Daily globe. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1878-1884, 1882-12-28
CONGRESSIONAL,
THE SENATE GETS down TO BUSI-
NESS AFTER A BRIEF RECESS.

The Civil Service Bill Debated at Length
and Passed-Some Objections to the Bill
Urged, and Doubts as to Its Efficiency
Expressed-The House Witho ut a Quo
rum
WASHINGTON, Dec. 27.-Forty three sem
ators, five more than a quorum, are in
their seats this morning. Several petitions
were presented for the passage of the bill
to increase the pensions of one-armed and
one-legged soldiers, and respecting the
repeal or reduction of the tobacco tax and
the allowance of rebate on tax paid stocks
on hand.
Mr.. Miller. of CAL, introduced bill to
increase the fees of witnesses in the United
States courts.
Mr.. Pendleton presented petition for
the extension of Summit street, Cleveland.
Mr.. Hoar offered a resolution instruct
ing the postmaster general to submit a
statement showing the annual expendi-
lures to steamship companies for carrying
foreign mails since 1910. Adopted.
Mr.. Jones, of Florida, offered a resolution
requesting the opinion of the president
as to whether the allowance made for prop
erty destroyed by the American army in
1928 being reasonable and just, and if
in his opinion the last clause of the treaty
of 1S49 between the United States and
Spain had been fully executed. Tabled, to
be called up at an early day.
Mr.. Call submitted a resolution, which
was adopted, calling on the secretary of
the interior for the number of contested
homestead entries pending, and if legisla-
| ton is required to expedite decisions of
such cases.
At the close of the morning hour con-
| sideration of Pendleton's civil service
bill was resumed, the question being on
Mr.. Hawley's amendment prohibiting the
solicitation Or collection of political con-
tributions by officers cNhe government
from other government Ulcers or en-
ployes.
Mr.. Beck opposed the amendment as a
sham, because its prohibitions did not ex-
tend to other persons as well as to govern
| ment officers, and said if it were adopted
it's effect would be that, while the senator
| from Maine (Hale) and the senator from
Iowa ALLISON could no longer directly levy
any political assessments as members of
the Republican congressional committee,
they could do it indirectly through their
private secretaries, or other persons not
officers of the United States. The
good faith of the senate in seeking to
prevent these political assessments upon
government employees, had been tested by
the amendment offered by Mr.. Vest on
Saturday prohibiting the payment of such
assessment to any person, whether in the
employ of the government or not. That
! amendment had been supported by the
unanimous votes of the Democratic sena-
| tors, but the Republicans had unanimously
opposed and rejected it. The president
had recommended law which would pro-
hibit and prevent these assessments, no
| matter by whom made, and at the begin
ming of this session the senators on the
other side seemed willing and even anxious
| to pass such law, but it was now clear
they were only laundering index By
their professors they intended something
which they did not really intend to do, un-
less something equivalent to the PROPOSE.
ton offered by Mr.. Vest were adopted.
There would be no civil service reform in
the bill. Stopping these political assess
ments, whether levied directly or indirect
II, was far more important object than
the distribution of Offices which had occu-
pied so much of the time of the senate.
So far as he was concerned he did not wish
| to turn the present Office holders out. He
would be glad if no man or woman
from Kentucky should ever seek Office in
Washington, and he had rather SEQ any
son of his breaking stone by the roadside
than seeking department Office.
Mr.. Hawley said Mr.. Beck had been
challenged emphatically to produce one
person who had been removed from Office
| for failing to or refusing to make politi-
cal contribution in the last campaign. No
such person had been produced, but if it
dismissed on that account, he hoped the
officer who dismissed him would receive as
| severe punishment as the law permitted,
as well as the contempt of the American
people. The object at which his (Haw-
ley's) amendment aimed, was the preven-
ton of oppressive exactions from en-
ployes of the government, and was drawn
| carefully with that object in view. The
proposition to go beyond this and pro-
vided that no clerk, after earning and re-
it for any political purpose in which he
might take an interest was one which he
could not support.
Mr.. Vest said any provision of law which
did not absolutely prohibit employees of
the government from paying money for
political purposes would be- a
nullity. He again offered in
another form his amendment, which was
rejected Saturday, providing that the So
licitation of money, property or other
things of value, by any executive officer,
| clerk or employe of the United States, or
giving by any such officer, clerk or en-
ploye, such money, property or other
things of value, for political purposes or
to advance the political interests of any
person or party, is hereby prohibited.
Any person offending against any of these
prohibitions to be guilty of ms lemeanor
punishable on conviction by a fine of
$500, and by dismissal from Office.
Messrs. Harrison, Logan, Lapham and
Sherman opposed the amendment.
Messrs. Jones, of Florida, George and
Maxey supported it.
The amendment was rejected, ayes IS,
noes 81.
Mr.. George moved to amend the section
of Mr.. Hawley's amendment prohibiting
the solicitation or receipt of contributions
L l.: