Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1882-12-08
THE NATIONAL CAPITAL,
JEALOUS CIVIL SERVICE RE.
FORMERS.

a4AI
DOdge-The New Georgia Senator's
Seat-ECOnomy Abroad.
WASHINGTON, Dec. Members of
Congress, both Democrats and Republi-
cans, are fairly tumbling over each other
in the effort to do something to reform the
civil service. A few short months AGO
the man who got up and urged reform in
the civil service was considered n mis-
ance, and, to a certain extent. a crank.
1t must be said that very few Republicans
were ever considered nuisances and
cranks on this account. Senator Pendle-
ton was laughed at for his bill of the last
session, the object of which was to fortifv
and make stable the civil service.
Mr.. Willis, of Kentucky, was voted
bore for his hammering away in the
House on the same subject. 1t seems,
however, that the country has. in some
way or other, spoken in favor of reform.
and its voice is being needed in haste. The
number of reformers in Republican ranks
is to-day so great that it must cause a ma
tiOnal smile. These gentlemen are not
however, so disinterested in motive as if
would appear. They want the tenure of
public offices made ixity. There may
be Democratic President III 1884, and it
ilcDuDll-
cans now in if they could hold ON.
The Democrats are fearfully in
earnest. Between the two there
is an almost certainty of some
civil service reform bill becoming law at
the present session. There is desire.
too, on the part of DemOcrats-whichR Re-
publicans do not share-that there shall
be a little investigating about political as
sessments. Senator Beck has introduced
in the Senate, and Mr., Willis in the House,
resolutions requiring an inquiry into Jay
Hubbellism and the blackmailing of gov
ernment employees for political purposes.
Senator Beck specifies in his resolution
that the Jay Hubbell and Malone cOmbi-
nation in the robbery of scrub-wOmen,
widows and orphans shall be particularly
inquired INFO. Such investigations
would deduce much information that
could be easily digested by voters, and
would do much to purify the civil service.
1t is understood that the civil service re-
form measure which will soon be reported
to the House from the committee on re-
form in the civil service will have among
its provisions one prohibiting the levying
of political assessments, and one making
it a penal Otense for any member Of Con-
gress to recommend unsolicited by a head
of department any one for appointment.
THE RIVALS.
1t is already pretty well simmered down
that Carlisle and Randall will be the only
Democrats who will go before the caucus
which will nominate the Speaker of the
next House, Sam Cox and Springer may
keep up their fight even through the eau
Gus, but it will be more for the purpose of
getting chairmanships of permanent
committees than any real hope of success
Carlisle and Randall being the two men
to be pitted against each other, naturally
attract "a good deal of attention on the
floor. They sit near each other, They
are on the best of terms. They frequently
hold short consultations about the pend
ing business, and are almost always
found to agree to nicely on any point
in debate. One would never think that
they were trying to defeat each other in
lofty ambition The excellent terms up
on which they are could be imitated.with
great good by their adherents. But more
or less bitterness will creep into the con-
test, Randall is personally the more
striking nan of the two. He is larger and
has a better voice. But there are de-
termination and frankness about Carlisle's
face. and perfect self-cOntrOl, that
weighs greatly in his favor, when he is
looked upon by even the most casual OBJ
server.
ABOUT THE DISTRICT ATTORNEYSHIP.
1t is not at all among the improbable
ties that Emory speer will succeed Bigby
as District Attorney at Atlanta. Mr.
James Atkins, who has more influence
with Arthur than any Republican in
Georgia, is supposed to be the moving
cause against Bigby. Mr.. Atkins would
like very much to see Bigby 90, and
would not be verse to taking the office
of Assistant District Attorney. Mr. Bigbv
did not act on the square with Mr.. Atkins
in regard to the Judgeship. If he had he
YOU'D IOW have Judge McCay's place.
When the question OF iliing the new
Judgeship was pending here last winter
Bigby came on, Ostensibly to help Atkins,
but really to look out for himself as he
had an ambition for the Judgeship himself,
Atkins did not forget this. When it be-
came evident that Atkins could not be
confirmed as the new Judge the President
told him that he would nOpinate any one
that Atkins would name. The latter
Thought that he would say, "Give the
place TO Bigby," but remembering how
the latter had gone back on him he recon-
mended the appointment Of the present
incumbent Now. Mr.. Atkins would
doubtless like TO see Rigby 90, and as he
and Emory Speer are on the hest of terms,
would also like to see Speer get the place.
THEIR SEATS.
Senator Pope Barrow has been given
seat on the right of President Davis desk.
1t is in the second row from the front. 1t
is a good location, but not a choice one.
The new Georgia member of the House
has got desk near Mr.. Blount He is on
Keiter's right and in the third row from
the fPQnt. His Immediate neighbOr is
fucker, Of Virginia. Mr.. Reese has been
introduced around by Blount and Turner.
Senator Brown in the Senate has done the
hOnOrs for his new colleague, Mr.. Barrow.
POLITICAL DEBATE.
There will be political debate this session.
ItwOuld be an unusual session if there were
not The first political bout that we are
promised will have for hinge the ques-
ti0n Of ciyfl service reform II will proba-
bly, be first brought 20 mead in the Senate
on the consideration of Reck's resolution
to investigate the matter Of political
assessments and Malone methods.
There will be a very lively time of it.
Several Senators, among them Voorhees,, of
Indiana, are already preparing speeches to
be thrown into the public ear. 1t will be a
very lively controversy lii the Senate and
one just as lively In the House when the
Willis resolution, similar to that of
Beck's, is brought up.
THE TOBACCO TAX.
The bill reported from the WAYS and
Means Committee TO remove the tax on to-
bacco in all its forms, will not become
laW The general sentiment is against
the removal OF lax on either whisky or
tobacco. The outcome of the tobacco bill
will probably be that the tax viii be re-
duoed to six cents a pound, The tax on
tobacco and whisky are more easily col
lected than any other source of revenue.
They constitute a revenue that is not at
all burdensome, and one which is willing
ly paid by the consumers Of those article
i6 remove me taxes on articles the bur-
Gen OF which is not complained of, strikes
even the average Congressman as some
IRlng slightly incOngrpOus, The whisky
men do not want reduction on their pro-
ductiOn. They want the time that whisky
can be held in bond without paving tax
extended. They have receded from their !
position of the last session, that such eX-
tension shall be indefinite, and will com. |
promise on time of five years. They will
very likely get this,
HOOP IRON
Bessemer steel rails and hoop iron are !
the articles most likely to have the duties |
on them reduced this session. Even Re- |
publican prOtectionists have to admit that |
these duties should be reduced. That !
they will vote in accordance with their |
convictions, is entirely another thing.
GEORGIA MATTERS.
There is nothing of special Georgia in |
terest now on the Congressional dOckets. |
None of the members have new bills TO |
put in relating to Georgia affairs. Mr.. |
Reese will try 10 forward number of |
bills introduced by his predecessor. Gov |