New-York tribune., 1900-05-30
DISPUTE OVER PATRONAGE.
CONTROVERSY BETWEEN CHAIRMEN
PLATT AND HEATWOLE OF COMMIT
TEES ON PRINTING.

Washington. May % (SpeciaD.-A quiet but rather
interesting controversy has been in progress for
time the official patronage under the
control of the Joint Committee Printing of Con-
gress. The chief parties to the controversy
Senator Patt. of New-York. and Representative
Heatwole, of Minnesota. The former is chairman
of the Senate Committee Printing and the latter
OF the corresponding House committee. The mem
of these committees constitute the Joint Com
mttee Printing of which Senator Platt is
officio chairman. The joint committee is clothed
with authority to open and pass on bids and award
contracts paper and other supplies for the Gov
ernment Printing Office, to provide for the indexing
of '"The Congressional Record and the compilation
of Congressional Directory. and also the abridg
ment of messages and documents. 1t also appoints
one member the Board to examine and test
paper and other supplies furnished by contractors
to the Government Printing Office. The patron
age of the joint committee is understood to
amount to $500 $4,000 year. and for number
of years has been under the control of the chair
man of the joint committee. When Mr.. Heatwole
became chairman of the House committee. how
ever. he demanded division of the spoils. Chair
man Platt did his way clear either TO
render any part of the patronage or to call
meeting of the joint committee to consider the
question; whereupon the Minnesota statesman
waxed wroth. and declared that he would hold up
all Senate concurrent resolutions providing for the
printing of reports and documents-it being neces-
sary have printing estimated 10 cost above
certain sum authorized by such resolution. This
policy Chairman Heatwole found to be imprac-
ticable, for it meant the playing of a game in
which Chairman Platt not novice If he
was new chairman of the Senate Printing Com
mittee.
Chairman Heatwole then devised another expedi-
ent He persuaded the House Committee on Ap-
proprations to insert word in appropriation
bill the effect OF which will be prevent the pay
ment of certain persons appointed by the chairman
of the joint committee until their appointments
have been ratified by the present committee
The Interpolation slipped through the Senate and
not discovered until after the Appropriation
bill had become law, and the persons referred
will have wait until the law is changed before
they paid.
Pleased with his success Chairman Heatwole
turned his attention to other employees of
the Joint Committee. the appropriation for whose
compensation IS carried by the Sundry Civil Appro-
prlaton bill. and he succeeded in having proviso
inserted that no payment shall be made to them
from the money appropriated unless their ap-
pointments date subsequent to January /, 1900
since which date meeting of the joint committee
to consider that subject has been held. This pro-
viso discovered by vigilant eyes before the
Sundry Civil bill came out of the Senate Commit
tee Appropriations, which recommended that 1t
be stricken out. 1t is pretty safe say that the
Objectionable provso will not appear in the Sundry
Civil law this year. and to that extent the Minnie
statesman will be balked in his attempt 10
coerce the New-York Senator.