The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1873-03-20
AN ATTEMPT TO LIMIT DEBATE.
Report of the Civil Service Ex-
aiming Board.
APPOINTMENTS TO OFFICE.
The Scientific Ring After
100000 Appropriation.
OUR NEW WAR VESSELS.

WASHINGTON, March TO- 1879
An Unsuccessful Attempt to Limit De-
bate I'm the Senate-Conkling I'm De.
fence Of Caldwell.
The Caldwell case is not finished yet; neither is
the Millennium near at hand. Ifevery Senator who
has not yet spoken is fred by the same ambition
that has actuated those who have tried their pow
ers OF circumlocution IN this case, 1t is probable
that Caldwels term will expire before the knOtty
question is settled. This, perhaps, would be the
only way ont OF the tremendous difficulties which
the intellectual giants Of the Senate have created
Tor themselves. Wright, OF Iowa. who is not so long
winded the rest, not for lack OF will but lack OF
Ideas, committed q heinous offence to-day and
was jeered at by almest the entire Senate. This
smOoth-laCed STRIPPING OF fftynve had actually
the audacIty to submit the proposition that Sena-
torial debates. which heretofore had been without
limit, should be contracted, in measure, out OF
regard to the brevity OF human life. He was in
favor OF adopting the rules in relation to limiting
debate and calling the previous question" that
ore now among the bylaws OF the House OF Rep
resentatives. 1t is needless to say that the rash
proposition OF the IOwan Senator evoked thunder
bolts OF wrath all around the chamber from the old
standbys each of whom Is good Tor fourteen col
umns every time he gets on his legs Thurman was
especially indignant, and blew nerce nasal blasts
denounced this measure, which he thought would
detract from the dignity and power of the Senate.
He SAID that the House signed its death warrant
when 1t adopted rules limiting debate. According
70 Mr.. Thurman, then, the LETT wing of Congress is
. cOrpse-a proposition which Speaker Blaine will
most emphaticaly gainsay, for he found the corpse
lively enough last session. There was, however,
. ring OF true cloqucnce in Thurman's speech as he
alluded to the despOtsm OF the majority Bayard
made some remarks in similar Strain. The finan-
cial genius OF the Senate, the ncOrruptible Sher-
man, agreed with Wright. He wanted some rules
that would prevent Senators from talking about
the man in the moon. Carpenter made some
pointed, sensible remarks against Wright's propo-
sitiOn. After this by-play OF talk was finished
hinge majority raped Wright on the head, and he
Withdrew in his shell and remained there in 81
tence.
The Caldwell case was then taken in hand by the
Ereat and mighty Conklmg, who, contrary to his
custom, was in full black. Many OF his Sena-
toria rivals had made elaborate speeches be-
fore him in this case, and he, versed
In legal lore, wh0 1t is said is waiting with long
ing impatience for Chief Justice Chase to die, SO
that he can have his place, felt that this occasion
was not one to be unimproved. His speech,
Invested OF its pomposity, excess OF common place
and diruseness would have been, perhaps, OF in
terest and value in this debate. But as it was it
proved to the dlsintercsted spectator nothing but
vanity and vcxation OF spirit
Report Of the Civil Service Examining
Board.
The Civil Service Examining Board Of the Trea-
sury Department have made their report to the
Advisory Board, in which 1t Is said that last June
they visited the city OF New York under nstruc-
tions from the Acting Secretary Of the Treasury,
Tor the purpose OF preparing, in connection with
the officers OF the Customs service and OF the Sub
Treasury, plan fer the application OF the
rules and regulations for the Civil Service
20 their of1cers, the Collector and Sur
geyOr OF Customs, Navai Oflcer, Appraiser Of
Merchandise and Assistant Treasurer. Each
appointed Q representative to meet the members
Of the Board and to aid them in the preparation OF
set OF regulations applicable to their offices. The
examinations are conducted by q Board in each OF
the oflces. Those of the Collector and the Sur
seyor being considered as one, are nominated by
the head Of Office and appointed by the Department
Board, with the approval Of the Advisory Board.
The Boards are. under the supervision Of
q Board of Revision and Appeal, consisting
Of their chairmeE. This supervisory Board
was deemed essential in order to secure,
and Of examination among the subordinate boards.
The chairman of the Board is Mr.. Silas Burt,
Deputy Naval Oiicer. The Board place on record
an expression hf its appreciation OF the zeal and
judgment which the members OF the several boards
In New York have brought to the discharge or their
Duties and o! the conscientious fidelity with which
they have adhered both the letter and the spirit
OF the rules. To the chairman OF the Board or Re-
vision and Appeal, whose duties have been of the
most exacting and delicate nature the
friends of reform are largely indebted for
the success which the measure has gained
In New York. The officers mentioned are the only
ones connected with the Treasury Department out
side of Washington to which the rules have been
applied. The Board have been prepared to extend
chem to other cities and other branches of the
service for several months, and on the 10th OF
October, 1872, 1t notified the Secretary in writing
that the rules were in operation in New York, and
OF the readiness of the Board to extend them to
other places, but the Secretary deemed it
prudent; to test the system thoroughly at New
York before extending 1t elsewhere. The
Board says that the question of eXamina-
ZION IN different States will require attention
AFTER time and makes suggestions how these
could be conducted. The report contains the
statement that Notwithstanding unauthorized
and biased reports OF the failure of the system in
this regard, the Board has no hesitation i'm saving
that, on the whole, 1t has secured a much higher
order OF capacity than has lately entered the De-
partment, and has been sufficiently successful to
prove its utility and justify its continuance.
The Scientific Ring After u Big Plum.
Professor Henry, with the other scientific old
nO0sters who feed in the Coast Survey Smithsonian
Observatory and other coops at the public ex-
pense, are greatly exercised over appropria-
tion OF 500, goo, now at the Presidents disposal,
J0r series OF experiments Illustrating the ex-
plosOn OF steam boilers. Those who had the sp-
preparation made expected that the experiments
would be conducted by practical engineers: but
ane scientific ring want the money with which
obey could enjoy themselves at pleasant seaside
sesorts where some nominal experiments can be
snadc in the true scicO tifc Smithsonian style.
Nomfn atfons by the President.
The President sent the following nominations to
The Senate to-day
John II Bailey. TO be Collector of Customs at Ports