The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1869-12-21
ToaTY-FIKsr CONGRESS.
Second Session.
SENATE.
WASHINGTON, Dec. 20, 1869.


PETITIONS PRESENTED.
MIR. CARPENTER, rep.) OF Wis, presented petitions
from members OF the legal profession Of New York
asking for an increase Of the salaries OF the judges
Of the United States courts, which were referred
REFORM OF THE CIVIL SERVICE.
Mr.. SEIZURE, rep.) OF NO., introduced bill to re.
form the civil SERVICE and addressed the Senate In
explanation OF it's provisions.
MIR. SEIZURE said that appointments to once were
now mostly made on recommendations OF politicians
OF high and low grade and the means by which such
recommendations were obtained were too well
known FOR comment the best interests OF the public
service being often made matters Of secondary con-
slderation. The President and heads OF depart
ments, in many cases, had neither time nor an
opportunity TO examine the recommendations sub
mitted 10 them which came ali together at the same
time This immense volume Of recommendations
always came upon the President and heads Of de-
partments At the beginning OF every administration,
which were comparatively new to them, and
when they had no time to study the
least fitted to take the vase machinery OF the gov
eminent and reconstruct II entirely OF new material.
Instead OF stimulating the honest zeal OF officers the
present system was rather calculated TO demorallze
thcm collector OF customs during the late admin
istration made during three years about four hun
ored changes in two hundred anu forty offices under
him. and these two hundred and forty offices which
involved the most delicate and important trusts IN
the public service. This stale OF things induced
men Of Inferior moral and intellectual qualifications
to aspire public station, while lowered the char
acer OF civil service IN the public estimation and IN
many cases deferred men Of nigh self-respect and
ability from devotlng themselves TO the service
OF the government. The remedies proposed
by the bill for the existing abuses are provided by
the creation of Civ Service Board, whose business
1t VIII be to examine the qualifications OF applicants
i9r ece WIN Single eye 70 e er aness 70 ds
determine more fully than the board could by a
mere examination, IS PROVIDED that the appOnees
shall undergo year OF probation in office, during
which his superior will have ample time to discover
whether possesses those practical qualities
sary to make an efficient officer. The appointing
mower. however. NAV remove The officer before
expiration OF tho year. The bill distinguishes In tho
civil service TWO classes OF oflcals-those appointed
by the President ny and with the advice Of the
ate, and those who rs inferior Officers work under
>the direction OF the former class. bill providing
for tue examination and promotion OF the latter
class has been introduced In the House; but the
present measure included the whole Of that bill, aud
lar rule to the 70 be S BY
authority. In the cases OF applicants for country
Post onices, &c. the Civil Service Board may, BY
the general rules, determine the fitness OF candi-
dates for certain ofces Dy more general inQuriss.
But IN this general class OF cases the Board IL TO
bned the ntness OF the applicant for the duties Of
tho place; and the President may make his selection
Of o S. s mi
that the onicers already In the service upon
the creation Of the board except the class covered
or i've years from the dale OF their commission.
But the Presidents appointments made afterwards,
in pursuance OF the bil shall he for term Of three
years. and no removal In the former class shall take
place except on the trial and determination OF the
case ny the board; Out any memClenL omcer among
these may be removed by the Board and tine vacancy
thus created shall be hlled not for unexpred
term, but for u full term OF i've years. Thus the
that the civil service OF che United States must be
the working machinery OF political party, thus
eradlcating the spoils system. The expirations OF
terms Of ONCE will not occur at one time, thus CIV
ing the Owl Service Board and the appointing
power ample time To act deliberately IN making Sc
lectt0ns. Finally, the provision for removals for
sufficient cause VIII strengthen the hands OF every
public oficer by insuIlng tho recognition OF Official
zeal and duty well performed, stimulating their am
,bition to base future claims npon past conduct.
The bill was referred to the Committee on Re-
trenChment and ordered to be printed.
ADHESION OF VIRGINIA.
Mr.. TRUMBuLL (rop.) OF I'LL, from the COMMITTEES
on the judiciary reported, AS substitute for vari-
propositions before them joint resolution do
carng that the State OF virginia Is entitled TO repre-
sentatlon In Congress.
THE HOLLAND OCEAN CABLE.
Mr.. POMEROY, lrep) OF Kan. introduced bill 10
charter an American and Holland Ocean Cable Com
pany, providing for direct Geographic communica-
ton between Washington, New York, Holland aud
Europe generally, under concession granted ~ tho
KING M Holland TO William Cornell Jewett Referred
to the Committee on Foreign Relations
1t provides that an association OF American citi-
Gems, to DO approved by the President, shall be moor
poratsd upder the above title and authorized 70 land
cable WITHIN the jurisdiction OF the United States
The company Is authorized to issue twenty year SIX
per cent bonds to the amount OF $4,000 900, said
bonds TO be deposited with the Treasurer OF tho
United States an0 reissned by him az specified
times on Tequisitis,n Of the company, the
government to guarantee the payment Of the
'ntersst ON all the Dopds Inc Postmas'