Daily globe. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1878-1884, 1881-10-31

What Window was Going TO Do for Civil
Service Reform. SC.
WASHINGTON, Oct. Ex-senator Hills res
olutien that federal appointments made to in
fiuence state elections were unwise and unpa
triotic, and, unless rebuked, will do great
harm suggests the policy of resistance,
which the Democrats will adopt and the Re-
publicans insist on Stratham's confirmation
By this movement the doors of the senate
would be practically opened and make the
contest over Stratham and all points connected
with it, subject of open discussion in the SEN
ate. The Democrats want to get this discus
siou before the public, thinking to make cap
ital of it in Virginia. They want to enlarge
upon the letter of United States Judge Rivers,
Of Virginia, urging Stratham's nomination,
because it would assist to elect Republican
senator. Democratic senator's all gave
signs of approval of the resolu-
ton by mods to each other, and
smiles. In regard to the resolution Senator
Hill says: at explains ITSELF We had
abundant evidence that the president is max
ing appointments for the soc purpose of in
fluencing the election in Virginia. Mind,
am not telling what occurred in executive
session, but / have abundant evidence that
bargains have bsen made and are being made
in federal offices which will debauch and cor
rupt the people if this thing is not stopped.
We must rebuke it, and intend to push the
resolution at the first opportunity and upon
every occasion" 1t is this evidence that
Senator Hill speaks of that the Democrats
are anxious to make public.
CIVIL SERVICE REFORM.
Mr.. Window said to-day he had given the
subject of civil service very careful considera-
ton during his brief stay in the treasury de-
partment. The question had been frequently
discussed with President Garfield, who was
earnestly in favor of some practicable system
which would correct the evils of the present
mode of making appointments. The plan to
accomplish this had not been completed.
Subsequently Secretary Window prepared a
system applicable to the treasury department
which was ready to be promulgated. He only
waited the recovery of President Garfield to
put it in operation. The plan prepared by the
secretary was intended to relieve the president
and heads of departments from pressure and
importantly, and also to afford fair opportu-
nifty for persons in respective states to present
themselves for appointment. To do this it was
proposed to allot to states respectively, as the
law requires, the number of appointments to
which they would he severally entitled in the
treasury department. Then to appoint care
fully selected committee of three IN each state
whose duty it should be to meet once year at
some convenient place in the state, and before
whom any one desiring to enter the govern
meut Service should have the right
to present himself or herself
for examination, such examination to be prac-
tical and relate to the character, experience
and capacity of applicant and to the duties
of the position to which appointment is de-
sired; said committee to prepare list gradu-
ated according to the merit of those who pass
the examination and forward papers to the head
of the department at Washington. From
this examination, Window said, persons should
be selected from those highest on the list and
only to be sent for when the state
of which they are residents
should be entitled to appointments.
1t was further proposed that in making these
selections from eligible persons on the list,
soldiers, or their widows, or children, should
have preference. The system also provides
for promotions in the departments, upon ex-
animation, to be decided by the merit of the
applicant. The secretary proposed this sys-
TEN to President Garfield, when at Long
Branch, the week before he was assassinated,
and he regarded it with much favor. 1t is be-
Eeved that had he recovered some such sys-
tenn would have been urged to provide by law
for thorough and complete reorganization
ABsENTEEIsM.
Senator's who remain speak with some feel
ing of those, who, TO suit their own pleasure
and convenience, have absolved themselves
from their duties in Washington, thereby
leaving the Senate without a quorum. All
business now proceeds by consent, it being in
the power of any senator to block progress by
insisting on the roll call. This being the case
speedy adjournment is almost unavoidable.
Several senator's who absented themselves
last night, and refused to obey the order to
return, were arrested after the senate went in
to extra session. They were arraigned before
the bar of the senate, but had poor excuse
in fact none. They were willing to make sn
apology, but senator's who struck the night
session out insisted that an example be made
of those who defy the rules and orders. 1t
was maintained by those who insisted upon
discipline that the senate has hitherto been too
Intent with such cases, and as consequence
the attendance of quorum cannot be en-
forced; that the senate had been disregarded in
this respect so often and derelict senator's eX-
cused that such are now deficed with impun-
ity. This question occupied the senate up to
2 O'Clock.
The senator's who were arraigned for absence
last night were let off with a slight rebuke
and good naturally admonished.
SsTRATHAM ABANDONED.
In executive session of the senate this after
noon, Terry, who, as chairman of the post
office committee, had charge of the nomina-
ton of Stratham, remarked, that in view of
the manifest determination of the Democratic
members of the senate TO continue the en-
ployment of dilatory proceedings against
final action on this case Indefinitely, or at least
until after the Virginia election, the Republi-
cans had concluded that rather than
permit any further obstruction of remaining
public business they would lay by the Lynch
burg nomination, and he accordingly made
that motion which was unanimously agreed
to, and the senate proceeded to confirm large
number of nominations elsewhere detailed.
Ferry's motion is understood to have been
the result of consultation to-day between
himself in behalf of the Republicans and Presi-
dent Arthur in which Senator
Malone also participated. 1t was
further well known to have been predi
Gated upon the explicit understanding that
adjournment of the senate would be promptly
followed by Stratham's appointment to the
office by the president. Besides this nomina-
ton, the nomination of Pay Director Wat
mough as psymaster general of the navy was
laid aside without final action.
AN EXPLANATION.
In explanation of the Republican position
upon the contested Virginia postmaster nom