New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1872-01-24
Civil Service Reform.

This dispatch was sent to the Chicago
Tribune:
WASHINGTON, d. c., January ls.-Mr.
Carpenters anticipated attack ON civil SER
vice reform drew a large audience to day to
the Senate, conspicuous among whom were
George William Curtis, and ex-senator
Cattel, of the Civil Service Commission. In
his exOrdium, Carpenter quoted the Presi-
dent, as saving, with reference to the new
rules and regulations governing appoint
ments, that the best way to secure the re-
peal of the Objectionable measure is to en-
force it fully. One statement made by him
is most palpable case of misrepresenta-
ton. He said that the report submitted by
the commissioners had been detective, and
was then withdrawn in consequence. This
is not the case. The new rules lately sub
United by the commissioners simply pro-
vides that in all cases OF actual necessity
appointments can he made without further
examination than is now provided. This
rule was found necessary, as the details
governing competitive examinations have
not been completed. Such appointments,
however. unless of that character requiring
confirmation by the Senate, are only tenn
porary, and will all be subsequently
brought under the operation of the system.
Another statement made by the commits
sioners in the report accompanying
the rules lately submitted to Congress,
occasloned remarks from not only MIR.
Carpenter but Morton and Sherman. These
all denied that one-quarter of the revenue
collected under the revenue laws never
reached the treasury, as the commissioners
minated.
MIR. Trumbull replied to Mr. Carpenter
at some length. He instanced the corrup-
ton existing in the civil service, as attested
by the President himself, as the best in
stance OF necessity for reformation, and
arraigned Carpenter for intimating that
the President would lay himself under con.
tempt.
Now that the subject is fairly before the
Senate, it will be debated at length. Ed
munds has the floor for Monday, when,
under cover of the amendment to the civil
rights bill, throwing offices open to compe-
titlon without distinction OF color, he will
severely arraign the system Of civil ser
vice. The commissioners, most of whom
are now here, feel thoroughly indignant at
the way in which their work has been re-
ceived in some quarters. They assert,
however, that the President will sustain
them in spite vi congressional opposition,
and in defiance of such threats It's those
urged by Carpenter to-day to the effect
that he will sacrifice his friendship for the
President rather than these rules should
90 into operation.
This to the Louisville Ledgcr:
Matt Carpenter having been underlined
for week tofollow Conkling in the lat
ter's attempt to break down by ricule, in
lieu OF argument, the force of the exposures
which are being made by Trumbull, Schurz
and other honest men, of the fearful and
wide spread abuse which prevails in the
civil service under the government, the
70 To DAG Il lot f,a
cess. Carpenter always makes a butfoon of
himself 10 the delight of the galleries, and
to-day he assumed his role with unusual
success. and, eschewing argument alto
gether, he made desperate attempt to be
witty at tho expense OF Irumbull and Sum-
ner and the other anti-Grant Republicans.
While lie succeeded in amusing the galleries,
he entirely failed to confuse Conkling in his
effort to refute any OF the charges which
had been brought against the admins
tratiOn.
Irumbull replied briefly to him. reassert
ing everything he said and boldly uttered
that if the Republican party was only to be
kept up by this improper use of government
patronage, it would go down, and it ought
to 90 down Morton made a feeble attempt
to defend his master by a repetition of this
denial, which he has lnterposed to every
thing that has come from the other side.
Snaky John Sherman, whose fraudulent
credentials of reelection had just been
handed in, arrayed himself on the same
side with Morton and Carpenter, as Was to
be expected. The whole trio made pitia-
BILE exhibition of themselves. Ii Grant only
knew it, they only open their mouths to do
him harm. Edmunds came to their relief,
but old Cameron had sense enough to cut
him off by moving an executive session,
which was carried at once.
&. l. =, ~ aSkaH AZ