New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1874-01-23
House legalizng the present system, which Con
preee NAV pass or not, az IL sees tit.

gTeae may pass or not, AZ ~ SeFe nj
If the answer is negative it will be for tho CON-
mittee to propose plan to take the place OF the
presept In that event. it cannot be denied that
Mr. Butler q member of the Committee, will have
his own way and will insist upon bill promul-
eating his own views. He adheres to the old doc
trne that the members of Congress should have the
designation of their pro rata number of clerks and
employ6s of the Government, and that the practice
adopted in the Navy and Army ought extend to the
clerks If member of Congress dominates a boy
TO West Point or Annapolis, he has to undergo
an examination before he is admitted. III
he passes the examination, well and good, but If he
fails the representative has to recommend another
boy Gen. Butler believes this should be the way
in department clerkships, each Congressional dis
trct be accorded its proportion of appointments.
The Committee is composed of eleven members; of
these three are Democrats, who will, of course, vote
with Mr. Butler, which will make the number four;
only two more are wanted to make majority, and
il is thought that even than that number will
vote against declaring the present system the best
that can be adopted. The Civil Service Committee
will be divided into ub-committees, each OF the
latter having department to lock after, for the
purpose of suggesting some change, should 1t be
found necessary.
To secure the attention of members to Mr.. Buffers
ideas, the following bill has been offered by Mr..
Smart of New-YOrk, which was also made the sub
ject of debate to-day in the Committee:
That within co days after he passage OF this act IL
shall he the duty of the heads OF the different depart
ments of the Government located In the City OF wash
ngton classify the clerks and employees In their re-
spective departments into geographical divisions, SAID
correspond with the Congressional districts
as now established by law; that as soon as va
cancy occurs IN any department, such vacancy
shall DO filled from that district having
the least representation, on the NOMINATION.
the member Of Congress for that district TIL the
cleksbps shall be equally dvlded propided That aiter
such equalization shall been secured vacancy
occurring any district shall be filed by the nonina-
of suitable person reading at the time OF the
OF said vacancy the district from which he
to be selected, said nomination to be made by inc
Congress from said districts all persons nom
mated under this act to be subject TO such examination
az the department in which the appointment Is TO DC
made shall prescribe; procided that no such examina-
ton shall work to deprive the member of Congress
making the nomination Of his right TO nominate second
or third candidate III case OF failure Of the first
The Committee also considered the following joint
resolution presented by Mr.. McCrary recommend
ing a constitutional amendment providing that
hereafter officers of civil character shall hold office
for four years The following IL the amendment
proposed:
All civil officers Of the United States. except Judges OF
the Supreme and inferior Courts the heads of depart
ments those whose duties temporary IN their
character shall hold Office for term Of four years. un-
less longer shall be fixed by law. Congress may
by law provide for the election by the people OF post
and other officers, whose duties are to be per
formed within the limits Of any State part OF State,
President shall have the power OF removal OF
any such officer. whether appointed elected. for any
cause affecting the ineumbents character habits, or
| other qualifications excepting political or religious
opinions
The subject will be resumed at the next meeting
Of the Committee on Tuesday.