National Republican., 1882-12-14
THE SENATE AND House.
Mr. BeCk's Resolution and Mr.. Hale's Substitute
Sent to the Judiciary Committee.
Mr.. HawIey's Views on the PendIeton
CiWl-Sevice Bill.
The Congressional Library Bill Probably Sent 10 lis
Doom by the House.
The Agricultural and Military Academy
Appropriations Passed.
THE SENATE.

Mr.. Edmunds presented, by request q now
anti-polygamy bill, or rather an amendment
to the former bill, in the senate yesterday,
and Mr.. ingalls,, by request, also offered a
new bankruptcy bill. The Pendleton civil
service bill was then discussed by Mr.. Hawley
and others.
THE MORNING HOUR.
Several petitions were presented for in
crease of pensions to one-armed and one-legged
soldiers, and relating to the tax on tobacco.
Mr. Morrill, asked and obtained leave for
the finance committee to sit during the session
of the senate.
Mr.. ingalls, introduced, by request, n bill to
compel the prosecution of proceedings in
bankruptcy to final decree. Referred TO the
committee on the judiciary.
BECK's RESOLUTION.
At the close of the morning hour Mr.. Beck
called up his resolution for an investigation of
political assessments
The question being on Mr.. Edmund's mo-
tion to refer the resolution and the substitute
offered by Mr.. Hale to the committee on the
judiciary, Mr.. Beck said he was content to
have the motion prevail.
Mr.. Davis, of West Virginia, had no obiec-
tion to the proposed reference of the resolu-
ton, but as it was possible that no investiga-
tion might be made he took this opportunity
to state that the democratic congressional
committee, of which he was chairman, had not
solicited or received any contributions from
either the liquor-trade men or employees of the
government. He wished to make this state
ment as emphatically as he could now and
whenever the committee should be prepared
to investigate the matter.
Mr.. Hale admitted now as in the debate
che other day, that Mr.. Davis probably had
no knowledge of the levies on the whisky men
and the brewers; and he thought that very
unn1xu IN anfA ATt. n1rt,n
and the substitute was to refer them to the
committee on the judiciary.
Mr.. Davis said that he had examined the
list of contributions received by the commit
tee, and knew that none of the character
charged by Mr.. Hale had been solicited or re-
ceived. The resolution and the substitute
were referred to the judiciary committee.
CHARLESTON HARBoR.
On motion of Mr.. Butler, resolution was
adopted instructing the secretary of war to
inform the senate of the progress of the work
of improving Charleston harbor; whether the
money appropriated last session is now being
expended there and at what rate, and what
balance will probably remain unexpended at
the expiration of the present fiscal year.
GALLUs KUTcHNER's CLAIM.
On motion of Mr.. Voorhees,, the house bill
to send the claim of Gallus Kutchner, of
Indiana, to the court of claims was taken up
and discussed until two o'clock when it gave
way to the unfinished business.
THE PENDLEToN CIvIL-sERvICE REFORM BILL.
On motion Of Mr.. Voorhees,, the senate post
poned the Pendleton bill until 2:30 to dispose
of the Kutchner bill, which was passed.
The consideration of the Pendleton bill
was then resumed, and Mr.. Hawley addressed
the senate.
Something must be DONE he said to reform
our civil service. The continuance of the
present system was rendered impossible, not
only by the evils developed under it, but also
by the extraordinary growth of the country
and the consequent increase in the number of
public offices. Formerly it was not unreason-
able to expect that in every bureau of the
service the chief should have personal knowl-
edge of the character and fitness of his
subordinates, but this could not be expected
now when single departments and offices like
the treasury and the New York custom house
have greater number of employees than the
whole government had in its early DAYS.
The old rule was that the power and duty of
making removals was vested in the president
alone, and it was better than the one that had
been practiced of late. Washington, Adams,
Jefferson, Madison, Monroe, and John Quincy
Adams made few removals and all for cause
but since their time the idea that "to the
victors belong the spoils" had continually
gained strength until it had become the
rule, and had reduced the mass of
the civil service of the country to
pitiable condition, subiecting them to
sort of degradation which Legislators had no
right to impose upon their fellow-citizens.
Under this system the employees of the gov
ernment knew very well that good conduct
and efficiency would give them, at best, only
partial protection, SO they were compelled
constantly to seek to strengthen their I" in
huence," until the word has become a slang
term among them and they say to each other,
"Who is your nfuence9" "NTy influence is
dead" or "My influence is out of public life
now; must get some new influence" So,
not merely when a new President or new
head of department comes in, but whenever
new bureau chief is appointed there is a hur-
rying and scurrying among the whole terri
fled flock to strengthen themselves with addi-
tonal Influence" OF course the most inef-
ficient man is certain to fortify himself with
the largest pile of papers and to be most diff
cult to remove on account of his "influence."
Among the results of the proposed reform
would be greater efficiency, increased economy
by reduction of the number of employees and
OF their pay, because men will accept lower
salaries when their tenure depends upon eff
cheney and good conduct alone, and the relief
of members of congress from three-quarters of
the torments to which they are now subjected
by applicants for office.
Mr.. Hawley discussed at length the main
points of the Pendleton bill. 1t did not pre-
tend to cover the whole ground of civil-ser-
vice reform, and people should not be too
sanguine in their expectations as to its effects
but it was based upon practical experience,
and would undoubtedly greatly improve the
service. Objection had been made to the
commission which the bill proposed to create
but in his own Judgment central commits
sion was absolutely essential TO prescribe gem
eral rules and collect statistics of the progress
of the reform. 1t was proposed to amend the
bill so as to prescribe term of Office for gov
ernment employees, but on this point the civil
service refOrmers were wiser than the practi-
cal politicians for they were in favor of leav-
ing to the president full power of removal as
well as of appointment, that being necessary
to secure the efficiency of the service But
1t was argued, unless the term of office is
limited we shall have life term. This
might be the result or it might not but if it
should be the government would not suffer
by retaining the services of an efficient pub
lie servant for life however the mans own
interest might suffer.
President Grant had tried to reform the
civil service, and had gone as far in that
direction as congress permitted. President
Hayes had tried to do it. President Garfield
had promised reform, and would have tried it,
President Arthur had given congress ain ad-
mirable invitation to act upon this subject
The time for action had come, and he hoped
that the senate would pass this plain, sinple
pr'ctical bill
Th, formal amendments reported by the
IN nittee on civil-service reform were agreed
to.
The question was then on
MR.. HoAR's AMENDMENT,
offered Tuesday, providing that the COM
petitive examinations shall be- as far rs pos
an. apfa Il