National Republican., 1882-12-23

.r,t,ycly, and that of their successors six
EcuJs L0st-aycs % noes 81
MI salisbury offered an amendment, which
wgs adopted, requiring the commissioners to
take an oUih TO perform their duties imrar-
tally and without p0li'ic bias,
ON motion of tly. Plumb the salary of the
commissioner was reduced from $4,000 to
$500.
MIR. Logan gave notice that later he would
move to make ii $1,000.
Mr. Malone addressed the senate in pre-
pared speech, He thought the direct account
ability of public officers TO the people the
safest guarantee Of thc proper discharge of
their duties, and believed that the honorablc
contention of political part cs would ever serve
to stimulate TO such performance OF duties
and afford the means of correcting abuses. III
these existed the executive heads were re-
sponsible, and reform could not be effected by
interposing an irresponsible agency, like this
commission, between them and their rcsponsi-
bility. Turning from the bill he proceeded
to reply to certain references tp himself which
he found in the Record Of the first week of the
present session. The senator from Kentucky
(NIr. Beck had made an open circular letter
issued by him (Mahone), n8 chpirman of the
readiuster state committee Of Virginia, the
basis, in part, Oft resolution proposing one
sided investigation.
Mr. Beck Does the senator thiak 1t is proposing
one sided investigation to refer the whole mat
ter to a republican committee Of which the dis.
tnguishcd senator from Vermont lNr. Edm nds)
is chairman?
Mr. Malone. | certainly think 1t was a one
sided proposition to propose to investigate one
side Of the campaign in Virginia and not to be
willing to investigate the other.
Mr.. Malone assured Mr. Beck that he would
go with him in the support of any measure
within the bounds of the constitution to Sc
cure fair aud free elections. and to prohibit
and punish the use Of money in connection
with them. To tighten the burden of the in
vestigating committee and for the satisfaction
of senators Interested. he would state that the
circular letter referred to had been sent to 252
of the |, 500 postmastcrs In Virginia, and that OF
those only nincty.twu responded. Of the other
government officials in tS"t state, about 270
in number, exclusive of three in the light
house and life saving services, the letter had
been sent to rs, and only 30 had responded
In the departments in Washington, exclusive
of the bureau of engraving and printing and
the war department. there were 3i2 employees
charged to Virginia The circular had
been sent to % of these and responses had
been received from 49, And no authority
over any of these employees had been con
suited about the circular, or Informed to whom
1t had been sent in any case, or what response
had been received. lie had nothing to conceal
about this matter. He then read from the
Record some romarks made by Mr.. Bayard on
investigation, in which he spoke Of "the
statements published last fall - that the dc.
Capitation of unfortunate OfliCcholders from
Virginia was SO general that blanks were kept
to be filed out with the names of the victims
removed because they refused to prostitute
their places for political ends Apart from
the criticism lcvrllyd at my conduct said
Mr.. NIahonc,' there is implied here serious
allegation against the conduct of the depart
ments which would not be becoming in any
place upon such authority as that which the
senator has taken. The propricties and usages
of this chamber do not permit me to charac.
teriZc This statement as il deserves, but ! will
say that il is, from beginning to end, and in
all it's parts untrue and without the slightest
foundation in fact
Mr.. Beck. hope the senator from Virginia will
avail himself otthe opportunity TO go before the
judiciary committee and make all those things
clear
Mr.. Malone shall be happy TO meet the sena-
Tor from Kentucky sud his party sympathizers in
the stale of Virginia before that committee, and
VIII say to him now that " damned be he that
first cries hold enough! Iaughler.l
Mr.. Beck hone he VIII 50 there and stand up
Mr.. Malone. When ! shall fail to stand up ii
will be time enough for, the senator from Ken
tucky 10 suggest that shall stand up.
Mr. Malone went on TO speak of the state
ment about blanks for dccapitating purposes
as an atrocious calumny takeu from some un-
named newspaper, and dciicd the production
VI any Sutl ulunho VI Vi llit HdlIt VI any gov
eminent emplOye whose lenTotil had been
made at his instance, directly or indirectly
for refusing to contribute or "to prostitute
his office" for the benefit of the readjuster
party.
During his whole term in the senate just
four department employees have been removed
on his motion; three of them nou-rcsidcnts OF
Virginia, though charged to tnat state, and
the fourth only recently resident. He did
not deny that he sought to have other re-
mOvals made in order that the places might
he filled with Virginians, for of the 342 offices
constituting Nirginia's quota, two-thirds were
occupied by non-rcsidents, or persons who haC
only recently become residents of the state
Mr. Beck said that in Offering his resolution
for an investigation he had merely recited no
torious facts, which he desired to have inves
tiCated, and he had not attempted to torestal
action, but, on the contrary, had proposed t.
refer the matter to the committee on th
judiciary. Whether the senator from Virgins
and the readjuster party had any right to cal
upon the postmasters and postmistresses il
Virginia, or whether objection was made il
any official quarter to their doing so, wer
among the things he desired to ascertain
by the investigation He did not know
whether Miss Bcttic Bumgardner was still
postmistfess at Honeyville, Va, or whethe
she was out.
Mr.. Malone said Mr.. Beck would oblig
legged to have been addressed to that lady.
Mr.. Beck admitted his inability to compl,
with the request. As to any temper exhibited
by the senator from Virginia about what ha,
been done in this matter, or his remark tina
if the propricties of the place permittef i
would use stronger language, Nj. Becl
thought he had done nothing whicl
would bring him under the Virgins
code. There were a good many un
settled affairs" among gentlemen il
that state, and perhaps they hat
better be settled before any suggestions wcr
made about going outside the state, All
want is the TRUTH said Mr.. Beck don't wan
to fight llaughter and if the judiciary com
mittee report that everything done by the sen
atOr from Virginia and the readjuster party j
from Vermont Mr.. Edmunds) can be rele
upon to do his allies justice in all matters O
that kind. LLaughtcr,l
Mr.. Brown offered an amendment to MI
Allison's amendment providing that nothin
contained in it should prevent the Presiden
from removing the commissioners, or cithC
of them, whenever he thought the public in
tcrost would be promoted by such action
Lost-ayes II, noes -.
Mr. Allison's amendment was then rejecte
ayes 3d. noes %.
Mr. Voorhees, moved to adjourn, but it wa
lOst-ayes 10, noes 30.
Mr.. Brown offered an amendment Opcnin
the competitive examinations to person
outside the departments, but withdrew it am
accepted as "A substitute Mr.. Pugh'S amend
ment, providing that the examinations shal
he open to all, and that Immediately after tn
passage of this act those now in otlic
shall be divided into three classes
~ a 4