The New York herald., 1871-12-12


attacked ex-C0ector Murphy's administration of
the New York Custom House, referring particularly
to the exposure OF the carriage business by the Re-
trenchment Committee last winter and Murphys re-
ply 10 sharp note OF the Secretary OF the Treasury
that there were men whom 1t was necessary for
him take care Of for the good OF the party Mr.
Murphy's tenderness Tor one Lanin was especially
commented on. The Senator then went on to dis
cuss removals from ONCE, saying that In the early
history OF the government changes In the civil SER
vice were OF infrequent occurrence. He pointed
out that tnat there were only nine removals
during Washington's administration ten IN the
administration OF the elder Adams, twenty-nine
IN Jenersons, with an entire change OF party and
policy, i've In Madison's and two In John Quincy
Adams. Political patronage. he said was the
poison Of the civil service. In closing his speech
Mr.. Trumbul remarked that he had heard nothing
In regard to the dolngs OF the present Collector Of
New York. but that II that offcer had corrected
the abuses OF the Custom House It was due 70
the country that II should be known. Senator Ed
munds replied, but before his speech was finished
the senate went into executive session. and the
conclusion OF the light was deferred till tomorrow
General Artnur's nomination has not yet come up
for confirmation, but this debate and the general
tone OF the Senate indicate dinnculy unless the re-
cacitrant republicans allowed to have their own
way.
Champions Of Civil Service Reform.
The Civil Service Reform agitation continues to
arouse the mental activity OF aspiring Senators and
Representatives Mr.. Willard, a member of the
special committee on the subject, has onered bill
which provides for the appointment of Commits
sioner of the Civil Service with two Assistant
Commissioners, who are to constitute q Board
OF Examination, which is to be competitive IN
character. Senator Edmunds offered bill
OF similar character, only differing somewhat In
its details. Mr.. Trumbul mas pending PROPOSE
ton to revive the joint Committee on Retrench.
ment enlargng Its powers so as to take In the ques-
tion of civil service reform investigation. All Of
these matters are straws which indicate that the
current Is rising In opposition to the plan which, 1t
has already been suggested In these dispatches, Mr..
Curtis Commission viii submit In their forthcoming
report. Nothing will probably excite and inname
hostility to the administration more than an attempt
OF the President to carry any plan Of reform in
the civil service without asking legislative approval
In the first instance
A practical step was taken to-day towards achiev-
ing that intelligent supervision over the several
departments and their operations, without which no
reform can be made thoroughly effective. 1t Is o
curious illustration OF the tendency centraliza-
tion OF control in legislative bodles to find that
several OF the House standing committees which
by the rules are charged with very important
functions have for years past allowed their
powers to become obsolete and their duties
to remain unperforne1. The committees referred
to those ON expenditures in the state Treasury,
War, Navy, Post ONCE and Interior Departments,
and also that on public buildings They are
charged, according to the rules with ascertaning
whether the department expenditures are justified
by law, whether claims are satisfied on sufficient
vouchers, and whether they are paid from funds
duly appropriated whether such funds are dis
bursed In accordance with law, and what provisions
are necessary to provide more efrectuay for these
Objects also to report as to abuses in the matter OF
public defalcatons, and further to report from
"time TO time such provisions and arrangements as
may be necessary to add to the economy OF the sew
eral departments and the accountability Of the ON.
GERS" They are also to inquire whether any ofices
have become useless or unnecessary, and to report
on the expediency OF aboshing them and further to
examine into any necessary reduction or increase
OF pay and generally to report what legislation
may be necessary to increase efilcency In the de-
partments under their supervision. It can be
readily seen that committees carrying out such
duties would be very useful and influential The
memory Of the Oldest Congressman runneth NOT
back, however, to the time when any one OF these
committees ever did anything.
Representative Lyncn, Of Maine, whom the
Speaker tried to snelve as Chairman Of the Com.
mitlee on Expenditures OF the Treasury Depart
ment nanKed his colleague to-day by introducing
resolution directing the committee to make an IN
vestigaton into the AFFAIRS Of the Treasury Depart
menL As Mr.. Lynch used the words OF the House
rules In his resolution, except as to ordering a
special inquiry into the most recent defalca.
tions, there was no opportunity by any
ruling on the part Of the Chair to declare
the motion out OF order In any otner way to in
cite opposition to It's passage, Mr.. Lynch intends
to do the work he PROPOSES In thorough
manner, and from his previous record
there Is little doubt the promise will be redeemed.
In conversation on the subject Mr. Lynch says that
there was no hostile intention towards Secre.
tary Boutwell,, aud tnat he consulted with that
functonary before his motion was made.
lie regards the resolution which passed
the House to-day as requiring the committee
of which he Ia chairman to investigate all
treasury transactions, including the Syndicate ne
gotiations Mr.. Lynch is not an admrer OF Bout
Wells financial policy. though having full faith in
his integrity and general administrative sagacty
II the maine Representative u allowed to carry out
his present intentions the report that will be made
is sure to be valuable and Interesting document.
The other members OF the committee besides Mr..
Lynch are Messrs Sypher, Of Louisiana, and J. B.
Hay, of Illinois, republicans and Messrs Barnum, Of
Connecticut, and Kendall OF Nevada, democrats.
Bills from the Docket.
The Docket Clerk OF the House was for an hour or
two to-day the busiest man In the country. The
number OF Congressional eyes turned toward dis.
tant constituencies, while Congressional hands
were sending up bills and resolutions for refer
ence only, under the rule, was beyond the
average OF this bunc0mbe day of the
House. General Banks, who had faith
fully been through the Message. introduced
for reference to his own Committee on Foreign
Affairs the suggested legislation to carry out parts
OF the Treaty Of Washington and to prevent Ameri.
can slave.holdng abroad. 'Sunset" Cox had
little General Amnesty bill, whose object is not very
apparent Mr. Mercur, Of Pennsylvania presented
bill to break up the spy system OF the Internal
Revenue Bureau by taking away the blood money
now paid to informers. Mr.. Morgan. OF ohio, put
forth feather to tickle Senator Schurz, and his
own Hibernan constituents also, by proposing q
Constitutional amendment opening the Prest-