New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1872-01-19

SPEECH OF MR. CARPENTER ON THE ALLEGED
UNCoNsrITUTI0NALITY OF TIE NEW REGU-
LATIoNs-THE PRESIDENT ACCUSED OF IN
sINCERIrY--ARGUMENr OF MIR. TRuMBULL
IN DEFENSE OF THE ADMINIsTRATToN-A
DULL DAY IN THE HOUSE.
iBY TELEGRAPH TO THE TRfBUggl
WASHINGTON. Thursday, Jan. IL, 1872
After the morning hour spent by the Senate in routine
business, report Of the Finance Committee against oil
lowing the woodhull-Clahin branch Of the women's
Rights people to have hearing at the bar OF the Senate
report from the Finance Committee on the bill 70
equalize the pay OF aborers In Government employ
few other reports Mr. Carpenter asked that the Am
mostly bill DO temporarily laid aside, while he mode q
speech against Civil Service Reform. The galleries
again full, for the subject is one that interests
everybody In Washington, and the people expected
amused well instructed, for the Senator from
Wisconsin is nothing II not funny Senator Carpenter
speaks Of late without attempting to kick at the
press He did not depart from his uniform custom TO-
day. and having freed his mind on this topic proceeded
TO the consideration OF his subject.
First he told the Senate and the country In effect that
tho Administration is not In earnest In ts present
ment toward Civil Service Reform. 1t was impossible
to understand the broad hint he gave IN quoting nom
Gen. Grants inaugural address, that the best means Of
securing the repeal Of obnoxious laws 10 10 faithfully
execute them in any other way. As Senator
Carpenter is one OF the earnest supporters
OF Gen. Grant for q second term, and also one
OF those who the Repubcanism Of other sena
tors by ITS accordance with Gen. Grants policy he may
Of course be supposed TO have spoken caedrd on this
point Senator Carpenters argument On tie uneonst
nationality Of the new system was weak, full OF mere
lawyers tricks to nsead the unwary and It crunblcd
and fell to pieces at the very touch OF Mr.. Trum
bulls logic. One example OF the dishonesty Of his
argument is sufficient he quoted the late Az
torneyGeneral as having given an opinion
that the present system was unconstitutional, and
caused to be read long extract from that opinion The
At
Is constitutional for the President to delegate the en-
tire appointing power Civil Service Board, and,
ondy is It constitutional for the President do eegate 10
Civil Service Board theipOwer OF designating class
from which certain appointment ehall DO made.
The first of these questions was answered
In the negative, and the second IN the
affirmative but Mr. Carpenter read the answer to tho
first question to prove the negative Of the second Mr.
Carpenters rdieule of the Civil Service Board and Of s
report, while it made tie people laugh did little to con
vince.
Mr. Trumbul in an earnest extempore speech, came 70
the defense OF the President and easily let tho light
through each one OF Mr.. Carpenters iInsy arguments
e believed the President to DO honest in his attempts TO
secure better Civil Service, and called tho Senator from
Wisconsin TO account for imputing to Gen. Grant base
motives for his action. Mr. Trumban does not
Like the new system in all its details,
and enumerated some changes which he would
like to made but the whole he gave 1t bis hearty
support, Mr. Morton 6eemeu 10 Do
at seeing the tables straD gey turned that Trumbul
defended an Administration against tho attacks
Of Carpenter, and could not allow the opportunity TO
pass 10 read Mr.. Trumbu lecture for not swallowing
system whole without stopping TO look at II,
though apparent to every that Mr.. Trumbull
accepts much Of the system than Morton does
himself he is understood to be opposed to it in toto.
III the House, to-day, Gen. Garfield made another at
tempt to protect he Treasury from the inroads Of the
Committee invalid Pensions Gen. Garfield said that
the Committee had passed through the House yester-
day, with but tive votes In the affirmative and none in
the negative bill to date thousands Of pensions back
from six years. which he believed would at once
take twenty millions OF dollars from the Treasury 1t
should become law The Committee, he thought, IN
tended all the rules heretofore adhered to as
safegu~rds ganst fraud He tried to defeat bill giving
IA years arrears Of pension TO widow, who had already
drawn a pension for 10 successive years, but failed
Mr.. Moore the Chairman sOf the Committee, carrying
. small majority with him. The next measure
reported was to give pension 70 the widow Of a
who died long after tho ended but who, Il was
claimed had contracted disease in tie service The bill
was passed after spirited debate. resolution was
passed. after the morning hour dsposng OF the Virginia
contested election case Of Mckenzie agt BIaxton, by
declaring Braxton entitled TO the seat. There was no
debate aud negative vote. The POstOalee Appropr
alton BILL calling for s2sOOO0, and the Pension Appro-
priaton BILL 3eOOOOOO were reported and made special
orders for next week. Tie House adjourned Gt the early
hour OF q