Knoxville daily chronicle. [volume] (Knoxville, Tenn.) 1870-1882, 1882-12-29
N E w S
BY TELEGR APH, RAILROAD,
STAGE AND HORSEBACK.
CONGRESSIONAL.
SENATE.

WASHINGTON, December 27.-Sev-
eral petitions were presented for the
passage of the bill for the increase
of pensions to one-armed and one
legged soldiers, and also in relation
to the repeal or reduction of the tax
on tobacco and to allow rebate of
the tax paid on stocks on hand.
At the close of the morning busi>
ness, the Pendleton civil service bill
was taken up, according to under~
standing When the Senate adjourn
ed Saturday night last, the pending
question was on an amendment offer
ed by Senator Hawley, to add as adj
dltional sections the bill reported by
him from the committee on civil SER
vice reform to prohibit the solicita-
tion or collection of political contri-
buttons by the officers of the govern
ment from other government officers
or employees.
Senator Beck opposed the amend-
ment as a sham, because it did not
prohibit such solicitation by all per-
sons, whether government officers or
not; and Senator Vest offered again
in another form his amendment to
that effect rejected on Saturday.
The amendments were supported
by Senators Beck, Vest and George,
and opposed by Senators Hawley,
Lapham, Harrison and Sherman.
Senator Vests amendment was re-
jected by vote of 18 27.
Senator George moved to amend
the section of Senator Hawley's
amendment prohibiting the solicita-
ton or receipt of contributions for
political purposes in public buildings
so as to extend its provisions to the
whole of the District OF Columbia.
Lost,19 to 27.
Senator Blair offered the follows
ing as an additional section: mo
person habitually using intoxicating
beverages, shall be appointed to or
retained in any Office, business or
employment to which the provisions
of this act are applicable"
Senator Brown moved to amend
the amendment by inserting after
the word beverage the words ''to
excess" Agreed to.
Senator Blair spoke briefly in sup
port of his amendment.
Senator EdmuRds said the amend
ment as it stood contained the legal
implication that other vices were to
be excluded from consideration by
the evil service commission, and to
cure this defect by inserting after
Intoxicating beverages the words
'or is guilty of any other immoral
habit" Laughter. After some
discussion the amendment was
agreed to. Ayes, 32; nays, 16.
Senator Blair's amendment, as
amended, was agreed to.
Senator Plumb offered additional
section, which was adopted, provid>
ing that where two or more members
OF family are in public service in
the grades covered by this act no
other members of such family should
be eligible to appointment in such
grades.
Senator Plumb offered also an
amendment fixing the term of Office
of appointees at six years, subject to
removal for cause and allowing a re-
appointment without recommends
ton; but providing that no< person
should be permitted to remain in Of
fee longer than twelve years. Lost.
Senator George offered an amend
ment providing that the sending. by
mail or otherwise, to any govern,
ment officer or employe any letter or
print containing solicition of con,
tributions for political purposes or
the receiving of such communica-
tions by mail or otherwise should
come under The penalties prescribed
in this act. Lost.
Senator Brown offered the follows
ing: AS nearly all public positions
are now filled by Republicans, it is
further enacted that when the board
of examiners ascertained by pub-
lie examination, which shall be free
to all applicants, that two, or if
there be more than two of equal
qualification and merit, then from
those of the highest grade of quail
fication they shall select from among
those best quali1ed Que whose po
litical affiliations are with the politi-
cal party having the lowest number
in position, until there is at least an
approximation to an equal share in
the patronage of the government
among those who bear equally its
burdens; and that after such approx
imations to equality is reached it
slall be illegal for such board in
future to inquire into or consider
the political affiliations of any apph-
cant for position.
Senator Brown advocated this amendment
as measure of justice, necessary In order
to make fair start under the proposed
law.
Rejected by vote of II to az as follows;
| Ayes-Brown, Call, Coke, Davis, of West
Va, Garland, George, Groome, jackson,
Jonas, Lamar, McPherson,, Morgan, Pen
dleton, Pugh, Vance, Vest, and Voorhees,,
Nays-Aldrich, Allison, Anthony, Bay.
ard, Oameroa, of Pennsylvania, Cameron
OF Wisconsin, chilcott, Conger, Davis, oi
Illinois, Edmunds, Frye, Harrison, Hawley
Hill, Hoar, Jones, of Nevada, Lapham, Lo-
gan, Miller, of California, Miller, of New
York, Morrill,, Platt Plumb, Rollins. Sevell,
Sherman and Window, ~.
The bill having been considered in com
mittee of the whole, was reported to tn,
Senate and all of the amendments adoptet
in the committee were agreed to, excep
one offered by Senator Blair, in relation t
the use of intoxicating liquors.
Senator Bayard asked for separate vot
upon this. which he regarded as unneces
sary, tyrannical, and likely to give tn