National Republican., 1882-12-28

which did not absolutely prohibit employees of
the governmentfrom paying moneyfor political
purposes would be a nullity. He again of
fered in another form his amendment which
was rejected on Saturday, providing that
the solicitation of money, property, or
other thing of value by any executive officer,
clerk, or empoye of the United States, or the
giving by any such officer, clerk, or employe
OF such money, property, or other thing 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 a misdemeanor, punishable, on conviction,
by fine not exceeding $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 reected-ayes is,
noes 20.
Mr.. George moved to amend the section of
Mr.. Hawley's amendment prohibiting the
solicitation or receipt of contributions for
political purposes in public buildings so as to
extend its provisions to the whole of the Dis
trict of Columbia. Lost--ayes 19, noes 81
Mr.. Blair offered the following as an addi-
tional section "No person habitually using
Intoxicating beverages shall be appointed to,
or retained in any office business or employ
ment to which the provisions of this act are
applicable.
Mr.. Brown moved to amend the amend
ment by inserting after the word beverage"
the words to excess" Agreed to.
Mr.. Blair spoke briefly in support of his
amendment He thought it entirely relevant
to bill proposing to regulate admission to
the public service and much more important
and philosophical than the proposal to distri-
butte the public appointments among the
states according to populations. Everybody
knew that indulgence in Intoxicating drinks
was great evil among persons in public
office as well as among others. jefferson had
been cited several times as an authority for
the doctrines that integrity and capacity
should be the tests for admission to the public
service, but another utterance of Jeiler-
son, made later in life showed that
there was one other test which he thought of
at least equal Importance, and might be cited
in strong support of this amendment: THE
habit of indulging in ardent spirits by men in
Office" said Jefferson, "has occasioned more
injury to the public than all other causes, and
were to commence my administration with
the experience / now have, the first question
would ask respecting candidate would be:
does he use ardent spirits"
This amendment simply proposed to ask as
to candidates for public appointments the first
question that Jefferson would ask if he were
now president or head of an executive depart
ment.
Mr.. Edmunds said that the amendment as
it stood contained legal implication that
other vices were to be excluded from consid-
Grafton by the civil service commission and
to cure this defect he proposed to insert after
" Intoxicating beverages" the words, cor is
guilty of any other immoral habit" Laugh
ter.
After some discussion the amendment was
agreed to-ayes, 80; noes, 16.
Mr. Hawlcy moved to reconsider the vote
Lost-ayes, H. noes "a.
Mr. Blair's amendment as amended was
then agreed to.
Mr. Plumb offered an additional section,
which was adopted, providing that where
two or more members of family are in the
public service in the grades covered by this
act, no other members of such family shall
be eligible to appointment in such grades.
Mr.. Plumb offered also an amendment fix
ing the term of office of appontecs at six
years Subject to removal for cause) and al
lowing greappointment without re-cXaminatiOn,
but providing that no person should be per-
mitted to remain in office longer than twelve
years. Lost.
Mr. George offered an amendment proyid-
ing that the sending by mail or otherwise to
any government officer or employe, any letter
or print containing solicitation or contribu-
tion for political purposes or the receiving of
such communications, by mail or otherwise
should come under the penalties prescribed
in this act. Lost. .,.
Mr. Brown offered the following:
As nearly all the public positions are now filled
by republicans, it is further enacted that when
the board of examiners ascertain by public eX-
animation, which shall be free to ali applicants,
that two, or ii there be more than two Of equal
qualification and merit, then from those of the
highest grade of qualification they shall select
from among those best qualified one whose polit
cal affiliations are with the political party having
the lowest number in position until there is at
patronage Of the government among those who
bear equally its burdens; and that after such ap-
proximations TO equality is reached it shall be
illegal tor such board in the future to inquire into
or consider the political affiliations of any appl
cant for position.
Mr.. Brown advocated the amendment as a
measure of Justice necessary in order to make
a fair start under the proposed law.
Mr.. Logan opposed the amendment as pre-
senting an utterly impracticable proposition,
which could never be carried into effect.
The amendment was rejected by vote of
II to 81.
The bill having been considered in commit
tee of the whole, was reported to the senate,
and all the amendments adopted in commit
tee were agreed to except the one offered by
Mr.. Blair in relation to the use of Intoxicating
liquors.
Mr.. Bayard fsked for separate vote upon
this, which he regarded as unnecessary,
tyrannical, likely to give the whole reform
movement to which the bill related an air of
insincerity.
Mr.. Blair assured Mr. Bayard that he had
proposed the amendment in all sincerity and
earnestness
On motion of Mr. Hawley the words, cor
guilty ofany other immoral conduct" inserted
in Mr.. Blair's amendment on Mr.. Edmunds's
motion, were stricken out. The amendment
so amended was then adopted by n vote Of
ayes 30, noes 8. Those who voted in the neg
ative were Messrs Bayard, Call, Chilcott,
Davis of West Virginia, Jonas, Lamar, Pen
dleton, Pugh, and Vance. Mr. Morgan offered
an additional section, providing that no
recommendation of any person who shall ap-
ply for office or place under the provisions of
the act, which may be given by any senator
or member of the house of representatives. ,eX- |
cept as to the character of the applicant shall
be received or considered by any person con-
cerned inmaking any examination or appoint !
ment under the act" The amendment was
agreed to-ayes 26, noes 16
Mr.. Edmunds said he had not voted for the |
amendment because while he approved its !
spirit and purpose, he feared that in its pres
ent form it might go so far as to even prevent |
the president from asking a senator's opinion
as to the fitness of an appointment.
On motion of Mr.. Allison, the provision in |
the bill that the chief examiner should be re-
moved only for cause, and after notice and
hearing, was stricken out.
Mr.. Logan moved to make the salaries of
the commissioners $4,000 year. Lost-ayes
81 (; noes "a.
Mr.. Allison moved to reduce the salary of |
the chief examiner from "a, 900 to $500.
Mr.. Plumb moved to make it 81, 800 Lost |
Mr.. Plumb then moved to make it $1,000. |
Agreed to.
Mr.. Plumb moved to strike out all relating |
to the chief examiner. Lost.
Mr.. Brown offered an amendment prOvid- |
in o. " hat wi a pnl