The Daily state register. [volume] (Carson City, Nev.) 1870-1872, 1871-12-21
THE UNITED STATES SENATE ON
RETRENCHMENT AND REFORM.

The United States Senate has NC
eeeded in pretty well convincing
even the .most sanguine that its pro
testations of reform and retrench-
raent were only skin deep; and that
any expectations of an effort for a
change coming from that quarter
are vain.
Heretofore there has been a Com
mittee on Retrenchment in the Sen
ate. but strangely enough when that
body organized this month, and all
the committees were to be retilled,
this most important ofall committees
was omitted altogether from the list.
Carl Shurz had been 4 member of
the committee, and naturally would
again nave taken Il place on it, His
known views on the necessity for
reform and his prominent position
IN that body singularly adapted him
for the position but the otlice-hold-
ers were evidently at work, and their
tools in the Senate, 20 avoid any ez-
fosures, ana to prevent any changes,
chose to abolish ever thepretense OF
reform and retrenchment.
Senator Anthony is not one OF
these, He introduced a resolution,
amended by Trumbull. calling for 4
Eetrenchment Committee. invested
with power TO deEise measures to re-
form the civil service, and also to
inquire into the management and
frauds reported at the New York
Custom House. The telegraph has
reported the result. The motion
was defeated, and a pretended sub
atitute adopted clearly intended only
for whitewashing purposes. Trum-
bull, Shurz and their friends were
indignant, declaring the substitute
unsatisfactory. and worthless TO ac-
complish the purpose Of the reforms.
The Senate majority, to make their
success still more perfect and sure,
appointed the committee in such a
way that no known friend, or promi-
Eent man. appears on the commit
tee Such men IS Anthony. Trum-
bull, Shurz, were ignored, in viola
ton of the old rule that the frieads
and novers of q measure are entitled
to places as committeeman, that the
resolution shall not be peremptor-
ally strangled in the home of its enc
mics, without proper representations
and considerations.
We are well aware that any criti-
cism We may make on this matter is
open to imputations of political pre-
judice. We will therefore let the
Sacramento Union speakin an ex-
tract from an indignant editorial on
the subject:
There is rottenness visible in nearly
every subordinate administrative de
Iartment OF the GovernirGnt-thieves
everywhere: N the internal revenue
customs, Indian, war and naval ser |
ices. The New York Tribune has
gwen specifications enough against
Murphy to semi him III tine same boat
with Tweed, Connolly d Co., II the
Government would only. as il shOuld, |
order or authorize such an iavesti@a-
ton as this defeated Senate amend
Ient proposed. 1t will strike the
public mind aS a little curious hat,
wHItC such eminent men as Iruuuuil, /
Wilson, SchurZ and Anthony defended /
lie resolutions. IN able speeches, the
opposition depended mainly on the
~.IgiG speech of Il Nevada Senator,
which SchuTZ, nearly always dignified
IL senatorial department, felt con-
strained 10 characterize aS more becOm-
ing a low comedian than a Senator.
The telegraph failed to present the
comic phase of NyG's speech. 1t only
reports hiIV as saving certain gentle
nIen in the RepubliC5lI2 party thought
tine President WAS becoming too popG-
Jar, and therefore have devised this
scheme Of civil service reform.
coupled with an attempt to revive II!
Old committee with. extraordinary
powers This WAS Il very lame i'm
pa :InI5nt, if But it IS not
true. TRANQUIL and WILSON at least
are in favor OF the reelection of Grant.
The resolution does not touch the
conduct OF the President. 7 only asks