Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1872-01-19
TELEGRAPH
TO THE
Daily Kennebec Journal.
Forty. SecOnd Congress- second Session.
WASHINGTON, Is.
SENATE.

had adopted the rules recommended by the
ctvll service commission. He knew there
had been great clamor lately in support OF
this scheme, and which made il seem that the
people generally were in favor of it, and he
supposed the President had yielded to this
clamor upon the principle stated in his in
augural address. He thought the best way
to secure the repeal of an obnoxious law was
to execute it faithfully. Some persons had
expressed surprise at the Presidents con-
sensing to give up the patronage. His enc
mies said he was using it for his own advan-
tage, but the reason probably was that he
knew he could afford to give his enemies
many advantages and yet defeat them. New
erless he thought the President done wrong
in yielding to the clamor of the hour. The
sober second thought of the people was al
ways right, but their sudden impulses were
often wrong, and ought to be resisted by the
public servants. He knew it sometimes hap
pened that before second thought came
faithful public officer would find his head in
a basket, and to a public officer. A senator
for instance with ambition for reelection.
There was great temptation to yield to
the pressure Of the moment, but as he was
the only senator who probably could not be
reelected II he wished, there seemed spec
lal obligation resting upon him to act indie
pendently. As a part of this reform scheme
the Senator from Massachusetts tSumner)
had proposed a constitutional amendment,
rendering president who has served one
term ineligible for reelection. This would
be treating General Grant more severely than
Jefferson Davis, because, although the latter
Is disqualified BY the fourteenth amendment,
1t Is still within the power of Congress to re-
move his disability, when President Grant
would have no relief from his. If the doc
trlne was true that one term was enough to
demoralize public officer, then the Senator
from Massachusetts must be himself thorough
ly demoralized by this time, and being a man
who sets principles above all personal con-
he would of course take his hat
and leave the Senate forever, Immediately
upon the adoption of his amendment. In
politics, said Mr.. Carpenter, words are
things, and civil service reform is cunning
cafch'word. The conclusion is, that who
ever Is not in favor of reform must be in fay-
or oI abuses, but changes are not necessary
in reform, and there is sure intuitive which
tells US that in a government of such delicate
structure as ours, it is better to bear the ills
we have than fly to others we know not of
Mr.. Carpenter then discussed at some length
hls distribution of powers between the legis-
ature and executive departments, and came
to the conclusion that if the appointing pow
er was taken from the President, as it would
by this reform, his remaining powers would
be no greater than those of constable in
Milwaukee.
Mr. Chandler from committee on commerce
reported without amendment a bill for deep
enng the ST. Clair flats canal to l6 feet.
Also the House bill to make Pittsburg port
Of entry and delivery.
Mr.. Cole from committee on post offices
OF xv,sh l.
he establishment of a mail steamship service
between the United States and Australia. 1t
iirects the postmaster general to contract
With the United States, New Zealand and
Australia mail steamship line, to make Is
'ound trips per annum, at yearly compen-
'ation not exceeding $780, 900. The steam
'hips to be first class American built vessels
If not less than 2000 tons register each.
Mr.. Carpenter criticised the civil service
Jules and said they violated the constitution
~ taking away from the President the dis
:retion vested in him to select his appontees
rom the whole people, and set up for public
servants the standard of education of schools
% the exclusion from Office of all who have
lot enjoyed the benefits of liberal education,
hus setting up an aristocratic government
class, composed of the sons Of rich men.
Suppose there was vacancy in the collector.
hip of New York and an advertisement for
candidates published by the examining board,
lid anybody suppose that such men as A. T.
Stewart or Henry G. Stebbins or Geo. OPP
lyke would present themselves for examina-
ion? And if they did would they not prob.
IDLY be beaten by the candidates who had
ust left school? This may be reform, but it
will defeat any political party that adopts it, for
t will excite Indignation and contempt and
lerison of the people of the country. 1t may
De reform Oh whatever else its friends may
choose to call il, but certainly its not consttu-
ional or a wise mode Of appointing the pub
lie officers Of the United Stotes. He would
examine the regulation more in detail, but
or the fact that he had been informed un-
officially that operation of them was suspend
I'd till better ones could be prepared. As to
he report of the commission it was based
upon viscious leading idea of the perma-
nency of tenure for public servants. This
dea had been advocated at the formation of
he government by those who favored strong
government, but it had been rejected because
t was seen to be metropolitan. An
,ther fallacious idea underlying the report
vas that party is the bane of this government,
md that to labor for the success of party
ought to disqualify man for public office.
IN all free countries there must be parties.
The great republican party which has
achieved such wonders in the last ten years
'ound the public offices filled with its enc
MES when it came into power. According
10 the civil service reform doctrine it ought
% have left these officers in the possession
IF the old occupants, but if it had done so
now different would have been the history of
hree years.
Mr.. Carpenter read an extract from the re-
port of the commission, charging that under
The present system the appointing power is
often subjected to threats and Establishments
Of personal solicitation, and said it was a
base and malignant libel ON the leading men,
bers of the republican party in Congress. He
had been told by high authority that only two
persons had demanded an appointment in
terms that could be called insulting or dis
that these two were high in the
legislative department of the government, and
that having had their applications refused on
account of the uuftness of the candidates,
in both cases being relatives of the appli-
cants, were now high champions of civil ser
vice reform. Recurring to the competitive
scheme, he said he did not mean
to decry learning. He thought that persons
who had not the advantages OF education IN
youth, were more likely than others to APP
preciate its advantages fully, and he belonged
to that class. Why, said he, if were can
didate for the position of copying clerk in
o,a al tho dana rfmppts and should On hafora