Daily globe. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1878-1884, 1882-12-17
Senate.

a memorial of the Pittsburgh chamber O
commerce for an additional appropria
tion nee essary for the completion of pub
lie buildings in that city. Referred.
Mr.. Morrill,, from the finance committee
reported the bill passed yesterday by tn,
house amendatory of the act repeating
discriminating duties on goods produced
east of the cape of Good Hope, and asked
consideration, but upon Mr.. Edmunds' OBJ
lection it went over.
Mr.. Aldrich, from the finance commit
| tee, reported the house bill for the relief
| of the German National bank. of Louis
villOi
On motion of Mr.. Logan a resolution
was adopted calling for copies of orders
under which the naval officers inspected
and reported upon the revenue marine SER
vice, the life saving service, and marine
hospital services. and statement of the
authority of law under which the inspec-
ton and reports were made. Also wheth-
er the treasury department. consented to
the inspection of the service under its con-
troll.
At the expiration of the morning hour
Mr.. Hawley asked unanimous consent to
proceed with the civil service bill.
Messrs.Cockerell and Voorhees, objected.
preferring to consider bills on the calen-
dar.
After debate. by vote Of 80 yeas to %
nays, the senate proceeded to consider the
civil service bill.
Mr.. ingalls, said the bills supported by
each party in the hope of cheating the 9th
CT would end by defrauding both.
Mr.. Hawley characterized Mr.. Ingalls,
remarks as petulant and offensive.
Mr.. Voorhees, then addressed the senate
in opposition TO the bill.
The joint select committee on shipping
adopted an elaborate report IN favor of
the passage OF the bill recently agreed
upon.
Mr.. Voorhees, today submitted to the
senate the national library bill. which is
substantially the same as the cid Rice bill
for the same purpose.
Mr.. Voorhees, said the bill provided for
admission by competitive examination to
only the lowest grade of public Offices.
Therefore the treatment of the bill in the
senate seemed to him to be much ado
about nothing" The zeal of the Repub-
Hcans for reform in the civil service seemed
to result from death-bed repentance
brought about. not by hatred of their sins
but by fear they would not be allowed to
indulge IN them much longer. and the Dem
ocrats were soothing the sufferings of
the death-bed with the aesthetic Cruel of
politics. Who had ever heard OF any po-
ltical scandal occurring among the lower
grade clerks. They were not the public
officers who engaged in star route or whis-
Ky ring transactions. Yet this bill pro-
posed to examine and regulate and replace
these poor minor officials, leaving strong,
arrogant. corrupt higher officers undis-
turbed. The real demand of the people
was for penal laws to punish wrong doors
in high places. not for continuance to
worry poor clerks. He did
not oppose this bill because he
desired Offices for Democrats. but for the
reason that it practically denied TO Demo
Gratis the right TO compete for any OF the
higher offices. He read and commented
upon a number of questions which candi-
dates had to answer. he said. without mem
oraDda. such as: name the four largest
Islands on the globe" ''giTe approximately
the latitude Of Washington and London
in what direction is Havana, Cuba, from
Washington. D. c. give the course which
measure must take to be introduced to
congress. and supposing it to be
vetoed. to become law of the
United States" Bring up your young
men, said Mr.. Voorhees,, from Missis-
sippi and Alabama and all the states. and
if they can answer these questions they
may get 800 clerkship. (Laughter.)
Their examination passed to mathematics,
and one of the questions was: 1.-TWO
thirds of seven -ninths of eight and two
hfths. divided by fourteen and seven
tsnths less than fourteen and two
sevenths.'' (Laughter.) If senators
wanted this humbug continued
they might vote for if. but
ne (Foorhees) would not. Never
theless he was in favor of reform of the
civil service, and he had proposed prac-
teal measure for that purpose at the last
session. namely: An amendment to the
constitution of the United States provid-
ing that postmasters, revenue collectors
judges, marshals and United States dis
trict attorneys should be elected by the
people. He would not be hypocritical
about this subject. II the Democratic party
should come into power it ought to purify
the service by making thorough and radi-
cal change of oficeholders, except soldiers
who had served their country and been in
iured in its service.
Mr.. Brown offered an amendment to the
pending amendment of Mr.. Allison re-
ducing the term OF Office of the commits
sioners from six to four years. Lost.
Yeas %; nays "a.
The debate was continued by Messrs.
Plumb. Ma1ey and Jones, of Florida.
Mr.. Sherman said one of his first acts az
secretary of the treasury was reducing the
force 500 in number and also reducing the
pay to rates which the same kind of ser
vice commanded in private employment.
and the result was that 100000 appropri-
ated for that bureau by congress, was
returned to the treasury. As secretary of
the treasury he had done his best to bring
the force down to proper standard. and if
there were any supernumeraries now he did
not know it. As to civil service reform. he
favored three provisions: first. taking away
of power to select employees by favoritism
and the passage of a law that the admis-
sion to service should be secured BY COM
petitive examinations open to all: second.
the prohibition of removals except for
cause; third, the prohibition of political
assessments without interfering with the
right of officials to contribute volun-
for