Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1882-05-16
THE NATIONAL CAPITAL.
CONGRESSIONAL PROCEEDINGS.
More New BilIs-HOar and Dawes
Snubbed-WaekeY Versus Bubble
Lynch Paying HIS Debi - Civil
Service Reform.

Lynch Paying HIS Debt Civil
Service Reform,
WASHINGTON, May 15.-In the House,
under a call of States, the following bills,
etc, were introduced aud referred:
By Mr.. Shelly, of Alabama-For the sale
Of public lands in Mississippi and Louisiana
to the New Orleans and Northeastern Rail-
way Company. Also to regulate the sale Of
coal and iron lands in Alabama.
By Mr.. Robinson, OF New York-CallIHg
on the President for the further correspond
enee with Great Britain in regard to Ameri-
can citizens imprisoned in Ireland.
By Mr.. Lyrch, of Mississippi, amendatory
OF the Federal election laws Also TO reim-
burse dfpositors of the Freedman's Saving
and Trust Company for losses incurred by
the failure OF said company.
Under suspension of the rules the bill
was passed. providing that no action for
damages for infringements Of patents shall
he sustained for the use of any patented ar
ticle or device when 1t shall appear on trial
that the defendant purchased said article for
a valuable consideration in open market.
The Speaker laid before tine House a mes.
sage from the President, transmitting
communication from the Commissioner of
Pensions. calling attention TO the fact that
the deficiency appropriation of $l6 600 900
to meet the June payments Of army pen
sinns should be available as early as the
25'h, If practicable. Referred.
Adjourned.
SENATE PROCEEDINGS.
In the Senate, the House Geneva award
bill was tabled temporarily, the Judiciary
Committee, which has jurisdiction of the
subject, having already reported a bill
Also House bill for a public building at
Louisville, Ky.
Bills weree introduced and referred as
follows:
By Mr.. George (by request ITO aid in the
construction OF railroad and levee of the
Memphis and New Orleans Railroad Com
psny.
Mr.. Pendletou submitted from the Com
mittee on Civil Service, etc, a report to
accompany his civil service reform bill. He
said the formal statements made before the
committee would he presented as an ad-
denda to the report. Ordered to be printed
Mr.. Morril presented amendments to the
House bonded distilled spirits bill in the
form of substitute for that measure. Re
ferred to the Finance Committee.
The House bill for the removal of the re-
mains of the late Minister KilDatrick from
ChAiA W ANGW COioCJ AOA Ah1OA WAC
passed.
The Senate then listened to speech by
Mr. Beck uDon the House bonded distilled
spirits bill, now in the hands of the Finance
Committee, his pending resolution TO give
the measure precedence of consideration
hereafter being taken up.
Mr.. Window followed Mr.. Beck in reply
TO an allusiOn of the latter to the pending
Investigation OF the doings of the whisky
men by the special committee. of which Mr..
Window is Chairman. Mr.. Beck's resolu-
ZION having served its purpose in calling
attention to the subject, it was indefinitely
postponed.
A letter was transmitted from the Com
missioner OF Pensions, inviting attention 70
a needed deficiency appropriation of SIC
100000 to meet the June payments of army
pensions.
After an executive session the Senate
adjourned.
CIVIL SERVICE REFORM.
Senator Pendleton, on behalf OF the Com
mittee on Civil Service and Retrehchment,
TO-DAY presented TO the Senate a report in
advocacy Of the passage of the bill to regu.
ate and improve the civil service OF the
United States, which was reported to the
Senate on the 90 OF March last The re-
mort, which is voluminOUs, reviews at
length the growth of the government
since its foundation, and the effect
of this growth on the civil service
Referring to what Is characterized
AS the "spoils system" and its effect upon
the President. 1t mentions that instead of
devOting his time to great questions Of
craftsmanship he must spend most of It
in weighing in the balance the political con
sideration that shall determine the claim of
this friend or that political supporter to the
possession OF some office OF profit or
honor uuder him. The President OF the re-
public created bv the Constitution in the
beginning and the Chief Magistrate of to
dsy, it is maintained, are two entirely diff
fereut public fInctionsries. There has
grown up such PEI version of the duties OF
the Presidential Office, such a prostitution
of it 10 ends unworthy Of the great idea OF
its creation, impOsiog a burden so grievous
and so degrading to all the faculties
aud functions becoming its occupants,
that a change, the committee
think, has already occurred in
the character of the government ITSELF
which, II not corrected, will be permanent
and disastrous. Personal attention To the
consideration, which should control execu-
tive action in the disposition of patronage
and in the selections Of officials has become
impossible, and political control as a guide
for such action is frAught with demoraliza-
ion aud danger to the republic.
Without multiplying words the committee
say: "This much is proved: That in the
growth ard expansion of the nation the ap-
printing power is taxed beyond the posi-
Oility of personal attention to the require
ments. Official positions increased one
hundred fold in number and manifold In
variety, and the re; possibilities of the duties
o be performed. That in the discharge of
this highest of all executive function politi-
cal Influence and compensation have come to
dominate and 70 subordinate all other con-
siderations, and the distribution If official
spOils has come to be the lawful prerOgative
OF political ascend lncY. Offices have come
to be sought and bestowed as so many
charities, furnishing support to the needy
aud exscting in return for party services in
stead OF so many trusts, imposing duties
On the holders thereof.
These abuses, the committee assert, have
grown out of a system comparatively new
IN our government. Appointments because
of special fitness and removal for cause
we're the rules In our early history. The
report, after quoting from views heretofore
expressed by Presidents Grant, Hayes, Gar
field ard Arthur in favor of regulating the
civil service by law, closes by urging the
passage of the bill.
MACKEY VERSUS DIBBLE.
In the House this evening Mr. Dlbble,
Democrat, the sitting member from the
is contested by E. W. Mackey, Republican,
and against whom the Committee on Elec.
tious decided the contest some weeks ago,
presented a memorial to the House, stating
hat since his case had been acted on sworn
evidence In recent trials IN Charleston mad
been given to the effect that the contestant
had, after securing testimony in his case,
materially changed such testimony in the
record to the detriment of the memoralist.
He, therefore, PRAYED that the House would
order an investigation OF the alleged fraud.
NOMINATIONS.
The President to- day nominated J. P. Nc
Kee, of Texas, to be Marshal for the North
ern District of Texas; H. l.. Golsin, of
Texas, to be Marshal for the Western Dis
trict OF Texas; J. G. Bigger. of Texas. to be-
Attorney for the Northern District of Texas:
VI. T. Williamson, OF Tennessee, to be Mar
shal for the Western District of Tennessee;
W. A. Maury, of the District of Columbia,
m ha Assistant Attorney General Of the