New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1882-12-24
NEWS FROM WASHINGTON.
AWARM DEBATE IN THE SENATE.
EXCITEMENT GROWING OUT OF THE CIVIL sER'iOh
BILL AND LATE HOURS.

The debate took a wide range, bat was wlthOut
novel features during the day. The inst important
amendment and the one which gave rise 10 the
longest debate, that proposed by senator fugn'
which, briefly stated, provides for the examination
of the clerks now employed in the depart
ments within specified times from the date
of the passage of the bill. The motive Dehlhd thls
amendment was of course, seen TO Do purely p'uti-
san in character, and ii was defeated ny parry
vote. Senator Bayard's vote being tho only OK
ceptiOn.
Senator AlllsOn's amendment, which was WIN Soino
reason characterized by some of the Democrats as
suhstitute for the bill then came up. and after an
bour,s discussion was defeated. Its general eHect
was TO make the provisions of the bill mandatory
nnon the President instead of leaving their eXecu-
ton practically discretionary. An amendment pro-
posed by senator Van Wyck striking out the words
as far as practicable from the clause requiring
that officers shall be apportiOned among the states
was carried as was one by Senator Morgan reduc-
ing the number of Commissioners to three.
senator VoorI ees called up his amendment
abont o'clock in the evening, providing that tho
candidates for positions as members Oh ING Doaiu
of Observation-Disclosures shall themselves DC OK
amiued by board of practical acknowledgements NOV
more thar three of whom shall Dc mares LIS
amendment WAS originally designed without doubt
as a
ever made it the basis of a characteristic speech
in which he managed to convey the impression that
he was very much in earnest IN MS
onnosition to the bill. He called atten-
ton to the history of the Civil Service
Commission formed under the Grant Administration;
characterized their work as idiotlc; SAID that tne
same people were at the bottom OF the present
movement, and limited that they expected to De
annonted TO the places which the bill created
He said that in the last campaign III Indiana, ana
90 far as he knew elsewhere no whisper had been
heard from the people of dissatisfaction with the
work of the clerks in the departments. lie do
clarsd that the demand for the pending bill came
from the people who got up
the members of the old CIVIL service
Roard of eleven years ago. whose work was so ride
Mons that the stOmaehs of members of both
bouses were turned, and they were eglsated out OF
position by the refusal OF Congress to make apprOpr
atoms for the payment of their salaries
From this point Mr.. voorhees, wandered back
unon tho ground taken in his first speech on the
hill He advocated the right of the people
70 the best services of their representatives
in Congress in securing Federal positions for them
He enlarged upon the suferings of the South under
carpet-bag Governments, and said that the quotas
of Southern States now filled by people OF
other States He appealed to Southern Senator'S in
diyidually to know how they liked that condition
of things.
Senator Butler. a member Of the Committee on
Civil Service Reform aud supporter of the bin,
took the floor and made vehement
renlv to the Senator from Indiana.
He declared that when 1t came TO great question
of this kind he was not Southern man. lie hoped
he represented the people of the country in the mi
nrovcmcnt Of its Civil Service As compared with
+l,,C ;,ri1 Gnu -. of Mat Gov prn-
ment he would say as a representative in
mart Of the State of South Carolina.
he would give up every Office in the departments at
Washington, and would go before his people and
snata,n himself upon that position. 1t not Il
ouestiOn of whether his own state or the state of
Indiana is represented III the departments at wash
inqton. He beloved the Offices belonged to the peo-
ple of the country, without regard TO the influence
Of senators Representatives, III congress anu thaU
tho npople had right to designate how the
officcs shall be filled and not held IN trust Tor any
nautical party, whether Democratic or RepuDllcan.
Senator Voorhees, amendment was lost WllhOut a
senator Allison called mp the Hale amendment,
that Senator being absent, and II vas carried alter
some debate by VOle OF ~ 10 To- us CHicA ic"-
ture Is as follows;
The Commission shall at Washington, and in or
more placea in each and Territory where cxainina
lions are 10 take place designate and select suitable
number of persons, not less than three, III the Official
avce of The United states after consulting the head of
The Drpartmcnt or Office in which RucA persons serve
n he members of boards of examiners may any
ac sF9 5T one any IN sscr such bo Of
! Shall be 40 located "a to make IL leaS0haOy
70 arnd before them; and where there are persons 10
| he examined IN any state or Territory, examinations
| shall be held therein al least twice Iii edch year
| Senators Pendlcton and Hawley the chief sponsors
of the bending bill. expressed their Willingness that
| This amendment should be adopted, but did not
! think it was a necessity.
object of which was to extend the provisions
OF the bill to the, officers and en-
| ploves of the Senate including the Secretary.
| ii was defeated on the ground that IT
| would not do to interfere with elective
officials. Senator Brown moved that the
| paragraph reuulnng that promotions shall be from
The lower grades 10 the higher on the basis OF NEXT
| and competition be stricken out. 1t was carried
| General unimpOrtant amendments were offered and
| defeated.
As The evening wore the effect of the protract-
ed hours Of the session began 10 show Itself IN the
teIuper of senators, and two three argumontatyc
collisions occurred which were strong reminders OF
| the exciting scenes of former Congresses.
| Senator Hawcy introduced an amendment, which
had the approval of the Committee on Civil service
| Reform, making IT a nisdemeanOr punishable by
| line and Imprisonment for any Senator, Representa-
| tive or Delegate III Congress, or any OH
| cia of the Government, from something or receiving
| contributions Senator Slater proposed an amend
| meut making II unlawful for any officer or clerk to
| cuntribute for political purposes. senator Beck
rcpeating in substance his declarations. made ten
| DAYS ago that hundreds Of employees OF the Govern
| ment IN the departments ldu DecI uIsChafse1 Do
| cause of the failure TO make contributions daring
| the last campaign.
senator Allison replied with warmth that the
statement was utterly without foundation. lie
| detied the Senator from Kentucky to one sin
| gle man who had been discharged and he said
| that all the discharges put together would not
| amount to hundreds" He asked the Senator from
| Kentucky to show his sincerity by Introducing a
resolution calling upon the President for the
number OF discharges which had been made since
! last May ana he declared that they wonld be
found 20 he less than 200
- Senator Hoar made a speech, during which he
| alluded to the corrupt use OF money. Senator
Butler asked what he considered the corrupt use of
! money.
| Mr. HOar replied that buying shOt-guns to shoot
negroes with was instance OF ne corrupt use of
money in elections. The remark was interpreted by
| senator Butler as personal aIrOnt, and he made