National Republican., 1882-12-22

this bill appropriated $25,000 less than the
last one. Tho amendments to the agricultural
bill reported by the committee were agreed TO
and the bill was passed
While IL was under consideration Mr..
George asked Mr.. Plumb when he intended TO
call up the bill to enlarge the powers and
duties of the bureau of agriculture. Mr..
Plumb replied that he hoped TO call it up ms
soon as the civil service bill should have been
disposed of. and if this latter bill should not
be gotten out of the way within reasonable
time he would move TO dispace it. The SEN
ate again resumed the consideration of
THE CIVIL SERVICE BILL.
Mr.. Williams opposed the bill as impract-
cable and worthless. The only practical at
tempt he had seen made 10 reform the service
was the proposition of his colleague MIR.
Beck to inquire into the abuses pcrpctrated
by republican officials in the last campaign,
and that was smothercd by coupling with it
another entirely irrelevant inquiry. He was
in favor of every real reform, hut he would
not vote for this little sham, for the same
reason that he declined to vote at the last scs-
sion for that other sham, the little revenue
bill. This bill proposed q system of COM
petitivc examination for the lower Offices
sort of sausage stu1cr, through which
each man must pass before he could got
into the general string Laughter. There
was great deal of nonsense talked about
civil service reform. Real reform would
consist in putting decent and honest men in
the high places, and letting them bring back
the government of the republic to the prin-
ciples and practices of its earlier and better
days. He would like to see the democratic
member of congress who would 10 back to his
constituents and tell them that he had voted
to make the tenure of the present Office hold
| ers permanent, in order to keep his friends
from being tempted into office seeking.
Laughter. How many votes would that
man get? Why he would he hooted The
people think, said Mr.. Williams, and do, too,
that whichever party Is in power has the
right to put its friends in office. As for
this poor little thing that is before us, don't
think it amounts to anything Old Hickory
Jackson would put his foot upon it in min
ute Laughter. | don't think il would be
a law if we passed it, yet it might bother us a
little when we come in, and don't want any
distractions in our way. [Laughter.l The
only way to reform is to elect an honest presi-
dent in 1884, turn on the hose give him a big
hickory broom, and tell him to sweep the
platter clean. Laughter.l The amendment
proposed by Mr.. Pendleton, striking out the
provision that entrance to the service shall be
at the lowest grade, and substituting one that
appointments shall be apportioned as nearly
as possible among the states and territories
and the District of Columbia upon the basis of
population. ....
Mr.. Cockrell made an argument to show
that this bill, if passed. would not give the
President or the heads of departments any
moro power to reform or purify the service
than they had already under existing laws
The republican party had had full power for
years to enforce these laws and to pass others
if these were not sufficient; but they had not
done it, because they had no real desire for
reform. The efficacy of this bill would depend
upon the executive, and he did not believe
that, under a republican adminstra-
ton, it would accomplish ANYTHING in
the way of reform. Under a democratic
administration it would but a democratic
administration would reform the service
without any such law. But although he had
no faith in the value of this as reformatory
measure he would vote for it, because the
republicans wished to have it, and he was
willing to give them one more opportunity to
reform the great abuses for which they were
responsible. In speaking of assessments, Mr.
Cockrel alluded to the conviction of Gen.
Curtis of violating the law against them
Mr.. Hawley said that he wished to do JUS
tice to an honorable and brave man. Gen
Curtis was elected treasurer of the state COM
mittee against his will, and protested against
assessments He was only technically guilty.
In spirit he was against these assessments
and when he controlled ,men himself he told
them not to pay assessments unless they de-
| sired to do so. ...
| Mr.. Cockrell said he was glad to find that
| Gen. Curtis did not levy assessments of his
| free will, but he was sorry that the republi-
can machine was so strong that an honest man
could not Withstand its pressure, and that,
therefore, Gen. Curtis had to violate his own
conviction of right and make these collec-
tions He then went on to quote from the re-
publican campaign text book for 1882, when
he was interrupted by Mr. Hoar, who stated
that the second Hubbell circular and the cam
paign text book were the act of one man (the
chairman of the congressional committee, ii
was true), binding no person but himself.
Mr.. Hawley. Let me add, that especially in
the matter of Chinese immigration, and vari.
Gus things, | rcpudiate the hand book.
| Mr.. Cockrell was glad that the senators had
| the opportunity to make their explanation
| He did not desire to cast any reflection OF
any senator who was opposed to those raids
! In the course of his remarks, Mr.. CoCkrel
quoted from letter from David Davis to
gentleman in Washington, declaring that thu
government, which had long been in thu
hands of the republican party, needed new
blood. Mr.. COngcr inquired whether ii wa
| in good taste to quote a letter of the gentle
man from Illinois in his absence.
Mr.. Vest said that he was responsible fol
bringing that document in, having read il
| yesterday in the presence of the gentleman
from Illinois.
Mr.. Conger said that in that the senate
showed good taste.
Mr.. Vest replied that he would not ALLOW
the senator from Michigan to determine tina
question for him. A senator who had sal,
that the language of his colleagues was worth,
of shoeblacks could not teach him good taste
Mr.. Conger. | would never attempt that.
Mr.. Vest. think not.
Mr.. Conger. If the gentleman has waited
twenty y-four hours to make that hit, l an
glad he has the opportunity tonight Th
gavcl of the presiding officer put stop to tn
colloquy.
Mr.. Cockrell closed his speech at $50 will
prediction that the return of the demo
cratic party to power was only question o
time
Mr.. Pcndleton, stating that he should AS
the senate to sit out the bill to-day, moved +
adjourn, which motion was (at S:45 p. m
carried.
NOMINATIONS.
The President sent the following nomina
tons to the senate:
Joel b. Erhardt, of New York TO be United STATE
marshal for the southern district OF New York
George NJ. Lambertson, United States attorne
for Nebraska.
W. F. Rowland, of New York, to be United Stat,
consul at Nice and George +. Mosher, of Ne
Hampshire. at Sonneberg.
THE HOUSE.
Soon after the house was in order ycsterda
bill authorizing the public printer to purchas
without previous advertisement, ink, roller
and press blankets and it was passed.
THE. TOBACCO REBATE.
Mr.. Kelley, of Pennsylvania, chairman
the committee on ways and means, reportC
a resolution declaring il To he the sense