The Portland daily press., 1881-12-14
XLVII tn Congress LIST Session.
SENATE.

! legal disabilities. He asked unanimous con-
sont for present consideration. Vest op'
| jeeted.
On motion OF Mr.. Ransom select committee
of five was appointed to report what action is
needed TO improve the condition OF the Poto-
mac and the health Of Washington.
Mr. Vest introduced bill to incorporate in
| ter-Oceanic Ship Railway Company and other
| purposes. Referred.
By Mr.. Window, authorizing the constrnc-
| ton of the north branch of the Union Pacific
railway andstelegraph line.
/ Mr.. Morrill, presented the report OF the
! board of visitors to West Academy.
| Mr.. Logan from the committee on military
| affairs reported with amendments bill to place
| Gen. Grant on the army retired list Placed
| on the calendar. The report was not unani-
| nous. .
Mr.. Edmupds submitted resolution requir-
| ing the President, if in his opinion not incom-
patibe with the public interest, to communi-
| cate to the Senate certain correspondence De-
| tween the government OF the United states
and diplomatic agents in Peru and Chiii.
| Agreed to without dissent.
Mr. Hoar offered resolution which was also
| adopted without remark instructing the com
mittee on military affairs TO inquire what legls-
| lation if any is needed to enable widows ana
| heirs Of deceased soldiers to receive the bene-
| fits of bouaties due said soldiers.
| Mr. Pendleton took the floor at the end OF
| the morning hour and advocated his bill to i'm
prove the civil service at length. He said the
| commission provided for by the bill is to sub
NIT to the President rules to make the pro
| visions of tie bill effective. The rules are to
| contain the following provisions:
1st. For open competitive examinations tqr
| testing the capacity of applicants for the pub
| lie service now classified or to be classified
| hereunder.
I'd. That all offices, places and employ
ments so arranged or to be arranged in classes
shall be filled by selections from among those
graded highest as the results of such competi-
| tive examinations.
Sd. That the original entrance to the public
| service aforesaid shall be at the lowest grade.
| 4th That there shall be a period of proba.
tion before any absolute appointment or en-
| ployment aforesaid.
9Th. That promotion shall be from lower
| grades to higher on basis of merit and com.
| petition
9th. That no person in the public service is
for that reason under any obligation to
contribute to any political fund or to any po-
itical service and that he will not be removed
or otherwise preiudiced for refusing to do 50.
8th. That no person in said ser vice has any
right to use his official authority or influence tc
coei ce the political action of any person OF
body.
9Th. There shall be non-competitive exam
inations in all proper cases before . commits
sion when competition may not be found prac-
| tical.
| He argued in favor of competitive examina.
| tions and answered to objections of Senator
| Dawes. He closed as follows:
appeal to the Senators on the other side oi
this chamber. You have the administration
| You have the officers. You are enjoying the
| disturb you in the possession of them / ap-
| peal to the Senators on this side of the cham
| ber. We are in the minority. We have nc
| offices now. Chances Of time will sooner OF
| clare that we will have none of these Offices
except those which may be won by merit. Let
| us give this earnest of our sincerity
| in great reform. Let us give
this token of the purity and patriotism of oul
\ coming administration of the government.
nents, that we contend for power not that we
| may enjoy the emoluments of Office but that
| we may lead the country in the. pathways OF
| advancement and beneticence under the in
| spiration OF a true Democracy. Patronage
| however pleasant for the moment, is curse to
any man or party. Let us put it behind ms
| now. Let us do right now. Let us destroy il
now and we will in future reap our full in
estimable reward in having disengaged our
party and our President from influences which
| will surely plant the seeds of early defeat in
| our coming victory and in having saved our
country from periIs which now environ it,"
| Mr.. Dawes replying to the criticisms upon
his position on the subject by Mr. Pendleton
said these were due to his own inability, both
now and in the last Congress to support that
feature of the Senator's measure providing fol
| the establishment in Washington OF a board of
| examination or inlperiuna in i1nperto with nc
| prescribed tenure, who are to superintend and
! control all examinations in all departments
| and places in the civil service covered by the
BILL Mr.. Dawes then continued at length in
reply to Mr.. Pendleton's arguments MIR.
\ Dawes was followed by Mr.. Hill of Georgia.
4 A bill was introduced to-day BY Mr.. Phelps
| of Connecticut relative to the Importation OF
| materials to be used in the construction oi
| chine nrovidifao tho admission
! free of duty of all such materials it grants tc
| all foreign built ships when owned entirely OIL
s,ert ard wholly differed by citi'
WHICH w sa Rsiyegss II
| United States
A joint resolution by Mr.. Voorhees, was then
read and referred to the judiciary committee,
| It proposes an amendment to the constitution
providing that all postmassers, revenue col.
lectors, judges, marshals and district attorn-
eys be elected by the people of the State in
which their duties are to be performed.
Mr.. Pendleton's bill was then informally
tabled.
A resolution ask ay for information in regard
to the pension bureau frauds in obtaining PEN
sions, etc, was tabled and ordered to be
printed.
Adjourned.
HOUSE.
Mr. Taylor of Ohio offered resolution which
was unanimously adopted for the appointment
of a select committee of eleven to audit all
claims for services and expenses growing out
of the illness and burial of the late President
Garfield; also to consider what allowance, PEN
sion or privilege be granted his widow and
family
Mr.. Robeson of New Jersey, offered reso-
luton for the appointment of a select commit
tees on census; reform in the civil service; law
respecting election of President and Vice Pres
ident; epedemic disease; inter oceanictship ca
nal; payment of pensions, bounty and back
pay.
Mr. Knott of Kentucky objected that the
majority of these committees were unneces-
sary.
On motion of Mr.. Sherman of Illinois, O
resolution was adopted for the appointment of
committee on census.
Bills were, introduced and referred as follows:
Assisting the constitutional prerogative of the
House of Representatives to originate all reve-
nue. measures and providing for the revision of
the tariff and internal revenue law.
Also for importation free of dutysof materi-
al or manufactures produced abroad necessary
in construction or equipment, or repair of any
vessel built, equipped or repaired in the United
States. engaged in either foreign or domestic
trade.
Also making the patent office seperate de-
partment
Also for appointment Of commission of
colored men to inquire into the intellectual
condition of the colored people of the south q
Also making the trade dollar legal tender.
Also abolishing the tax on deposits in saw
ings banks
Also to repeal tax in bank checks.
To prevent general legislation by means of
appropriation bills.
Authorizing taxation by States of United
States legal tender notes.
To reduce the existing tariff duties on inn
ported goods ten per cent.
For the appraisement of telegraph lines,
property and effects
To secure information concerning postal tele-
graph in other countries.
To tax manufacture of oleomargarine.
To apportion representatives in Congress Ut
fixes the number at 322.
Also to regulate the expectation of oleomar-
garine.
Providing forsconstitutional amendment pro-
hibiting special legislation.
Proposing constitutional amendment for
election of postmasters by the people.
Proposing constitutional amendment fixing
number of representatives at 350
Proposing constitutional amendment fixing
the term Of offices of civil officers Of the gov
erpment at four years.
Reducing the rate of postage on letters and
letter matter to two cent.
To establish an educational fund.
To appropriate ten millions for supplemental
aid to free public schools, to be distributed
among States and Territories in proportion to
the degree of illiteracy.
Also to lessen crime and human suffering