Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1899-11-27
MONDAY EVENING. NOV. 81 1899
THERE HAS been of late good deal

THERE HAS, been of late good deal
of talk TOUCHING the degeneracy OF the
Us. Senate, and it has been assumed
by some that any evil existing in that
bcy.@ could be cured by system OF
POPULAR election. Turning TO the HOUSE
ofRepresentatives we fud body CHOSEN
directly by the people every two years
Their private morals we do not propose
to discuss. Their morals ought to Or
very good indeed, considering that they
are so very a6sieic!ons that the sale OF
wine and beer is ab -olutely prohibited
in the Capitol restaurant. Ii is furtoer
TO be noted that g number OF these
Solons propose TO refuse to allow sea'
10 Roberts, the man Of Utah whose en-
thusiasm for matrimony has exceeded
all legal bounds. Accepting THESE
proofs of clean private morals at tne:r
full face value, it may be proper to ask
how many of these gentlemen have
been dancing attendance on the Fresl-
dent, to beg for Office for their frlenoS
and even for members of their own
families? And this last brings up the
serious question whether thus Is tne
kind of relation a representative OF the
people ought to occupy towards the
President. If the President or one OF
his secretaries confers high or lucra-
tive Office on the son or nephew OF the
Congressman, is there not some
danger that the President may think
that he is entitled to the support 10
Congress of that particular Congress
man. and that any exhibition by him
of independence in vote or speech is an
act of bad faith and ingratitude?
Again, when a Congressman makes
such q request OF the President,
is it not Just possible that the Presi'
dent. in his eager anxiety to pre-
pitiate the representative, may fasten
bad man on the public service. If this
be done in the army or the navy, be-
sides being a discredit to the service,
tbs appointment may endanger the
lives of faithful men by incompetent
leadership. On the other hand, what
effect may be reasonably expected to
be produced upon the mind of con-
gresham who has had one or more OF
mis- sons, perhaps even daughter
placed by the President on the govern
ment pay roll Can representative
thus loaded down with pecuniary IA
yors for his own family be expected to
be an independent representative
How can he criticise an administration
when by his own fundamentally and
solicitation he has fastened his own
children at the public crib? Is there
not great dagger that the member will
thereafter be tempted to palliate the
errors and shortcomings of the Presi.
dent, to defend his wars, whether just
or unjust, to give him all the power ht
wants, to excuse his usurpations AID to
shut his eyes to all other acts of corrup-
ton and undue influence by the execu-
tive? Is there constituency in the
country that would elect man to
Congress if he were to say frankly to
them that he expected to use his power
when elected to have members OF his
own family appointed to office? This
system is cerSainly Objectionable even
in the case of republican members OF
Congress, but in the case of democratic
members OF the House of Representa-.
tives, the evil consequences are far
greater and the public scandal more
gross and offensive. If this abuse be
once begun, as it is we'll understood
it has been, where is it to end and how
many members are to fasten their fam
lilies on the public treasury?