Daily globe. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1878-1884, 1882-12-18
CONGRESSIONAL,
NOT MUCH PROGRESS MADE IN
EITHER HOUSE YESTERDAY.


EITHER HOUSE YESTERDAY.
The Senate Engaged on the Pendleton
Civil Service Bill--Speech by Senator
Voorhees, in Opposition to 1.-THE House
Discussing the Postoffice Appropriation
Bill.
WASHINGTON, Dec. 16.-In the senate,
Mr.. Cameron, of Pennsylvania, presented
a memorial of the Pittsburgh chamber of
commerce for an additional appropria-
tion,necessary for the completion of pub
lie buildings in that city. Referred.
Mr.. Merrill, from the finance committee,
reported the bill passed yesterday by the
house amendatory of the act repeating
discriminating duties On goods produced
east OF tho cape of Good Hope, and asked
consideration, but upon Mr.. Edmunds' OBJ
lection it went over.
Mr.. Aldrich, from the finance commit
tee, reported the house bill for the relief
of the German National bank of Louis
ville.l
On motion of Mr.. Logan a resolution
was adopted calling for copies of orders
under which the naval officers inspected
and reported upon the revenue marine SER
vice, the life saving service, and marine
hospital services, and statement of the
authority of law under which the inspec-
ton and reports were made. Also wheth-
er the treasury department. consented to
the inspection of the service under its con-
troll.
At the expiration of the morning hour
proceed with the civil service bill.
Messrs. Cockerell and Voorhees, objected.
preferrirg to consider bills on the calen-
dar.
After debate, by vote of 80 yeas to 26
nays, the senate proceeded to consider the
civil service bill.
Mr.. ingalls, said the bills supported by
each party in the hope of cheating the 9th
er would end by defrauding both.
Mr.. Hawley characterized Mr.. Ingalls,
remarks as petulant and offensive.
Mr.. Voorhees, then addressed the senate
in opposition to the bill.
The joint select committee on shipping
adopted an elaborate report in favor of
the passage of the bill recently agreed
upon.
Mr.. Voorhees, to-day submitted to the
senate the national library bill, which is
substantially the same as the old Rice bill
for the same purpose.
Mr.. Voorhees, said the bill provided for
admission by competitive examination to
only the lowest grade of public offices.
Therefore the treatment of the bill in the
senate seemed to him to be ''much ado
oh of1 -
licans for reform in the civil service seemed
to result from death-bed repentance
brought about, not by hatred of their sins,
but by fear they would not be allowed to
indulge in them much longer. and the Dem
ocrats were soothing the sufferings of
the death-bed with the aesthetic Cruel of
politics. Who had ever heard of any po-
litical scandal occurring among the lower
grade clerks. They were not the public
officers who engaged in star route or whis-
ky ring transactions. Yet this bill pro-
posed to examine and regulate and replace
these poor minor officials, leaving strong,
arrogant, corrupt higher officers undis-
turbed. The real demand of the people
was for penal laws to punish wrong doors
| in high places, not for continuance to
worry poor clerks. He did
desired Offices for Democrats, but for the
reason that it practically denied to Demo-
Gratis the right to compete for any of the
higher Offices. He read and commented
upon number of questions which candi-
dates had to answer, he said, without mem
oranda, such as: name the four largest
islands on the globe;" give approximately
the latitude of Washington and London
Sin what direction is Havana, Cuba, from
Washington, D. c. give the course which
measure must take to be introduced to
congress, ana supposing it to be
vetoed, to- become law of the
United States" ''Bring up your young
men, said Mr.. Voorhees,, 'sfrom Missis-
sippi and Alabama and all the states, and
II they can answer these questions they
may get 800 clerkship. Oaughter.)
Their examination passed to mathematics,
and one of the questions was: ''Two-
thirds of seven-ninths of eight and two
fifths, divided by fourteen and seven
tenths less than fourteen and two
seventies" Laughter.) If senators
wanted this humbug continued
they might vote for it, but
he (Voorhees) would not. Never
theless he was in favor of reform of the
civil service, and he had proposed prac-
tical measure for that purpose at the last
session, namely: An amendment to the
constitution of the United States provid-
ing that postmasters, revenue collectors.
judges, marshals and United States dis
trict attorneys should be elected by the
people. He would not be hypocritical
about this subject. If the Democratic party
should come into power it ought to purify
the service by making a thorough and radi-
cal change of oficeholders, except soldiers
who'h served their country and been in
jured in its service.
Mr.. Brown offered an amendment to the
pending amendment of Mr.. Allison re-
ducing the term of Office of the commits
sionors from six to four years. Lost
Yeas %; nays a.
The debate was continued by Messrs.
Plumb. Maxey and Jones, of Florida.
Mr. Sherman said one of his first acts IN
secretary of the treasury was reducing then
force 800 IN number and also reducing the
pay to rates which the same kind of SER
vice commanded in private employment,
and the result was that 100000 apDropri