New-York tribune., 1879-03-25
THE LABORS OF CONGRESS.
NEW OFFICERS IN THE SENATE.

their places The Republicans made hard
fight against it, but WERE of course, outvoted'
II is stated on behalf of the President that
should Congress send to him bills repeating
tine Election Laws he will certainly veto them.
MIR. Atkins believes, if the President does veto
these bills that Congress will remain in session
until the extreme hot weather. The President
has nominated DR.. Hamilton to the place
made vacant 10y Geperal WoodwOrth's death.
A BLOW TO CIVIL SERVICE REFORM.
TIE OLD AND FAITHFUL OFFICERS OF THE SEN
Ale REMOVED FOR PARTY REAsoNs-cHARAC-
TtmsTIC REMARKS.
rBY TELEGRAPH TO TRIBUNE
WASHINGTON, March 2t.-The much-vaunted the
ory of Civil Service reform has received most
treacherous stab in the house of its friends today
The chief officers Of the Senate have been summa-
rly retired to private life because of their political
faith. and their places have been filled by others
who brought no recommendation which counted IN
Their favor 50 strongly as the fact that they were
partisaus Of the new majority OF the body which
they are 10 serve.
Nobody expected different result, Of course, and
the political discussion which the Republicans pro-
voked had no other object than to bring out and
place more definitely upon record the avowal from
the Democrats that they seek for power and patron
age from no higher motive than wish to enjoy the
spos OF Office and to show that their proessed re-
gard for the beautiful theories Of Civil Service
reform is the sheerest hypocrisy. In all TINS
they succeeded most efectuay, forcing their
opponents to place themselves in the IN
consistent position of avowiug their love
for the popular principles of reform III the
Civil Service and in the same breath their deter
miuaton to override and trample upon them when
ever they had the power. In fact, the declaration
was openly made 10y Democratic Senators that TO
expect the Democratic party to adopt any other
course was childish. No doubt something Ike what
happened was anticipated by the Democrats, but
they evidently hoped that in view of the action of
their caucus in which the Successors of the five
chief officers of the Senate had already been sub
stantially elected, the Republicans would limit
their opposition 10 mere formal protest
and a statement Of their preference for the old oii-
cals, otherwise they would hardly have been
guilty of the blunder OF pleading during the early
part of the debate for recognition OF the necessity
of having nOn-partisans in public positions like
those under discussion, and later of rudcly break
ing loose from all fne-spun theories of right and
policy and openly declaring, as did Senators Beck,
Eaton and Voorhees,, that they could not afford TO
leave an able Republican in the enjoyment of so
good salary as that of Secretary Of The Senate,
nor neglect so good an opportunity to reward one
of Their own adherents. This is the highest pTinci
pie which actuaes the Democracy in its contest for
power ard place, or else it mIsrepreSented in
the Senate to-day
Senator Bayard made an evident attempt to dis
guise the real anmus of the movement The
Senator himself was beyond doubt sincere in his
enumeration of principles and his record and Iep-
utation all bear out this belief; but it was because
of this record and reputation that he put for
ward to msrepresent the party TO which he belongs.
When by the vigorous assaults Of Senator COnkmg
the shallow plausibiiites behind which he sought
TO shelter his party shown in their true light,
the Senator was quickly sent to the rear and men
possessing fewer cOmpunctiOns assumed the lead
Senator Anthony entered the first protest against
the proposition to dismiss the old officers Of The
Senate and in brief but eloquent speech gave a
history which embodied the action of the Senate in
this respect showing that it had been the uniform
practice of that body in the selection of its officials
or when changing its political maJOrites to disre-
gard the claims of party which had dominated all
other branches of the Government, often so diSas
trousy and to retain old and welqualiiied officials
in all its places of trust This fact was not dis
puted during the entire debate.
Senator Hamlin followed adding "reminiscences
of his own and pointing to Captain Bassett and to
the venerable Doorkecper johnson living evil
dences Of the conservatism of the Senate in this
spect both of these having, as he said, held
their offices continuously during the dominance of
three different political parties in that body.
To this Senator Wallace, who, as chairman of the
Democratic caucus, was in charge of the pending
measures replied briefly and curtly that the Senate
would continue to exist after the proposed changes
had been made, and that the Democrats simply in-
tended to fill the places which had always been
filled with politicians with men who were more in
accord with the majority.
Senator COnkiing took up the cudgel in reply,
and as usual gave his opponents matter for cOnsid-
Grafton which they could neither overlook nor
cainsay lie appeared III his usual I0le as cham
pOn of the principle that it was right and proper
for an official of the Government or an employc OF
the Senate, as for a man in any private position IN
life TO act write speak, or contribute of his means,
for the pcTpetuaion Of the principles OF the party
to which he belonged and for the continuation OF
that party in power. Said he in reply to Senator
Wallace:
have heard nobody suggest that If either Of these
places vacant IL would he improper for the mt-
jory of the Senate 10 III them WIN persons o tner @
aOr from Rhode Island Is entirely different. foI me
FIRST time u the history OF the Ahrilch senate oI & e
country, occasion has come when majority OF the
chamber insist toat they W M PiCs9ga 70 G @ saf
10 the end toat they may put friends OF Their own "a
those places The Senator from Pennsylvania has SAID
not one word justify The history Of the senate Is
gone before US disproves its propriey. Tue
usage aud custom of this body provo that
places ought not 70 be put up in political raio
and ought not 70 be made the Tswafds OF tet Iss @ e
VeTsed now Is noticeable because we nave heard: the
whole peopIe have beard what tIanscendent reform
doctrine OF vast WhOesOmeDess aud Importance Is th
that public officers should bcaOWed TO continue shOulu
be encouraged to remain should Dc Upheld I'D
and they discharge the duties OF Their Offices Now III
here comes for the irs time the pioneer
experiment Of sweeping away all the oihcers OF the
Senate without cause
II NJ