Knoxville daily chronicle. [volume] (Knoxville, Tenn.) 1870-1882, 1882-12-15
CONGRESSIONAL.
SENATE.


WASHINGTON, D. c., December 49,
The question being on Senator Edmunds'
motion to refer the resolution and the sub
stitute, offered by Senator Hale, to the
committee on Judiciary, Senator Beck was
content to have the motion prevail.
Senator Davis, of West Virginia, had no
objection to the proposed reference of the
resolution, but, as it was possible that no
investigation might be made, he took this
opportunity to say that the Demo
cratic Congressional Committee, of which
he was chairman, had not solicited
or received any contributions from either
the liquor trade mer or employees of the
government. He wished to make this
statement as emphatically as he could now,
and whenever the committee should be pre-
pared to investigate the matter.
Senator Hale admitted now as in the de-
bate the other day, that Senator Davis pro-
badly had no knowledge of the levies on
whisky men and brewers, and he thought
that very good way to dispose of Senator
Beck's resolution and substitute was to refer
them to the committee on judiciary.
Senator Davis said he had examined the
list of contributions received by the COM
mittee, and knew that none of the character
charged by Senator Hale had been solicited
or received.
The resolution and the substitute were
referred to the Judiciary committee.
On motion of Senator Butler resolution
was adopted instructing the Secretary of
War to infoi N the Senate of the progress
of. the work of improving the Charleston
Barbor, whether the money appropriated
at the last session Is now being expended
there, and at what rate, and what balance
will probably remain unexpended at the ex-
plretion of the present fiscal year
The consideration of Senator Pendleton's
bill was resumed and Senator Aawley ad-
dressed the Senate. Something must be
done, he said, to reform our civil service
The continuance of the present system was
rendered impossible, not only by the evils
developed under it, but also by the extraor-
dinary growth of the country and the con-
sequent increase in the number of public
offices. Formerly, it was not unreasonable
to expect that in every bureau of the service
the chief should have personal knowledge of
the character and fitness of his subordinates,
but this could not be expected now, when
single departments and offices like the treas
ury and the New York Custom House have
a greater number of employees than the
government had in its early days. The old
rule was that the power and duty of making
removals was vested in the President alone.
and it was better than the one that had
been practiced of late. Washington, Adams,
Jefferson, Madison, Monroe and John
Quincy Adams made few removals and
all for cause, but since their time
the idea that (''to the victor belong
spoils'' had continually gained strength, un-
till it had become rule, and had reduced
the mass of the civil service of the country
to pitiable condition, and subjecting them
to sort of degradation which the legisla-
tors had no right to impose upon their fel-
low citizens. Under this system the en-
ployes of the government knew very well
that good conduct and efficiency would
give them at best only a partial protection,
so they were compelled constantly, to seek
to strengthen their influences,
until the word has become slang term
among them, and they say to each other,
''who is your influence, " ''my influence is
dead, or my influence is out of public
life now" Il must get some new infu-
ence." So, not merely when new Presi-
dent or new head of adepartment comes in,
but whenever new bureau chief is ap-
pointed there is hurrying and scurrying
among the whole terrified flock to
strengthen themselves with additional
influence" Of course the most inefi-
cient man is certain to fortify him.
self with the LARGEST pile of papers
and to be most difficult to remove on ac-
count of his ssinhuence." Among the re-
suits of the proposed reform would be
greater efficiency, and increased economy,
by the reduction of the number of employees
and of their pay, because men will accept
lower salaries when their tenure depends
upon efficiency and good conduct alone,
and the relief of Members of Congress from
three quarters of the torments to which
they are now subjected by applicants for
Office.
Senator Hawley discussed at length the
main points of the Pendleton bill 1t did
not pretend to cover the whole ground of
the civil service reform, and the
people should not be too san
guine in their expectations, as
to its effects, but it was based upon practi-
cal experience, and would undoubtedly
greatly improve the service.
The formal amendments reported by the
committee on civil service reform were
agreed to.
The question was then On Senator Hoar's
amendment, offered yesterday, providing
that the competitive examination shall be,
as far as possible, upon such subjects as are
embodied in good common school edu-
cation.
After some discussion, Senator Hoar
moved this amendment in favor of the one
offered by Senator Logan, providing that
the examinations ''shall he practical in their
character, and shall relate to matters
which will fairly test the relative fitness and
capacity of applicants to discharge the du-
ties of the service into which they seek to
be admitted.
Senator Pendleton, having charge of the
bill. assented to the amendment, and it was
adopted.
Senator Sherman moved to strike out the
provision in section making permanent
appropriation for the expenses of the civil
service commission. There being, he said,
no appropriation of this character for any
branch of the civil service-not even for
the Judges of the Supreme Court. Agreed
to.
On motion of Senator Sherman, the pro-
visions for the payment of the expenses of
the commissioners was limited to travelling
expenses,
Senator Grover presented petitions of
the boards of trade of San Francisco and
Portland and the chamber of commerce of
Los Angeles, asking the passage Of the