New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1882-12-14
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NEWS FROM WASHINGTON.


| WASHINGTON, Dec. 13-The House Civil Service
| Reform Committee shows laudable anxiety to OBJ
tain legislation upon that subject. Had the same
solicitude been shown during the last session or
eight months duration, something might have been
done before this time but if the subject was even
So much as discussed by the committee during that
long period the fact escaped public notice.
To-day, after the Agricultural Appropriation
bill had been passed, Mr.. kssson wanted to
| call mp the Civil Service bill reported By him
yesterday but slr Blackburn, of the Appropria-
| tons Committee. while protesting the greatest
anxiety for reform legislation, insisted that the
| West Point Appropriation bill should first be
! passed. Mr. KsssOn In view of the lateness OF the
hour agreed to let the Civil Service bill go over
until Tomorrow but gave notice that he would
then shift the responsibility for any further delay
| from his own shoulders to those Of the House.
Chairman Hiscoek remarked that one could be
more determined than he that Civil Service Reform
| legislation shall be had at this session; but he
thought that, as the Senate is now engaged upon
bll. for that purpose it would better for the House
to wait and take for the basis of Its action what
| ever measure the Senate might pass. lie gave no.
tce therefore, that he will call up the Post Oiice
| Appropriation bill tomorrow. Upon that Mr..
KassOn will raise the question of consideration and
| the majority Of the House will decide which
measure shall be gwen precedence.
This action on the part of Mr. lIiscock should not
be misur derstood as being In any obstructive
of Civil Service Reform legislation. In tact 1t was
Just the reverse. Mr. Hiscock is understood to be
| strongly Of the opinion that the Pendleton bill,
| which is the result Of oil tho best experience
| in ths and other countries on the subject
| is the one which ought to become law; and
that much the speedier and better way of obtaining
consistent and satisfactory enactment will be for
the House to wait until the Pendleton bill reaches
| it and then act upon that, Instead of passing bill
| like that reported by Mr. Kasson--whch differs
widely from the Pendleton bill In many important
partioulars-and have the two olashiDg ia the Con-
| ference Committee. Mr.. Hiscock took this action
| at the request of Dorman b. Eaton, and when tho
subject comes up, will move to substitute the Pen
dleton bill for the other, in which he will probably
be supported by majority of Republicans and tho
| large mass of Democrats led Jy Mr.. Hewitt, Mr.
Randall, Mr.. Carlisle aud others;
Mr. Eaton ..d giving %SySS here sv only
leading of both Houses; but he makes no
secret of his belief that the Kasson bill
with its past examinations and no competitive ex;
aminadOns, except for promotions, aud ITS liked
| terms would not only do 20 good III the Govern
meut service at large, but would even break down
the reform system which has been built up In New
| York City.
Nlr. Hiscock received to-day letter from Andrew
ID. White, strongly urging the PendletOn bill.
| which now seems likely to pass both Houses by
| large majorlties.
| AMENDMENTS TO THE PENDLEToN BILL.
The Civil Service Reform bill was brought up In
the Senate at half past to-day, and Senator Haw-
ley made q strong speech lis support His re-
marks contained nothing of political nature, but
| went directly to the essence Of the subject. He
favors the bill in its present form. He paid his
respects to those people who crying out that the
Civil Service is permeated with corruption TO such
an extent that people of education and culture can
not enter it take active part in political iife
aging that they were towards who, holding such
views, failed to go into politics 70 purify them;
| At the conclusion of Senator Hawleys speech tho
| Senate proceeded to consider some OF the pending
amendments The only one of Importance which
| was adopted was that offered by Senator Logan
respecting the competitive examinations, which Is
as follows:
Such examinations shall be practical In their charac-
only which Will fairly test the relative capacity t
ness of the persons examined 70 discharge Tue duies Oh
the service into which they seek to be appointed.
! Others relating to the compensation and expenses
| OF Commission were adopted Among the
| amendments wnich ars peniny, and which 1t IS
| learned viii probably be supported by nearly all
the republican Senators, are the following, pro-
| posed Dy Senator Allison:
That the President authorized, by and with the ad
vice aud consent OF the Senate 70 appoint three per
sons, OF whom shall not be adberents of the same
political party, Civil Service Commssionersj and
said three Commissioners shall constitute tho United
states Civil service Commission said Commissioners
shall when appointed, hold respectively for two four
sves and snail be accordingly; but their
shall hold for from the expiration OK
SAID original terms Vacancies shall De fIed as 10
conform the conditions for the original appointments.
said Commissioners shall each receive an annual salary
of Si5OU, and tue Commission may eXpend for neces-
sary contingent expense, sum not exceeding Y2ooo
during the nrst year
| This reduces the Commission from five members,
~ the Or gnal b TO three, ana fixes sufficiently
| liberal salaries for the Commissioners to secugo
good men. Another amendment, proposed byiSen-
Ltcr Hale, proviues as follows for the appointment
| Of local Boards OF Examiners:
| The Commission shall, at Washington, aud iu one
more places III eacG 1ae ana territory where eKanma
ions are take place, designate and select able
uulber OF persons, not less than three IN the ocia
service OF the United states after consulting the head OK
DO OF boards OF examiners, ami any time
Substitute any other person III said service In the place
or ANY selected sJch boards OF examiners shall
be located as to make IL reasonably convenient and
inexpensive for applicants to attend before them, ana
to be examined IN any state
Territory examinations snail Dc held therein at ieasd
| twice IN each year
| Another amendment proposed by Senator Ingalls,.
| provides for the appOrtiOnment OF appointments
among the several states the basis OF population
as asccrtaIned at the preceding census These and
| other amendments proc eedlDg from the Republican
| side were evidently offered with q harmonious pur-
pose the parJ OF the majority to perfect the bill.
| senator Beck introduced an amendment providing
that all employees occupying positions which come
| under tn; provisions of The pending bill shall
| within one year of the passage Of the Dill submit
themselves To competitive examination or vacate
their positions, This Is intended 10 give the Demos
cra,5 chance for larger snare Of the offices than
tley now have in the Executive departments.
There reason 10 believe thai the Dem )cratic OPP
position 10 the measure Is increasing. Two or three
of these Senators WHO have hitherto been accounted
friends OF the bill have, II Is said, to-day changed
their minds IN regard 10 ITS merits III Is reported
that the Demo craTc Senators will hold caucus on
| The subject to- morrow.
THE LIBRARY BILL DEFEATED.