Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1868-1875, 1872-03-08
CONGRESSIONAL.
Civil Service-Naval Corruption.
SENATE,


WASHINGTON, d. c., March Bills
were passed for the erection of public build
ings at St. Louis and Little Rock, ATkan-
saS.
Mr.. Wright gave notice that after the
pending appropriation bill was disposed Of
he would call up the Chicago relief bill.
Immigrants.
Mr.. Chandler, from the Committee on
Commerce, reported a resolution directing
the Committee on Commerce to make a
thorough inquiry into the subjects of immi-
grafton and the treatment OF immigrants
after their arrival in this country, and also
to inquire into the health and regulations at
the chief ports Of the United States.
Mr.. Coles added that the inquiry had bet
ter be extended also to the treatment Of i'm
migrants by railroad companies.
Mr.. Chandler accepted the amendment.
Mr.. Tumbull thought il would be I'M
necessary and expensive for the committee
to visit all the chief ports, and Mr.. COnkling
suggested that they should go only TO New
York, Philadelphia and Baltimore.
Mr.. Chandler accepted this amendment
also. and the resolution as amended was
passed.
The Senate resumed consideration Of the
legislative appropriation bill, the bill having
been reported yesterday from the Commit
tee of tie Whole. All the amendments
made in committee were cOncurTed in, eX-
ceDt those reserved to be voted on stpa-
rately.
Ohio River Bridges.
Mr.. Scott presented a petition from Citi-
zens Of Allegheny county, la, asking Con-
gress to reimburse them in the amount Of
S3L586, paid by them to the Baltimore and
Ohio Railroad Company, to secure an adj
ditiOnal width Of channel span Of bridge
over the Ohio river at ParkersbUTg, so as
to prevent the obstruction OF river COM
merce, which was referred to the Committee
on Commerce.
The Civil Service Sham.
The consideration Of the Legislative Ap-
preparation bill was resumed, the ques-
lion being on the amendment apprOpriatiug
$4,000 to be expended by the President in
putting in force the civil service reform
acquisitions.
Mr.. Carpenter moved to strike it out and
substitute the following: "Ail laws or
parts of laws under which the present Civil
Service Reform Committee was appointed
by the President of the United States are
hereby repealed"
Mr.. Trum6ulI moved to lay the substitute
on the table. Carried; yeas 40, nays 10.
The Republicans who voted against laying
Mr.. Carpenters substitute on the table
were Caldwell, Cameron, Carpenter,
Chandler, Clayton, Hitchcock, Hamilton
CTexas), Kellogg, Logan, Osborn, Pomeroy,
Poole, Ramsay, West, Window. Tho only
Democrats who voted against it were Blair,
CoOper and Salisbury.
The question was then required on the
original amendment appTOpriaiing $4,000
for this purpose.
Mr.. Sherman hoped the operation Of the
scheme recommended by the Civil Service
Committee, would be confined to Washing
ton, New York and some Of the large cities
where reform was most needed, because if
the President attempted to extend it ever
the whole country it would evidently break
down by its own weight. While he was in
favor of reform in civil service, he was not
confident that 1t could be effected on This
plan, but Congress being already committed
10 it, an appropriation ought to be made so
as TO give it fair trial, if only to demOnis-
trate its failure.
Humbug Examinations.
Mr.. Logan said the system proposed by
the civil service committee was humOug.
Two or three days ago there was an exam
inalion in one Of the Departments, when
twenty-three persons competed for the OF
fee, and one Of the clerks in the Depart
meut told him before the examination the
name of the man who would g the ap-
p0intment. lie (Logau) did not know how
it was done, but he knew the fact as an
illustration of the folly of selecting officers
by competitive examination. He (LOgan)
was as much in favor OF reform as anybody,
but not reform Of this kind.
Mr.. Edmuuds inquired what kind of re-
form did he want.
Mr.. Logan said he had not fully cOnsid-
cred the subject, but would ate some
kinds that be would do if he mad the power.
Whenevera man performed his duties well
me would let him alone, and whenever
man didn't, he would turn him out. He
would also make the time Of office of public
officials coextensiye with that of the Presi-
dent. unless the entire removals We're made
fyr misconduct. Further, if an officer per-
formed his duties in such way as to make
his neighbors generally believe lie was dis
honest. he would turn him out.
MIR. Edmunds thought it very remarka-
bic tia the wisdom of the county, sup
posei TO be concentrated in Congress, hay-
ing last year deliberately passed Law su-
thorizing the President to make this exper-
tment in Civil Service Reform, should