Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1881-12-14
FORTY.SEvENTH CONGRESS-.
Senate.

/
Senate.
WAsHINGroN, Dec. Is.
| Petitions were presented for prohibition of
unjust determinations in railroad charges.
| Here the committee on rules reported back
the resolution for select committee to be
appointed by the chair on the extension of
suffrage to women, and the removal of their
legal disability. He asked unanimous con-
sent for present consideration. Vest OBJ
jected.
| Pendleton advocated his bill at length. He
said the commission provided by the bill is
to submit to the President rules to make the
provisions of the bill effective. These rules
are to contain the following provisions
First, For open competitive examinations
for testing the capacity of applicants for the
public service, now classified or to be class
| flied hereunder.
Second, That all Offices. places and en-
ployments so arranged or to be arranged in
classes. shall be filled by selections from
among those graded highest as the results of
such competitive examinations.
Third, That original entrance to public
service aforesaid, shall be at the lowest
grade.
Fourth. That there shall be a period Of
probation before any absolute employment
or appointment aforesaid.
Fifth, That promotion shall be from the
lower grades to higher on basis of merit
and competition.
Sixth, That no person in the public ser
vice is, for that reason, under any obligation
- contribute to any political fund, or to rem
der any political service, and that he will not
| be removed or otherwise prejudiced for re-
! fusing to do so.
| Seventh, That no person in said serv ice
has any right to use his official authority or
influence to coerce the political action of any
person or body.
/ Eighth, There shall be nOn-competitive
examinations in all proper cases before the
commission, when competitive may not be
practical.
/ He argued in favor of competitive exami-
nations and answered the objections of Sen
ator Dawes.
ii closed as follows: II appeal to the
Senators on the other side OF this chamber,
you have the administration; you have the
offices; you are enjoying the power and the
emoluments. The bill does not disturb you
/ in the possession of them. appeal to the
! Senators on this side of the chamber. we are
in the minority; we have no Offices now, but
! the changes of time WILL sooner or later, put
them in our grasp, Let us now declare that
we will have none of these Offices except
those which NAV be won by merit. Let us
! give this As an earnest of our sincerity in
/ great reform; let US give this token of this
| purity and patriotism Of our coming admin
istration Of the government; let us convince
I the people. even our opponents, that We con-
tend for the power not that we may enjoy
the emoluments of Office, but that we may
lead the country in pathways of advance
ment and benificience under the inspiration
49,
pleasant for the moment, 10 a curse to any
man or party.
| Let us put it behind US now let us do the
right now let us destroy it now and We will
| in the future reap our full unestimable re-
ward in having disengaged our party and
our President from the influences which will
surely plant the seeds of early defeat in our
coming victory, and in having saved our
country from the pc rils which now environ
! it,
| BY Window authorizing the construction
Of the north branch of the Union Pacific
railway and telegraph line.
! Morrill, presented the report of the board
of visitors to West Point Academy
| By Logan from the committee on military
affairs reported with amendments the bill to
place Grant on the army retired list placed
on calendar.
Maxey Of the committee. said the report
just made was not unanimoas, and he would
indicate his objections to it 1t . proper time.
Edmunds submitted a resolution requiring
the President if in his opinion, not incom-
patible with the public interest to commune
cate to the Senate certain correspondence
between the government of the United States
and the diplomatic agents in Peru and Chilli
Agreed to without dissent.
House.
Taylor of Ohio, offered a resolution which
was unanimously adopted, for the appoint
ment of . committee Of eleven to audit all
claims for services and expenses growing out
of the illness and burial of the late President.
Asserting constitutional prerogative Of the
House of Representative to originate all rev.
enue measures and providing for 4 revision
of the tariff laws.
Also for the importation free of duty of
material or manufactures produced abroad.
necessary in the construction or equipment
or repair Of any vessel built, equipped or re-
paired IN the United States, engaged in either
foreign or domestic trade.
Also. making the patient ONCE q separate
department.
Also, for the appointment of . commission
of colored men to inquire into the intellect
ual condition Of the colored people of the
South
Also, making trade dollars legal tender.
Also. abolishing the tax on deposits in
Savings banks.
Also, to repeal the tax on deposits in Saw
ings banks.
Also, to repeal tax on bank checks.
To prevent general legislation by means of
appropriation bills,
Authorizing TAXATION by the States Of the
United States legal tender notes.
To reduce existing tariR duties On inpors-