The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1879-03-25

the majority. They had gentlemen abundantly
Mr. Conkline tRep. N. W said he had heard
nobody suggest that II either or all Of the places
were vacant It would he improper for the ma
jority OF the Senate to I'll them with o person or
persons of their own political proclivitios; IL
the cnse were here it would require no vindica-
ton from The senator from Pcnnsylvania. For
senate Tor the first time in the history of po-
litical parties, the time had come when ma,
loriy IN this chamber insisted that they would
proceed to vacnte all the chief offices by
removal. TO tho end that they might
The Senator from Pennsylvania had not uttered
one word in justification or excuse. Tho his
tory and experience OF the Senate wont TO dis
usage and propriety Of the Senate had decided
that these places ought not to I've put up in n
political raille and made rewards for party SER
vice but that those who held them should be
allowed to retain them on their merits. This
was to be reversed. Al the people OF the coun-
try were TO be- informed that there was to be- n
trnnscendant reform-a doctrine OF vnst whole
somenrss and importance In this, namely, that
public officers in general should be- allowed to
continue in place and encouraged to remain,
and should be- upheld in position SO long as
personal character was untarnished and the in
cumhcnts able to discharge the duticNof Office.
But in the very midst OF conforming TO the pub
lie conscience. here came. for the first time, n
pioneer experiment Able and conscientious
officers proficient in all their duties. wele to be
removed at the behest ot party cupidity. that
entitled to reward. He expressed his regret
that men Of long ,experience and meritorious
reputation should be thus displaced.
Mr.. Bayard Dem. Dell said he was i'm
pressed with the speech " tho Senator from
degrading the rewarding OF partisans with
Government places. II had entered the civil
service OF the country and unless il should be
in a great degree modified. It would increase 10
stowa S al q once should Be n cogsderati9n Of
Government. and the purity Of our institutions.
The power, Of appointment to office IN this
body had fallen TO his party. He did not
understand that 1t contemplated any such
slaughter OF tho innoccnts as was con-
tnr,mplatc,dl n, by those on the opposite side
offices having been bestowed for the good OF
the country. with capable and honest incum-
the benefit Of single party. Those here. who
now complained never neglected TO III the
Offices with their party friends. Ho said that
many applications for Office came from men Of
all parties who had been removed heretofore
and they simply asked for restoration to the
The majority Of the Senate recognized full ca
pacity integrity; and i1telligence in the filling
sanship in the citizen. but public officers must
not use the facilities afforded by their position
to further personal or party ends.
tion under discussion. explaining that he de-
sired X. not as n prelude to his own remarks.
but as an appendix to those OF the Senator from
ono "ed to he the friend Of the Secretary II the
1 Senate he wished to place on record his denial
| OF evorY part OF tne hsNtTtlpn ol blt
from Delaware regarding his connection with
political organizations. Neither that gentleman
nor his subordinate officers during the sessions
OF the Senate bad engaged N POLITICAL work. IN
vacation Mr.. Gorham had sSted as Secretary OF
the National Republican Executive committee.
;, MS "Siion Si a. this respect nte55tered IN ~ Ne
barred on account Of his holding an office from
exercising his political rights and duties as =
would by the same logic be restricted from
working outside OF the times and places oi his
he belonged in. He entered his protest against
the doctrine that by entering the employ OF the
Goyernment the Secretary OF the senate or any
officer forfeited his right 10 personal political
MIR. ConkllnG referred to tho action OF tho
House in choosing q Sergeant-at. Arms. Mr..
| cratic Executive Committee OF OhiO. He did
not condemn their action in this regard. but
| protested against the removal q Mr.. Gorham
| Tor doing precisely what Mr. Thompson had
been rewarded for doing.
In 1861. ut the call Of Abraham Lincoln. in n
| great emergency. There were many vacant
seats all g SpgonG 9s no a2 re- Gg,
| them. They were absent not like those bidden
| to the wedding, ms described IN scripture. whose
| varied engagements excused them but all do
| tained by one public enlargement. The Senate.
at that time only made a change in one Office
that OF Sergeant at Arms; Now. appears that
| the men who in 1861 disappeared from tho
scene OF their former usefulness. are back. de-
manding TO be put, in the language OF courts OF
Mr. Conkling exhibited a list which he said
contained the names OF many Democrats
| the Republican Senate. but now the behests OF
| party spirit demanded n sweeping change. ac-
| cording to political lines. Thls course would
naturally lead to reprisQs. when the tables
| should again be turned. and the party at pros
ent in the majority be again remanded TO the
minority. Unless no was mistaken. tho real
animus Of this proposed acton could not be
hidden from the people behind any thin veil OF
Mr. Bayard expressed his surprise that the
Senator should fail 10 see the difference between
| the right Of an officer OF the Government TO
| right Of any Senator or Representative TO DO SO.
| The question was not IN reierence TO electiVe
9bceTs b %h9 r sno Sop 70 and n9% oi
officers. men who should be selected for the
efficiency. with which they performed their
| duties. Though the Senator from New York
| had endeayorcd TO draw distinction between
the officer and the man. yet the fact could not
| be escaped that Mr.. GOrhams hand signed the
| circular calling for contributions 10 support
| himself and his party in power. IL would not
do to class Senators, and RepresentaiiVes, re-
| sponsible to the people who elect them Tor thei
| political acts in the same category rs regards
duty with merely Administrative officers.
| He recognized the efforts OF the present Ad,
ministration toward Civil Service reform and
| knew how little approval they had met win
from the Senator from New York IConkdingl NJ. ,
who constantly, here and elsewhere gave cyl
dence OF his disbelief In the doctrine and rules
OF such reform, set forth in the famous CIRCULAR
| OF the President. He cited the case OF the West
| ern Postmaster, whose name he had forgotten
| who, resisting the demand for a contribution
for party purposes, insisted upon following ou
| the spirit OF the Presidents order that subscrip
| tions II made, should bo voluntary Tho idef
| was perncious. that merely administrative Of
| hcers who formed the machinery OF the Gov
| ernment should be encouraged to aspire TO Tho
| same degree of political control enjoyed by Of
| ncers representing the people by election. II
the words OF Blackstone He who uses tho
offices OF a country to control the elections o
the country. cuts up its government by th'
Mr. Beck Dem, KY said that Mr.. ConkllnG
had we'll said the real truth would not be hiddeI
under any veil OF words. We are to elect lou
or five officers. and the simple question is, shal
tho Democrats vote so MS 10 place salary o
&C. 600 year IN the hands Of the very able lte
publican Secretary OF the National Executive
Committee in order that he may be enabled
when lie has leisure. as 1t was to be hoped h'
would have at the end Of ton days. to devote h
knowledge and ability. by the aid OF the fund
we have furnished him. in running the cam
pagn In various States ln his able wayP Ii
was willing that he should remain Secretary o
| the National Executive Committee. but was un
willing to put the peoples money into hi
| pocket with which to carry on partisan cam
paign, When he tMr. Beck was obliged TO vot
for one man rather than another. he should yot
In such a way that the Republicans should fur
nish their own means TO their own Secretary L
carry on their campaign. Mr.. Beck road cir
cular dated May ~. 1873, during tho session Q
| the Senate, dated Washington, ID. O.. Head
| nuarters Congressional Committee. 1919
| a,-eat W NtO tho affact TINT the afOraea