime in Illinois
that several of the very ornamental.
hut almost entirely useless commits
sions or bureaus. which now afiiict
our body polite were inflicted upon
the state. No legislature could pro-
vide more soft official sinecurcs than
Shelby wanted. and was ready and
willing to I'LL with his favorites.
He seemed never to Ice satisfied.
Like the leech. he was always CRYING.
..Morc. more" With his transfer
from the state to the federal capital.
Mr.. Cullom's appetite for the crea-
tion Of new offices did not abate.
Hardly had he got his seat in the
federal senate chamber comfortably
warm before he began To incubate
commissions to provide soft places
for tired or retired statesmen. How
many Offices Of trust and profit
principally the latter--Cullom has
been instrumental in Matching out
since he landed in Washington in
the spring Of 1855, no one can tell
without carefully comparing the
comparatively small Blue book" Of
that year with the mammoth g
volume official record which is now
in process Of publication. They foo,
mn. doubtless. into large figures.
And he is still at 10. The report
comes from Washington that sena.
tor Cullom will soon introduce q bill
providing for n permanent tariff
commission consisting of nine mem.
hers. secretary and as many
clerks n they choose to vote
themselves. The principal duty o.
these nine commissioners will he q
draw salaries Of 5000 per annuu
each. They will also he expected &c
furnish information to congress IL
regard tn rates Of wages in this ant
other countries and such other IN
formation reliable or otherwise tina
they can pick mp In Labor Commits
eioner Peck. Of New York. Aftcl
drawing their salaries and living or
the fat Of the land mt Washington
and filing themselves and congrcs
up with Information. the commits
stoncrs and their secretary and arm
Of clerks are required TO prepare |
tariff bill. This tariff law is to H.
rates Of duty. which in the commits
sioner's opinion. and according &
our Shelby's theory. will prevent dc
preston in the wages Of American
labor from competition Of foreigI
with American products. and ut tn
same time furnish sufficient revcnu
for the support Of the government
Mr.. Cullom's bill further provide
that rot more than four Of the com
u,issiouers shall be selected from tn
same political party. 1t is very cvi
dent from this feature Of the bill
which Is really the best Of its feat
ures. that Mr.. Cullom expects to b
out of n Job year from next March
AMI is trying to provide y soft Plac
TO light in. The State Register
however. does not believe tina
our genial senator. with nj
his extraordinary powers @
persuasion. can coax q democratic
congress into even considering bi
scheme. Such body Us this bill
would establish would not only he
useless addition to the already to
large grand army Of ofliceholdcr'
bat 10 would he unconstitutional
The fundamental law If the Ian
provides that all bills for raising rev
saue shall originate in the house Q
representatives: and this bill COT
templates that such bills shall orig
nots In q commission appointed by
peosident. Senator Cullom wi
have 90 invent some other method .
peoviding . resting place for himsc
Shaa this tariff commission. Ou
Democratic congress proposes to n
Wise snd reform the tariff along den
eerstic liaes without assistance fsoI
aay eomuission. The people con
nissioaed the democratic senator
cod Representatives to attend 10 ths
iob st the slectioa Of 1899. and
ohey dou't do 10 and do 10 spccdil
Wsil they will be called 70 On q
0ouae for ekoie lailuss.