Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1882-12-15

those who execute the statutes that is in
force in this country.
Mr.. Brown here read some extracts
from letters of President jefferson. whose
doclrlne III regard to removals from office
was often, he said. misrepresented, and
laid special emphasis upon Jefferson's
words IN regard to certain Office holders
who had opposed him actively. "Seek
them. Mark them. Be sure of your
ground and leave the rest to me.'' This,
he said, would be the practice of any
President elected by the party out of
power.
Leaving the partisan view of the matter.
MI. Brown argued that the pending bill
was UNJUST. Its object was to give the
Republican party permanent tenure of
once, and the Republican party was
clearly a minority Of the people of this
country. That minority has had control
OF the government for twenty-five years.
How long was its divine right to govern
this country to continue? If there was to
be real civil service reform it ought to
provide
First, that all offices, high or low.
should be open to competitive examina-
ton, and next, that the preference should
be given to Democratic competitors until
they had fair share of the offices.
Mr.. Hawley said there We're good
many old Democrats employees in the de-
partments now, and asked Mr.. Brown
whether he would have them turned out
Mr.. Brown replied that he would have
them put on their merits, and would have
the bill so amended that an outsider might
come in and take office from inside COM
petitOrs, whether they were Republicans
or Democrats, If his merits We're superior
Mr.. George charged Mr.. Brown with in
consistency in arguing first that this bill
was unjust because it would prevent
Democrats from getting their fair share of
offices, and then that it was a nullity be-
bause it would not prevent a Democratic
President from giving his followers a fair
share of the offices.
Mr.. Brown said some Of the advocates
of the bill took one view and some an
other, and therefore he felt at liberty to
argue the case from both theories.
Mr.. George thought there was reason in
the objection that the bill did not permit
competition by all for offices of every
grade, and expressed his regret that Mr..
Brown had broken its force by
coupling it with the argument that
the bill would do the Democratic
party injustice. He was not so confident,
as Mr.. Brown appeared to be, of Demo-
cratic triumph in 1884 and he thought the
reVerses of the Republicans of this year
were to be attributed, in large measure,
to that party's having occupied the yerv
position upon this question that Mr..
Brown now wished the Democrats to take,
He agreed with Mr.. Brown that this bill,
II passed, would not prevent a Democratic
President, when he did come in, from fol-
lowing JetiersOn's rule.
Mr.. Brown-Then, what are the merits
of the bill, if it does not prevent arbitrary
dismissals?
Mr.. George will not go into the mer-
its OF the bill now, but | will say that it
embOdies in the form of statute the best
conscience and judgment of this country
against political prescription, and for do
ing this it received my hearty apprOba-
ton.
In the cOlloquy between Messrs. Brown
and George, the latter admitted that he
would have a Democratic President turn
out every office holder who responded to
political assessments in the last cam
paign. Laughter
Mr.. Brown-That would be IA little
broader than my doctrine,
Mr.. Miller, of New York, addressed the
Senate, but before he concluded the SEN
ate, at . O'Clock, adjourned.
HOUSE PROCEEDINGS.
In the House Mr.. Upson, of Texas. Of
fered. a resolution calling on the Post
master General to report all failures to
carry out or comply with contracts for
carrying the United States mails since the
first of January, 1882, the names of falling
contractors, and to furnish information on
the subject. Referred
On motion Of Mr.. Caswell, of Wiscon-
sin, the House, at 1890, went into COM
mittee of the whole Mr.. Atkins in the
chair on the post office appropriation bill
Mr.. Caswell explained in detail the
provisions of the bill. The total amount
appropriated is S43, ,94S, ,52O, being 50, 1922
59l less than the estimates and $685., $50
less than the appropriations for the cur
rent year. For the compensation of post
masters S9,29O,OOO is appropriated, or
$SS4, 900 less than the estimates,
Mr.. Mcmillan, of Tennessee, called at
tentiOn to the fact that the appropriations
for the star service had been cut down to
the extent Of 81, ,000,0 900 from the bill of last
year. Either that bill had been reckless
ly eXtravagant or the present one was
reprehensibly parsimoniOus.
Mr.. Caswell said the cost of the star
service under the existing contracts was
$4, 10000. The whole bill proposed an ap-
preparation Of $5,000,00O.
Mr.. Cannon, of Illinois, defended the
action Of the Committee on Appropria-
tiOns in failing to make provision for spe-
cial facilities. He believed that the an
nual appropriations for that purpose, if
continued, would in the near future
amOunttO millions, and an immense sum
would be placed in the hands of the Post
master General to be used at his discre-
ton. He thought that the mails should
be carried under a general law evenly
and alike to all sections of the country.
A long discussion Of this subject en-
sued, participated in by Messrs, Robin
son, Of Massachusetts, Anderson, of
Kansas, Ryan. of Kansas, and RObesOn,
of New Jersey.
Mr.. Bingham, of Pennsylvania, deliver
ed an exhaustive and fOrcible speech on
the subject of a reduction of the rate of
postage.
Mr.. Reagan, Of Texas, entered his pro-
test against a reduction of the rate of
postage. He believed it to be a mistake,
and based that belief ON the fact that the
postal cards furnished all needful facilities
for cheap postage.
Without closing the general debate on
the bill the committee rose.
Mr.. Cox, of New Yerk, introduced a bill
providing for the forwarding of letters on
which postage is unpaid or underpaid.
Referred.
Mr.. Mackey, of South Carolina. INTRO
duced a bill authorizing the President to
place Robert Smalls on the retired list of
the navy. Referred.
The House then, at 4;30, adjourned.
DEMOCRATIC SENATORS IN CAUCUS.
In view of the contingency that the
Republicans may urge at this session the
admission of Dakota as a State, a caucus
of Democratic Senators was held this
morning, and an informal discussion OF
the matter was had. Although no definite
policy was determined upon, there was no
dissent from the opinion expressed by
several Senators that the policy of the
party should be one of opposition to the
admission at this time of any Territory as
a State which would give the Republicans
two additional votes in the Senate.
Definite action upon this question was,
however, left open for the present, subject.
to such contingencies as may arise.
The subject of tariff and internal
revenue reduction was only in
cidentally mentioned. The Chairman
of the caucus was, however.
directed to appoint a committee of
three Senators to confer with similar
committee Of Democratic Representatives
in regard to the policy to be adopted by
the party upon the various questions
which are likely to form the subject of
legislative action during the session.
Senator Pendleton presided over the eau
Gus, which was fully attended.
SUPREME COURT RELIEF.
The House Judiciary Committee, after
three days discussion, adopted Senator
Davis bill creating intermediate courts to
relieve the Supreme Court. The Chair
man was instructed to report it to the
House and ask its consideration under a
suspension of the rules. The vote was
two to one, divided on party lines, the
RpDuhIicanS for and thp nnmooro+e