Daily globe. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1878-1884, 1882-12-23

removed because they refused to prostitute
their places for political ends" Apart
from the criticism leveled at my conduct,
said Mr.. Malone, ''there is implied here
serious allegation against the conduct
of the departments which would not
be becoming in any place upon such au-
thority as that which the senator has taken.
The proprieties and usages of this cham
Der do not permit me to characterize this
statement as it deserves, but will say 1T
is.from beginning to end, and in all its
parts, untrue and without the slightest
foundati. n in fact.' 4
Mr.. Beck hope the senator from Vir-
ginia will avail himself of the opportunity
to go before the Judiciary committee and
make all those things clear.
Mr.. Mahone-I shall be happy to meet
the senator from Kentucky and his party
sympathizers in the state of Virginia be-
fore that committee. and I will say to him
now, that damned be he that first cries,
hold! enough" Laughter.
Mr.. Beck hope he will go there and
stand up.
Mr.. Mahone-When shall fail to stand
up it will be time enough for the senator
from Kentucky to speak of the statement
about blanks for decapitating purposes,
as an atrocious ceimuny taken from some
unnamed newspaper, and defed the pro-
duction of any such blanks, or the name of
any government employe whose removal
had been made at his instance, directly or
indirectly, for refusing to contribute or
Ito prostitute his Office" for
the benefit of the readjuster
party. During his whole term in the senate
just four department employees had been
| removed on his motion, three of these non
| residents of Virginia though charged to
| that state, and the fourth only recently
resident. He did not deny that he sought
to have other removals in order that their
places might be filed with Virginians, for
of 342 Offices constituting Virginia's quota,
| two-thirds were occupied by non-residents
| or persons who had only recently become
| residents of the state.
Mr.. Beck said in offering his resolution
for an investigation, he had merely recited
| notorious facts which he desired to
have investigated, and he had not attempted
| to forestall action, but on the contrary
| had proposed to refer the matter to the
| committee on judiciary. Whether the sena-
tor from Virginia, as the Readjuster party.
| had any right to call upon postmasters and
postmistresses, or whether the objection
was made in any official quarter to their
| doing so, were among things he desired to
| be asce. tanned by the investigation. He
did not know whether Miss Betty Baum
gartner was still postmistress at Honey
| vile, Va, or whether she was out.
Mr.. Malone said Mr.. Beck would oblige
/, nv, Il
| legged to have been addressed to that body.
Mr.. Beck admitted his inability to conf
ply with the request. AS to any temper
exhibited by the senator from Virginia,
about what had been done in this matter
or his remark that if the proprieties of the
place permitted, he would use stronger
nothing which would bring him under the
unsettled affairs among gentlemen in
that state, and perhaps they had better be
settled before any suggestions were made
about going outside the state.
Gall want is the TRUTH" said Mr.. Beck.
81 don't want to fight, [laughter] and if
the judiciary committee report that ev
erything done by the senator from Vir-
giania and the Readjuster party is all
right, 1 shall be satisfied. The senator
from Vermont (Edmunds) can be relied
upon to do his allies justice in all matters
of that kind. Laughter
Mr.. Brown offered an amendment to Mr..
Aiscn's amendment providing that moth
ing contained in it should prevent the
president from removing the commission
ers or either of them whenever he thought
the public interest would be promoted by
such action. Lost, ayes II, noes 81.
Mr.. Allison's amendment was then re-
jected, ayes %, noes %.
Mr.. VOORHEES, moved to adjourn. Lost,
ayes 10, noes 80.
Mr.. Brown offered an amendment open
ing competitive examinations to persons
outside the department, but withdrew it
and accepted as substitute Mr.. Pugh's
| amendment providing that examinations
| shall be open to all, and that Immediately
after the passage of this act, those now in
Office be divided into three classes; first,
those whose places can be filled at once by
others, under competitive examinations,
without injury to the service; second, those
| who can be subjected to such examination
six months after the passage of the act;
and third, thoee who can be subjected to
examination in twelve months.
Mr.. Pugh explained and advocated the
amendment.
Messrs.Logan andJones opposed it.A fter
some discussion Mr.. Pugh modified it SO
as not to apply to soldiers and others
mentioned in section 1854, revised statutes.
Mr.. Voorhees,, in behalf of senators op-
posed to the bill. proposed an agreement
that it should be taken up tomorrow after
the morning business, and voted upon
finally at o'clock.
| Mr.. Pendleton was willing to agree to
this if unanimous consent could be OBJ
| tanned.
! Mr.. Edmunds objected, preferring to sit
the bill out tonight.
Mr.. Van Wyck offered resolution,whic
was agreed to, directing an investigation
and report by the committee on public
lands as to whether payments should be
made upon contracts made under the de-
posit system for surveys before such sur
veys have been inspected by the officers
created for that purpose by act of the last
session. The committee is given power to
| send for persons and papers.
Mr.. Voorhees, then renewed his motion
| to adjourn. Agreed to, ayes "a, nays 81.