The Stark County Democrat. [volume] (Canton, Ohio) 1833-1912, 1882-12-20
CONGREsS.
Hard at Work on the Postal Re-
ductiOn Bill.

| SylVAnlA, lnRhllS anu Ou0EIuhu pIob6nI6u
petitions for the increase of pensions OF
One-armed and One-legged soldiers. Re-
/ ferred. -.. ..r ..... f.
| At the close Of the morning hour con-
sideration of the French spoliatiOns bill
was resumed.
Mr. Hoar advocated the bill. Mr..
Sherman reviewed the history OF the
claims. He was satisfied that however
strong the claims might be against
France, they were absolutely ground
less against the United States. Mr..
to express a belief In the Justice Of the
claims. After further debate the bill
was amended and passed, and the Sem
ate resumed consideration OF the PEN
Teton civil service bill, Mr.. Miller, OF
New York on the floor.
Mr.. Miller said the Senator from
Georgia feared that this bill, II passed,
would tend to establish life tenure of
office, but in fact, it would simply put
was during the first fifty years OF our
national life.
Mr. George thought the passage Ofthis
bill would inaugurate the most import
ant and necessary reform; for the evils
which il sought to remedy were of the
most mOmeqtOus character, affecting
deeply the purity OF our governmental
administration and even threatening
| the stability of our institutions.
| The Senator from Georgia (BrOwn)
seemed to think there would be 10
chance for the Democratic party unless
| 1t could promise its members spOils
office. He (George) repudiated the idea.
He denied the Democratic party was de-
pendent upon "the cohesive power OF
public plunder," and said 1t would go
into the campaign Of 1884 as 1t went
into that of 1875 under the motto, re
form, fidelity to public trusts, economy
in administration" and not with the
miserable battle-cry Of booty to the
Victors, woe to the vanQulshed."
On motion of Mr.. Pendleton, the first
section OF the bill was amended 80 as TO
require the civil services commissioners
to be confirmed by the Senate.
The question was on Mr.. AlliSOn's
amendment providing that there shall
be three commissioners instead Of five,
and they shall nos be connected with
any departments.
Mr.. Bayard spoke Of the importance OF
reforming civil service, and the de-
mOraliLing effects upon public men Of
the "spOils" system. He would support
the pending bill, and was quite ready
to meet the responsibility to which the
Senator from Georgia (BrOwn) said the
Democrats who supported 1t would be
held. Adjourned.
HOUsE-In the House, James II. Nc
Lean, by a vote of 144 to 10 was admitted
as member from the Second Missouri
district. The Secretary of State had re-
fused to give him certificate of elec-
tiOn on the ground that the Second dis
trict had been legislated out Of exist
ence.
Bills from the Joint Committee on
Shipping, providing that all materials
for huilding steam ships and sailing
yes lels may be imported by United
States citizens duty free, and that citi-
zens may buy steam or sailing vessels
wherever built, and register them, duty
free, as United States vessels, were re-
ferred to the Committee on Commerce.
In Committee of the Whole, the Post
office appropriation bill was discussed.
The reduction in letter postage to two
cents was advocated in speeches by
Messrs. Towns shend Dem., Ill., Hill
Rep., N. J.,) Anderson Rep,, Kan.,)
Willis Dem., Ky.) Dunnell (Rep, Minn.,)
Springer (Dem., Ill., and RobesOn (Rep.,
N. J.,) and was opposed by Messrs. At.
kins (Dem., Tenn.,) Reagan lDem., Tex.)
BlOunt (Dem., Ga.) and Mills Dem
Tex)
On motion of Mr.. Caswell (Rep., Wis.,
the appropriation for Star reuters was
increased to So, $4,000.
WASHINGTON, Dec. 16.-SRNATE-The
Senate took up the Civil Service bill and
and Mr. Allison, Rep, Ia, modified his
amendment so as to make 1t mandatory
upon the President to appoint the Conn
missiOners under the bill. His amend
ment provides for the appointment of
three Commissioners, to constitute the
United States Civil Service Commission,
10 hold office two, four and six years re-
spectively, their successors to hold of
flee six years, at salary of $4,000.
Mr.. Voorhees, Dem. lnd.) opposing the
bill, thought the best possible reform
would result from thorough change in
the personnel of the service OCCASION
ally.
Speeches were made for the bill by
Messrs. Hoar (Rep. Mass.) Hawley Rep.
Conn., and Jones Dem. Fla.); against
the bill by Messrs. Ingalls, (Rep. Kan,)
Voorhees, Dem. Ind) Plumb Rep. Kan.)
and Maxey (Dem. Texas).
On motion of Mr.. HaWley the Senate
adjourned at 6 p. m. In spite of the pro-
test of Mr. Edmunds, that to adjourn
then would be substantially the destruc-
tiOn of the bill.
HoUSE-The House took up the Post
office Appropriation bill. After debate,
Mr.. RObinsOn's amendment. apprOpriat-
ing 100000 for special mail facilities,
and Mr.. HiscOck's amendment, reducing
the sum to 100000, were both voted
down. The bill makes no provision for
special mail facilities. Mr.. RObesOn Op-
posed both amendments on the ground
that they were offered in the inteTes of
the New York newspapers and the rail-
roads, and were Of no special advantage
to the public. Mr.. HiscOck (Rep. N. "
said it was common talk In Congress
that Mr.. RObesOn's recent speeches de-
claring war on the newspapers, were
made simply because he was smarting
under the lash Of the newspaper press.
nv. Murch (Ind. Me.) moved to amend
the clause reducing letter postage to
two cents, by fixing the rate at three
cents for the first half ounce, and two
cents for every additional half ounce.
Lost.
Mr.. Hewitt Dem. N. " offered an
amendment, striking out the reducing
clause, and inserting provision auth
OrizfnR the Postmaster General to cause
to be manufactured self-sealing'sheet
of paper, not larger than letter size, the
price of which shall be two cents. Ruled
out in a point of order.
Mr.. Atkins Dem, Tenn.) moved to
strike out the clause reducing the rate
of postage. Lost.
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