Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1882-12-23
AT THE CAPITOL TO-DAY.
CIVIL SERVICE BILL IN THE SENATE.
SHORT BUT LIVELY SESSION OF THE HOUSE,
The Sem ate.

The Senate.
The President laid before the Senate to-day O
communication from the Secretary OF the Navy
transmitting report Of negotiations for purchase
OF certain land adjacent to the Norfolk navy yard.
Referred to the committee on naval fairs.
Mr.. Vest presented petitions for the repeal OF
the tax on tobacco.
Mr.. Hawley presented petitions from fourteen
towns in Connecticut for an increase Of duty on
Sumatra tobacco.
Mr.. Chilcott offered resolution requesting the
President to order the departments to be Iosed
early during Christmas week, SO as to give the
clerks the usual halt holiday.
Mr.. EdmundS objected to the present consiera-
ton of the resolution and it went ever.
At the close OF the morning hour the civil ser
Vice bill came up as unfinished business.
Mr. Pendleton, in charge OF the bill, yelled the
floor temporarily to Mr.. Plumb, to call up the bill
to provide for holding term OF the United States
District Court at Wichita, Kansas, which was
passed.
The President laid before the Senate a commu-
nlcation from the chairman of the Washington
monument commission, transmitting the annual
report OF progress. Referred to the committee On
public buildings and grounds
Also communication from the Secretary OF the
Interior, transmitting, in response to Senate
resolution tabuat ell statement OF tho number OF
47th Congresses
Mr.. Los san moved that when the Senate adjourn
to-day, 1T adjourn until Wednesday next; but, at
the suggestion OF Mr. Anthony, withdrew the mo-
tton temporarily.
Mr.. Walker give notice that on the 1ath of Jam
u:ry he wouli call up the bill to quiet the title to
certain lands in the Upper Peninsula OF Michigan.
Mr. Plumb gave notice that he would
ta te nds the bill to sne Bureau
Agriculture separate department. The Senate
then resumed the consideration OF
THE CIVIL SERVICE BILL,
the question being on Mr.. Pughs amendment
providing that the present force In the depart
ments, except soldiers, &C., shall be subjected to
competitive examination like persons outside,
and to facilitate such examinations, Shall be di-
yivtded into three classes.
Mr.. Jones, of Florida. opposed the amendment.
He favored the bill as 1t came from the committee.
The bill did not. and could not interfere with the
constitutional power OF the President to appoint
and remove-it merely established certain princi-
piss which 1t addressed to the executive consct-
ence in the way OF persuasion, but did not under
take to bind him.
Mr. Morgan doubted whether Mr. Jones, though
protesting to be friend of the bill. spoke with
authority in saying that It was merely a recon-
meniatiOn 10 the President to behave himself bet
ter In relation TO these clerkships. II it meant no
more Than tbs the (fr MOrgan) would feel ash med
that The Senate was engaged in such legislatiOn
but he thought it meant more, and that 1t should
become law. Not merely the President who signed
IL. but also his successors, would be directed
and restr lined by 1t. so far as it did not trench
upon . tneIr constit9tional prerogatiyeS: The
the departments OF inefficient and Supernumerary
employees. Why should they not be disturbed If
they were Inefficient or unnecessary? The eyes of
the country were upon the Senate in respect to the
integrity OF its action upon this subject, and II
Senators chose to masquerade in farce or comedy
ana spurned ty the fndt nant contsinpt OF the
people. II there was nothing more In i..s bill than
M what The Senator from Florida saw ia it-adyice
and admonitton to the President-the Senate had
better pass Joint resolution and chose this un-
necessary and unfortunate debate
House Of entaiiyes.
ADJOURNMENT TILL NEXT WEDNESDAY.
In the absence OF the Speaker,sthe House was
called to order by Mr. Page, OF California, as
Speaker pro tenn. After the approval of the jour
nal Mr.. White, OF Kentucky, made the point of
order that the journal could not be approved In
the absence OF quorum; but the Speaker pro
tenn. held that the point was made too late.
Mr.. Peelle, OF Indiana, moved that the House
adjourn, pending which the Speaker pro tenn. sub
mited lre requests for leaves of absence but they
were objected 10 amid much noise and confusion.
The House refused to adjourn-yeas 56, nays So.
The roll-call was several times Interrupted by
which created much merriment, until the Speaker
pro tenn. lltly refused to recognize the gentleman.
the House, at 1880, adjourned till Wednesday
next.
Capitol Notes.
Speaker Ke1fnr let Tor his home Mt Springfield.
Ohio. last night. H Will return on Tuesday next.
Senator Kellogg has received notice from Mr..
Acklen OF his intention to contest his seat in the
next House.
THE SHORT BUT LIVELY SESSION OF THE HOUSE.
The scenes in the House to-day reminded one,
indeed, OF a bear garden. In the absence OF the
Speaker Mr.. Page, OF California, presided. Not
over nifty members were In attendance. The tac1t
understanding yesterday was that the House
should adjourn Immediately the journal was read.
This program would have been carried out, but
meanwhile it was discovered that Representative
Robson, OF New jersey, was absent Then it was
arranged among q few to endeavor to secure q
call OF the House, so that Mr. Robeson could be
punished by a fine OF $50 under his own resclu-
tion The opportunity to pave the way for such
a call came as an objection by Mr.. White, OF KY,
to an approval Of yesterdays journal, because
quorum was not in attendance. This was met with
motion to adjourn. offered by Mr. Peelle, OF Indi
ana. Next the Speaker submitted number ofre-
qu1sts for leave OF absence. This created cOnSid-
cradle disorder, and all were objected to. The
motion to adjourn was then put, and it was lost
1t was stated before his announcement that Rep
re5entatiye Robeson had been called home last
evening even on telegram that his child was sick.
granted. Representatives Springer, OF Illinois,
and White, OF Kentucky, who were leading the op-
fellow-member, that both be granted indefinite
leave. Finaly amid disorder, the House at IL so
adjourned until Wednesday next
ECONOMY IN PUBLIC PRINTING.
A communication was laid before the House yes-
terday from Messrs. j. G. Ames, superintendent OF
public documents for the Interior Department; A.
r. Sponord librarian of Congress, and Spencer F.
Baird. OF the Smithsonian Institute, relating to
the printing and distribution OF public documents
by authority OF Congress, and recommending a
reduction @ IN the number printed The report also
calls attention to the number OF surplus docu-
ments left over. which amounted TO 278OO for the
Forty-slxtn congress. The whole number of docu-
mants IOr the Fofty-SXth Congress was 2 2324, ,254,
OF which 81, coo were unbound pamphlets For the
Forty-seventh Congress there have already been
OF the census.
Washington News and Gossip,