New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1882-12-12
CIVIL SERVICE REFORM.
MARKED DEMOCRATIC APATHY.

MARKED DEMOCRATIC APATHY.
OPPOSITION To THE rENDLETON BILL-srGNIFTCAN1
SPEECH BY SENATOR BRowN-sESAToR HAws
LEY's BILL
fDY TELEGRAPH TO THE TRIBuSE.l
rWAsHIyGToy Dec. Ex-senator Brown under
cover Of talk to the Republicans, administered o
rebnke to Senator Pendleton to-day for bringing up
his Civil Service bill at this session. aud stated
very frankly though indirectly, the wishes of the
majority of the Democrats on such matters. =
He said he thought it Was much moro important
that the Senate should proceed with the
calendar regularly than to take up
the Pendleton bill. He did not
exactly understand the interest manifested By GER
tain Senators now to get the Civil Service bill
passed at this particular time. He had noticed
that when the subject was mentioned q
day or two since. the Republicans with great
unanimity encouraged the Senator from Ohio to
pass his bill He took it for granted, therefore, that
most of the Republican Senators would sustain tho
motion to take the bill up. They saw strong rea-
sons just now why there should be stringent
enactments e putting into force the Civil
Service principles He was little
at loss to know why this bill had not been pressed
earlier. The Republican party had been in power
for more than twenty years. Some Civil Service
measures had been put on the statute book. but
none were regarded as sufficient TO retain
in Office those who arc now in
Office. Just at this particular iuncture it seems
very important in the opinion of great many Sem
ators that there should be such enactment. Now,
whether the result of the late election had anything
to do with it or not, he didn't know. He only
regretted that the Republican party had not put It
into operation many years ago; aud he regretted ID
more because if they had done so there would
have been largo number of Democrats filling
the offices, whereas now there were none.
As the Republican party had at this time 10000
offices under their control and scarcely any
better to wait until the offices were more evenly
divided before passing such q BILL.
s"sys Ta A5 5o BTHs be Protest the
together with Messrs. Bayari. George, Jackson
Lamar, PendetOn and Slater. Democrats. voting IN
against taking the bill up; Mes5rs. Barrow, Beck,
Brown, Cali Davis (of West Virgiulal, Garland.
Harris, Johnston, Jonas. Maxey, Morgan, Pugh.
1t had not been expected by Mr. Pendleton that
the Bankruptcy bill would be disposed Of beforea
late hour in the afternoon. and he not ready TO
go on with the Civil Service bill to-day. IL was
therefore laid over until tomorrow, when it will be
taken up and pushed by the Republicans to
q vote. Some Of the Republican Senators
arc in favor of an amendment to the Pendleou bill
giving to each State and Territory It's proportion of
the executive offices and having Civil Service ex-
aminatiOns held by State Boards of examination.
Such an amendment will probably be proposed.
The senate Committee on Civil Service Re-
form to-day cOnSlutreu tne naWlcy DILL
prohibiting the assessment oil Government en-
plOycs for political purposes An amendment was
adopted making II crime and prescribing therefor
q penalty for any person TO enter pubic building
Tor The purpose of leyying contribu-
tiOns or assessments upon clerks or other
employees. The Hawlcy bill has ihe unaDl-
nous accommodation OF the committee.
DR.. Hawley subsequently reported TO the senate
his bill amended, and notice that he should
offer 1t as an addition to the Pendieton bill. lhe
amendaJgry clauses are us follows:
SecOnd-No person sha in any building
pied discharge Of official duties by any officer
ploye OF United mentioned iii this act, solicit
In any whatever, or receive any contribution oi
money any other thing OF value for any political pur-
pose Whatever.
Thi,d-No officer empOye of the United States
toned ia this act snail discharge or in any manner
change the Official rank Or compensation or any other
| officer enpoye, or promise or threaten 50
TO do, by Of any vote such officer or empOye
has giycn wIthlel1O may propose give Withhold,
at any political election, or for giving Withholding
neglecLng to make contribution OF money OF Otner
valuable thing fOi any political purpose.
EOuTM-Any person VINO 5uall be guilty OF violating
provisions Of the foregoing sections snail be deemed
guilty of msdemean0r, aud shall conviction there
Of be punished by tine not exceeding $1,000 Or I'M
prisonent cor Term not exceeding three years or by
such nne aud Imprisonment both. IN the discretion OF
maj Cam