Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1869-01-09
CONGRESSIONAL.
Csaclasisu Of Yesterdays Proceedings.

SRNArR.-Yesserday after our report closed
long debate ensued on the bill for the relief
OF Sue Murphy.
Without action on the bill, the Senate took up
the bill TO remove political disabilities of X. W.
Guest and Samuel Phillips, of North Carolina;
which was passed.
The Senate then adjourned until Monday.
hoUsK.-Yesterday afternoon
MIR. Schenck, (Ohio,) from the Committee OF
ways ard Means, reported back the bill TO
amend the act OF March 81, 1-67, exempting
certain manufactures from he internal rev.
enue tax. The bill provides that naval ma
chinery manufactured for the Government
shall be exempt from internal revenue tax.
The committee reported an amendment to tn
bill providing that it shall not apply to take,
accrued prior to the lst OF April, lS6s. The bill
and amendments passed.
Mr.. Washburne Ill.) moved that the House
resolve itself into Committee of the Whole on
the Military Academy appropriation bill, and
pending that motion that general debate on the
bill cease In an hour and half. Agreed to.
Inc House then went into Committee OF the
hole, Mr.. Hulburd IN. Y in the chair
MIR. Logan (Ill) addressed the Committee in
opposition to MIR. Jenckes's civil service till.
he was in favor of having the business of the
Government transacted with the utmost INTEL
hgence, fidelity aud dispatch. He did not want
his motives misunderstood when he opposed
this bill, and therefore he stated in ad vance
that ne favored economy, intelligence and Ca
pacity IN the administration Of the Government.
He thought the bill bad in theory, wrong in
principle, opposed 10 the genins OF our institu-
legal aspect. He regarded the introduction
OF the bill, and the favor with which il was
received by both parties and the press OF the
country as one OF the most positive, and
therefore one OF most alarming signs of the
inauguration Of policy which il persisted IN
will end in the Obliteration of all that rs
republican in this Government, and the substi-
tuition Of that which is monarchical in its ste ad
He found that the whole plan ofthis bill was
AIKEN from that of mcnarchical governments
The bill gives life tenure of Office TO every
employee OF the Government in the civil ser
vice. In that particular alone it is opposed to
the genius OF our institutions. The establish.
ment OF a favored class would end IN the es-
lishment of naughty aristocracy. He was op-
posed TO adj kinds OF class legislation. 1t is the
theory OF the Government that all its public
servants should be constantly before the
people. The terms OF officers were short, in
order that the people might have an opportu.
nifty frequently to pass upon their conduct
He did not oppose the bill because 1t depriyes
this party or that party of the emoluments of
ed he theory Of the CONSTITUTION and de- strov
ed the wholesome practice Of our people. Every
administration is held responsible by the peo.
pie for the manner In which ii conducts the
afaArs OF the Government. He claimed that
the bill concentrated all the power In the Vice
President Of the United States, who is q subor-
dinate officer to the President. Ii it is was de-
sirable to keep public patronage out of party
politics, the power Of appointment should no.
all be centered in one man. Is it not palpabie
that II he so desired to use his power OF ap-
self the President spite of all oppositionl Mr.
Logan elaborated this point at great length.
Mr.. Jenckes (R. I.) arose to reply to the gem
tleman from Illinois, Mr.. Logan. He said the
member from Illinois had mistaken the char
acter of the bill. 1t did not propose to create a
life tenure to Office, except in case of good be-
havior. The distinct grounds Of this tenure
was the efficiency of the service. Under this
bill, should it become a law, every employee Of
the Government would render TO the people
an equivalent for the money he received from
the people. The Government would be certain
10 procure the best service, because it would
have the machinery to obtain it. He denied
that the Vice President had any power of dis.
tributing the public patronage under this bill
In this respect the gentleman from Illinois
(Mr. LngaE) was mistaken.
Nr. ShellabaIger (Ohio) called attention to
the first section of the bill, which provides that
the Vice President shall be at the head Of the
new executive department, to be called the De-
par tment of the OWL Service In his opinion.
this was unconstitutional.
The Military Academy bill was then read
and agreed TO in Committee without amend
ment; after which the Committee rose, and the
bill was reported to the House ana passed.
No other business OF general interest was
transacted previous to the adjourning Of the
House till Monday.