Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1882-12-30
WASHINGTON GOSSIP.
The Civil Service Tub to the Whale
Edmunds and AnthOny-The Duty on
Kice-An ex-Carpet Bagger's Claim
Ex-Congressmen After Soft BerthsZ
Florida Oranges for Attorney General
Brewster

Riee-An ex-Carpet Bagger's Claim
Ex-Congressmen After Soft Berths-
Florida Oranges for Attorney General
Brewster.
WASHINGTON, Dec. 2s.-The Senate has
passed the Pendleton civil service reform bill.
II went through by a vote Of 80 ayes to navs.
IL Is needless to say that many votes cast
Tor 1t were in accordance with clamor, not in
accordance with the convictions of the voters
All OF the five who voted against the measure
were Democrats. 4 number Of Democrats
who would have voted no were absent or
pared Senator Brown voted against. Sena-
tor Barrow was absent. He would have
voted no. Senator Call voted against
1t, and Senator Jones, of Florida.
voted aye. The bill is by no means a law vet
Ihe House VIII have its innings. 1t will be
a long time before it goes through that body,
ana then IN an amended form which will
necessltate It's being sent back to the Senate
just before the bill passed the Senate Mr.
Brown moved to strike out the preamble and
to insert the title: "A bill to perpetuate in
power the Republicans who now have
control of the Federal patronage" His
motion was voted down. but caused n good
deal of laughter. especially of the triumphant
kind, on the Republican side. Senator Brown
may have gone little far, but he about had
the roots OF the matter well in hand when he
maue tnat motion. Several amendments to
the bill were made. but it went practically as
II was reported from the committee 1t bro
Yldes Tor civil service commission of three
men-not more than two from any party
VINO shalI examine applicants for appointment
ON the competitive scheme. Appointments
snail be made pro rata among the States ac-
cor1lng TO then, population. All appointments
snail De made primarily to the low
est grades, and promotions upward shall
also be bV cOmDetition II
shall be an offense for government employees
10 SOLICIT contributions for campaign purposes
other hut 1C.,.s
vent outsiders from soliciting, nor does it pre-
vent contributions from being made. The
Democrats did the best they could to have the
two latter preventiOns made but as they would
nave broken up the assessment scheme so dear
TO the Republican heart. they were not incOr-
porated in the bill. 1t is prohibited to Con-
gressmen to solicit places for their
friends. They can only certify be-
fore the Civil Service Commission as to
an applicants residence and character.
None who indulge in intoxicating liquors to
excess are TO be retained III the service or to
be appointed thereto hereafter. Tenure of
place is to be during good behavior. No en-
ploye is to be removed or affected by a re-
fusal on his part to contribute to a campaign
fund. The higher Offices under the govern
ment, both inside Washington, and the Mar
shals, District Attorneys and other offices of
which the greatest complaint has been made
are to go untouched. The bill does not aDnlv
to them On the whole, the bill is only a
sop thrown to Cerberus. 1t is not
the reform that was wanted. 1t is make
shift, and was very acceptable to the Republi-
cans, as under tiff it should ever become a
law-the department clerks now in place will
be kept during good behavior. Nobody could
claim that their votes in passing such a bill
really reformed the civil service.
EDMUNDs AND ANTHONY.
Edmunds, the sour, surly, insulting and
brainy Senator from Nerp1Ont, has found
mate. Until recently he had been very lonely
ever since Judge Thurman, of Ohio, left the SEN
ate. The two were inseparable. Senator An
thnnV until hoo xrntsx lnt,aI
Senator Burnside was his companion and close
friend. They were seldom seen apart. BY
degrees these two Senators who had lost their
mates drifted together. They seemed to take
kindly to one another. Now they are consoled
in their loss by each other. Edmunds and An
thOny are as close friends and compatible COM
panions as ever were Edmunds and Thurman
or Anthony and Burnside. They go to the
Senate together. When one goes to a conve-
nient committee room to enjoy cOngenial COM
forts, the other goes. When Edmunds leaves
the Senate so does Anthony. They are the
only present Damon and Pythias couple in the
senate.
RICE.
The House Ways and Means Committee has
decided to keep the duty on rice just where it
now is in the tariff schedule. The Tariff Com
mission recommended a reduction. The rice
interests of Georgia and South Carolina were
deeply stirred up on this question. To reduce
the duty would be to seriously interfere with
those interests, The Ways and Means Com
mittee would not hear verbal statements, but
a good deal of written argument was digeSted.
Representative Emory Speer, who is on the
committee, gave good aid in securing proper
protection for rice.
j. HALE sYPHER.
j. Hale Sypher, in the palmy days of Louisi-
ana carpet baggery, 1lOurished, grew fat and
generally emulated the green bay tree. Since
that time he has been around Washington do
ing the claim agent act He has succeeded quite
well, too, in picking up crumbs, but has added
a good deal to his heretofore dubious reputa-
ton. }. Hale came to Washington in 1873
with PInchbacks certificate as q member of
the House from the First Louisiana district.
March 3d, 1878, he was turned out and his con-
testant seated. j. Hale now wants Congress
to give him 81 ,450 as expenses for his contest.
He viii hardly get it.
APPLICANTS FOR SOFT BERTHs.
Members Of the House who were left at the
last election are looking around for soft places
in which to locate. The unretuTned Demo-
cratic members are multiplying as candidates
for Offices under the next House. The unre-
turned Republican members are hunting for
good Presidential appointments either in
Washington or anywhere they can get their
hooks in. Be it borne in mind, too, that the
gentlemen now after these places have here
tofore looked down as from a steeple upon the
occupants of them.
TWO FLORIDA ITEMS.
United States Marshal Durkee of Florida.
sent as Christmas present to AttOrueY Gen
eral Brewster, a large box of FlQrida's best
oranges. 1t was against the law for Brewster
to receive them, but he did so with pleasure.
A bill introduced by Senator call last ses-
sion, was to pay something over $1,000 to AL
yah Hopkins, of Tallahassee. for use of his
houses and lands by United States troops
This bill was referred to the Senate Commit
tee on Claims. That committee has Just favor
ably reported the bill back, but only recon-
mend that 1892 so be allowed Mr.. Hopkins.
POTOMAC.