Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1882-06-29
The Admint Defeated

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One of the most significant features
ofthe proceedings of the house this week
WAS the defeat of the bill providing that
collectors of internal revenue should
hold their Office for four years, and not
be removed unless for good cause. The
motion to suspe' the rules was made
by Mr.. Dunnell, under instruction
from the committee on ways and
means. Mr. Bayne, of Pennsylvania,
opposed the bill in vigorous speech,
in which he charged that it was a
scheme of The administration to obtain
control of these offices. The speech
was very bitter arraignment of Mr.
Arthur's policy regarding the civil SER
vice and of stalwartism generally. Ii
was the cropping out OF the dissatisfied
element of Pennsylvania republican,
ism and was hugely enjoyed by the
democratic members, who with the
exception of Mr.. Morrison and Mr..
Holman voted solidly with Mr.. Bayne.
A few republicans also voted with Mr..
Bayne for reasons no doubt sufficient
unto themselves. Mr.. Dunnell made a
very strong speech in favor OF the
bill. He said that he was not little
surprised at the remarks of the gentle
man from Pennsylvania in opposition
to the bill. 1t was not supposed by the
committee on ways and means that it
would be opposed by any one on The
floor of the house, for an examination
of the history of legislation and the
lecomm endations which had been
made for the passage of the bill
MADE THE COMMITTEE UNANIMOUS
in recommending the passage. The
commissioner Of internal revenue, as
far back as 1877, earnestly recommend
ed the passage of bill to fix the time
of these officers for foLr years, like all
other federal presidential appoint
ments in the country. The present in
ternal revenue law was passed during
the war, and it was not then antici-
pated that it would continue in force
so many years, and for some reason no
term was fixed for the offices. The
recommendation was fixed on the fact
that under the present law good officers
were uncertain as to their tenure, and
they could be removed by the pres
dent at any time. Public sentiment
was opposed to arbitrary removal. Mr..
Dunnell gave Mr.. Bayne home thrust
when he said that it was unfair, ungen-
orous and unmanly for the gentleman,
from local considerations, to
ATTACK THE ADMINISTRATION
for pressing the passage of the bill.
The administration was not at all re-
sponsible for it. The bill had been rec
commended by the commissioner of in
ternal revenue, but for the reason that
it promoted the good of the service. Mr..
Bayne retorted by asking if the COM
missioner had not also recommend
ed the passage of the whisky
bond bill. To this Mr.. Dunnell re-
sponded that the commissioner had not
made any recommendation regarding
the whisky bill He was only called
upon to express, and did express his
opinion as to the best form for the bill
in the result of its passage. Mr.. Bur
rows, of Michigan, the author of the
tenure-of-ofiice bill, said this was no
occasion for the attack upon the pres.
ent administration. Having introduced
the bill, he knew its object was in the
interest Of the public service. During
Mr.. Bayne's address canvass of the
house was made by the friends of the
bill, who urged, however, as reason
for its passage, that President Arthur
desired it to be done. Despite the
pressure brought to bear, however, the
two-thirds could not be mustered, and
the bill was defeated. On rising vote
there were ninety.one ayes
against seventytwo nays, but
when the ayes and noes
were ordered, the roll call showed ayes
eighty one and nays 100, seventeen re-
publicans voting against the measure.
The vote created considerable of a
sensation, rs it is regarded rs showing,
to some extent, the feeling existing
among republican members against the