Omaha daily bee., 1896-06-19
bribery by LOBBYISTS.
Mcrcennry Legislators scored for
Thcir RctrnNnI of Constilucitts.

M~erccnary Legislators scored Tor
Their Betrayal of Constituents.
Purity of the ballot and purity of legisla
ton go hand in hand. 1t is not surprising
therefore, to find the infant Bee inveighin :
against bribery and lobbying as early as
May "a, 1872, in this fashion:
Never was the foul system of lobbying
brought to such perfection of operation as
it is today, and never were legislators so
susceptible to the influence which it uses,
often so successfully. Senators and rep
resentatives purchase their seats in con-
gress with the real expectation of receiving
back an hundredfold the expenditure in
| volved and intending, as a general rule, to
| come out from a senatorial or representa-
tive term wealthy, and we have just had a
striking illustration of the influence OF the
lobby in the passage of the Pacific Mail
subsidy scheme. And it is on record that
certain members of congress were ap-
preached with efforts, probably successful,
at bribery. 1t surely is important that
this modern feature of American legislature,
so in antagonism to the best interests of the
people, should be eXterminated. 1t is work
ing and can only work general disaster and
serve to wreck the political honor of the
nation. The member of congress who Will
allow himself to be approached even in the
way of a pecuniary offer for his vote ought
to be rejected from that originally august
body. The only safety is in returning to
the early purity which distinguished the
fathers of the republic, that purity which
led it up to its present strength and glory.
FAyoRs SERVICE REFORM.
On Record Early in Its Career for u
One-TerIp P~resideHcy.
As a natural sequence, The Bee would be
expected to be a strong advocate Of civil
service reform, and in this its readers have
never been disappointed. Editorials in favor
of civil service reform, and endorsing General
Grants recommendations in that direction,
appear on the editorial pages OF September,
October, November and December, 1871.
The Bee has favored and still favors a one
term presidency, and the election of senators
by direct vote of the people, In this con-
nection the following editorial on Present
Taking" of December 26, 1871, is interest
ing;
THE principal object aimed at by the
advocates of civil service reform has been,
as is well known, to purge the country of
corrupt and incompetent public service.
With a view to eueCtually carr ing out this
object, President Grant has recently sub
mittcd to congress the results OF the labors
of the civil service commission as embodied
in their comprehensive report. One of the
most important rules laid down by the COM
missioners tor the future government of
federal officials is contained in article IL of
their report, An heads OF departments and
all subordinate officers of the government
are hereby prohibited from rCruitting, as
sisting or leyying any assessment on their
subordinates in the form OF volunteer con-
tributions, or otherwise While these rules
have as yet not received the congressional
sanction required to make them a law, they
are nevertheless the reflex OF the honest
sentiments of the great masses of the Ameri-
can people, in whose ~nostrils official
bribery and corruption in any shape Is as re-
pu. sive as the stencil of a purifying carcass.
Whether the purely volunteer contributions
collected from the clerks of the Omaha
postoihce last week for the testimonial to
Postmaster Griffin can be classed under this
to judge, The latest ulvarnished definition
Of official present taking according to some
learned gTammarians is official bribery. 1t
can be so de lned emphatically, when the
presentation happens on the heels of a
much needed newspaper endorsement of the
subordinate, who, in becoming the delegated
donor of the gift, has succeeded
in placing himself and his superior
officer In an unenyiable light be-
fore the public. Instead of accepting
the prOffered silver salyer and wine glasses,
Griffin should. If he valued his
reputation as a public officer, have respect
fully but positively declined to accept them.
His acceptation of these presents and the
reported commentator of the official con-
duet of a subordinate who acted as a pro-
jeetor Of the great surprise is a most de-
liberate insult to the moral sense of the
community, as we'll as to the official station
he now occupies. Like the biblical. patriarch
Jacob. Postmaster Griffin is the reputed
Of great estates, He Is blessed
with men servants and maid servants, great
tlOeks OF sheep. herds OF oxen. horses, mules
and asses, and why should he, with a salary
OF $4,000 per annum. accept silver salyera