Sunday Washington globe., 1902-03-09

truthful ana emphatic manner III which II
has championed the canse Of right and ex-
posed the iniquitous methods in the differ
ent departments If the GLOBE will pardon
an humble onlooker in Venice. the sugges-
tiou might be made that there is another
branch of this popular Government which
should be made to feel the stinging lash
of its condemnation, and its shame should
be set forth in colors true and lasting. We
speak now pardon us for usurping the edi-
torial function in the use of the plural pro-
noun Of the management that surrounds
the very seat of the Government itself
the Capitol employees A little bit of his
tory at this point will serve to enlighten
those who have not delved into the subject
and who have had no occasion to do so.
You are probably aware that a comhina-
tion for patronage and profit exists in the
big white building on the hill which is
known as the hog combine" Il was
formed some years ago by Governor Stone
of Pennsylvania, who was then a member
of the House of Representatives. He
gathered about him a number of kindred
spirits, who did not have then, and have
never shown since, any inherent decency
or respect for the rights of others, and
together they formed a combination to con-
AAAA AAAN NaAADAtth VI AAAe AAQu1N anu 10 ANAEE
the employees to pay tribute. This un-
savory cabal has been at its grasping work
ever since that date, despite the fact that
Governor Stone is no longer a member and
despite the fact that protest after protest
has been made by those whose rights have
been so ruthlessly disregarded
The first thing done by this 'hog com
bine" was to select the proper heads TO the
different branches. This was done by the
choosing of Clerk of the House Mcdowell,
Chief Doorkeeper Glenn and SeTgeant-at-
Arms Casson. After that selection the rest
was easy It is an open secret that every
person who has been employed in any ca
pacity, from messenger TO laborer, has been
compelled to pay tribute to the trio that
runs the hog combine" There is no pos
sible chance of evading the demand 1t is
either pay or get out, and not a moments
grace Is permitted to those who demur
During the Fifty-sixth Congress a deter
mined effort was made to eradicate the por-
cine combination aud a committee was ap-
pointed to investigate the dispensing of
patronage by the triumvirate Of pigs. What
did II result iu2 Let US tell you. The same
old three are back again doing business at
the same old stand aud in the same man
neT, The committee found abuses that
were astounding, but as it was not con-
sldered advisable or good politics
10 wash the party dirty linen in
open view, the report was never
made public. This was not in conformity
to the wishes OF Speaker Henderson and
some of the other decent members of the
Republican side, but as they were in the
minority the whole unsavory matter was
permitted to die out and was quietly buried.
II would have made little difference at any
rate, as the hog combine" still had enough
votes to control the situation. If any mem
Der who was not ia the magic circle grew
bold enough to make a protest he was
usually placated by the appointment of a
messenger, laborer or a policeman This
was seldom, however, and depended en-
tirely on the strength of the kick put up.
There is just now a ray of sunshine in
this dark cloud. The visit of Prince Henry
TO the Capitol TO participate in the McKiu-
ley memorial ceremonies brought out a
state of affairs which will hardly be per-
mitted 20 pass into obscurity without some
official attention. At least it should result
in the application of a little bit of that
discipline for which Speaker Henderson is
50 famous By an arrangement among the
members IL was decided to permit each
member one card Of admission to the floor
Of the House during the memorial services.
According to this arrangement some of
the members got their cards and others did
not But soon as the cards had been is
sued strange state of affairs developed.
Nearly every page and other employees had
tickets Of admission TO sell. and held them
at SIS each Not one penny less would buy
one Of the bits Of pasteboard, and thriving
business was done at that price. One mem
Der from Illinois, who vainly tried to get a
ticket, was approached by an employe, an
appOintee of Doorkeeper Glenn, who Of
fered him a ticket at the fixed price of S2S
The member had with him a valuable con-
stitueut-a Chicago politician-who he was
anxious to serve, and he was forced to dig
down into his Jeans for the amount This
was not the only instance. There were scores
of them. II is safe to say that every mem.
Der was met by the same proposition An
other member, who was approached. made
a protest when the employe impudently
asked What are we here fOr2" This
brazen piece Of effrontery would seem 20
show that there was an assurance of protec-
tion somewhere. AT any rate It was a sick
ening and disgusting spectacle TO contem-
plate. II was an occasion when the brains
and the Hover Of the land had met at the
Capital of the greatest nation on earth to do
solemn homage to the memory Of a mar
tyred President, and to turn it into a mart
for barter and profit is a little more than we
should be asked to stand. There is no di.
rect charge, yet, that any particular person
put up the disgusting scheme for profit, but
1t surely is the proper province Of someone
10 investigate and to prevent such an occur
ance again. Where did the tickets that
were for sale come from? How did they
get into the hands Of those who offered them
for sale2 We're the employees getting even
for the tax they have to pay the combine2
This was not the only offense committed.
Long before the hour for the ceremonies
10 begin the assistant doOrkeepers were
busily engaged in locating the choicest
seats for their female followers, some Of
them, TOO, wearing the outward signs Of
their calling. Did they have tickeisl Fully
two hours before the ceremonies began all