New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1882-12-29
TWO MEASURES IN THE SENATE.
PASSAGE or THE ANTi-AssEssMENT BILL - TIIg
FIIZ-JOHN PORTER BILL
rcp .t,uT To THE

FIIZ-JOHN PORTER BILL
lBY TELEGRAPH TRIBUSEl
WASHINGTON, Dec. 2S.-" The Chair would Ike
a few more voesn said Senator David Davis after
the Jerk had called all the names the st. There
upon two Senators who IN the cloak-roOm laid
down their cigars came into the chamber, voted
and went back to their smoke AMI
their gossip. "Still lacking one Of a quorum" OBJ
served the Chair pleadingiy Shortly after rnothes
Senator came in, picking his teeth and being APP
prised of the situation voted.
The pending question was the last OF the amend.
ments proposed 10 the Poll ical Assessment bill.
The amendment was declared lost, anG there beng
no further amendments the bill went to
its third reading, and was passed Ivy
n unanimous vote and without discussion.
The bil Is similar in its prov sons to the Hawiey
amendment to the Civil Service Reform bill, which
amendment was so exhaus lively discussed on Sat-
urday and Yesterday as t. leave nothing to be SAID
on the subject to-day.
After tho Assessment bill was disposed OF tho
Fiz John Porter bill was taken up on mCIon ot
Senator SeweH. The Republicans, with the keep
ton of senator Cameron OF Pennsylvania, Senator
Miller Of California. and Senator Sewell, all
voted against taking the bill up. The Democrats
were s0Id in support of the motion. After II was
taken up. Senator sherman asked that 1t DC Iaid
aside temporarily to allow vote 10 be TAKEN on
the Wuiskey Bond bill. senator sherman nad nOO
voted at all on the motion TO take up the Porter
bill. an 1t was carried against the Republicans by
only one vote. This provoked several Re publican
Senators that they refused assent to tie proposition
to take up the WhsHey bill senator
sewell delivered a formal speech IN support Of
Iep,y tomorrow. Ihcreupon tie Senate went into
EXecu i've session.
The friends of General Porter claim that the three
Repub leans who vO'ed to take up the oil to-day,
will vote tor its passage, and thar It's success IS
assure1, and that without EXTENDED debate.
THE DEMOCRATS AND THE CIVIL SERVICE.
lBY TELEGRAPH To THE TRiBUNE.l
WASHINGTON. Dec. 2S.-One feature OF the course
of the Democratic Senator'S on the civil Service bill
ought not to escape public attention. THIS was the
persistent attempr 10 force into the bill provision
winch would have made it so ridiculous that some
OF Its best friends say ,hey would have been in
doubt whether to vote for it, and which would have
been III the opinion OF many Senators clearly ua-
constitutional.
In the form first proposed this provision was that
1.-THE solicitation of money, property, or other thing
OF value, by any executive officer, clerk EN-
ploye of the United States. or the giving by any
such officer, clerk or employe of any such money,
property or thing OF value, for political purposes
to advance the political interests of any person or
party. is hereby prohiblted.' A provision that q
Government clerk should not give any OF ms money
to politics after it had become his, considered
10y Republican senators TO he as unconstitutional
an interference with the liberty Of the citizen as
proposition would be that he should not give any
money TO his church or bay Christmas presents for
his children.
The zeal with whch this amend
ment was presented in various forms.
aud the undnunity with which 1t was supper Ell by
the Democrats gave rise to the suspicion on tho
part OF Republican senators that even some of tho
prominent men the other .iie. who had been
very earnest for the bll woud be gla to render 1t
obnoxious to its own frienls if they could do 20
without taking too much responsibility 1t WAS
first voted upon in the torn gwen above, offered
by Mr. Slater on Saturday and was lost
Dy q vote of IS to -, every Dam
Ocrat present voting for il, including
Mr. PendlctOn himselt and such men as Senator'S
Butler and George, who have been earnesi for tho
bill.
The amendment was renewed on wednesday
by senator Vest, and lost by vote Of Is 10 u,
every Democrat voting tor It and again later, on
the same "a -, by Senator George, VINO wanted the
law to say that 10 such officer or employe, except
heads of departments and such as elected by the
people or the Leg l.atures OF the States shall
tribute either directly or indre ;tly anything Of
value for partisan purpOscs" senator HOar sug-
g,s.el that thIs wonli prevent Government
officer from giving a copy OF IN. speech TO any ono
If ne though II "a thing Of Value Thus was lost
by vote Of II to p, ANA only one Democrat,
Nnt,. tfwA Ma Ifl tI4f. II