Knoxville daily chronicle. [volume] (Knoxville, Tenn.) 1870-1882, 1882-12-16
CONGRESSIONAL.
SENATE.

WASHINGTON, December, 14.-At
the close of the morning hour, the
Senate resumed consideration of the
bill to promote the efficiency of the
navy chaplains by in increasing their
salaries. Rejected yeas, 20; nays. "a.
The military and agricultural ap-
preparation bills were referred to the
appropriations committee.
Senator Blair presented the me-
mortal adopted by the convention of
clergymen held at Ocean Grove, N.
j., last summer, in relation to the
government an to education. The
memorial is signed by Bishops Cox
and Simpson and large number of
representative clergymen.
The Senate took Up the bill on the
calendar to provide for the ascer-
tainment of claims of American citi-
izens for French spolation. At 2
O'Clock the bill gave way to untin-
ished business--the Pendleton civil
service reform bill. Senator Hoar
addressed the Senate in favor of the
bill He congratulated the country up
on the fact that by the fortunate con-
currence of circumstances, both par
ties were substantially united in the
effort to reform the civil service care
fully. The matured bill for that
purpose, introduced by the distin-
guished leader on one side, Senator
Pendleton, being reported favorably
to the Senate by a distinguished
leader on the other side, Senator
Hawley, and the President of the
United States, not heretofore very
closely identified with this reform,
promising in advance, to give it
his countenance and support.
The Senator from Ohio (Pendleton)
had cast severe reproaches upon
the Republican party in connection
with this subject. Those reproaches
were not undeseryed, and they
should be met, not by recrimination,
but by stating the fact that the sys>
tenn which had produced SO many
evils had begun with the govern
ment when President Jefferson came
into power. The prescription of his
political friends had been SO fierce
during the preceding twelve years,
that, as he declared, he did not find
one of them in Office.
Senator Brown admitted that q
better system of administration than
we have had for many years past,
ought to be inaugurated, but he did
not believe that this bill would RENE
dy the evils, on the contrary he be-
lieved that if passed would prove to
be bane, and would greatly disap-
point popular expectation.
He had heard the British civil ser~
vice commended and held up as a
model for US, but he did not SO re-
gard it. In country where the ex>
ecutive and higher branch of the
legislature have hereditary rights to
Office it was natural and consistent
to have a civil service with a life
tenure; but such system would be
wholly inconsistent with the princi-
pies of our government, and if it
were adopted would tend to
build up distrust, and powerful class
supported out of the taxes of the
people. The people are a sort Of
pr@torian guard who might come in
time to- control the destlnies of the
nation.
Mr. Hawley said the right OF the
Executive to renew was left un'
touched by the bill.
| MIR. Brown-Then what is the use
of the bill? If it does not touch
the power of removal, it is the sheer
est nonsense. If the people demand
civil service reform, what deception
we practice upon them when WI
offer them this measure, providing