Morning appeal. [volume] (Carson City, Nev.) 1877-1906, 1882-12-17
CIVIL SERVICE REFORM.
Yesterdays Debate ON the Sub
ject.

Yesterdays Debate on the Sub
ject.
WASHINGTON. Dec. l6. The Senate
renewed yesterday the debate on Pen
dletons civil service reform bill.
Miller said the Senator from Georgia
fears that this bill, if passed, would
tend to establish life tenure of office,
but in fact it would simply put back
the tenure Of appointive officers where
it was during the first fifty years of our
national life. That Senator also pro.
| fessed to fear that the bill would es.
tablish an aristccracy. This talk would
not do to frighten children with, much
less would it serve to frighten brave
! Senators on the Democratic side from
| supporting this bill. Ii the evils OF the
present system continue to increase in
the same proportion as in the past, the
Government could not outliye another
century.
George said that the passage of this
bill would inaugurate most important
and necessary reform, for the evils
which it sought to remedy were of the
most momentous character. affecting
deeply the purity of our Government
and Administration, and even threaten
ing the stability of our institutions.
Whatever might be the cause of it. the
change in the Republican sentiment
was remarkable. At the last session
civil service reform was sneezed at, and
the Senator from Ohio (PendletoD) was
regarded as insincere or visionary in
pressing it upon public attention, while
political assessments were defended as
Unsuitable means of gaiuiug aud re-
aiming power. But nov the gem
eral opinion seemed to lie that politi- |
cal assessments were crime, or even
worse. The political creed, A |
monopoly OF the Office, by right .
OF conquest" was not the surest means /
of retaining power. The Republicans
are now 80 thoroughly conscious of the
guilt OF political assessments that they
came to Congress on the first day of the
session and by their President asked
the speedy passage of law to prevent
them from relapsIng into sin. The Sena-
tor from Georgia tBrownI seemed to
think there would be no chance for the
Democratic party unless it could prom
:se its members the spoils OF office. He
George) repudiated this. He denied
that the Democratic party is depend
ant upon the cohesive power of pubic
plunder, and said it would 60 into the
of 1884 as it went into that
If 1876. under the motto of Reform,
ide.ity to public trusts and economy in
The administration, aud not with the
miserable battle-cry of " Booty to the
-ic ors woe to the varquished"
On motion Of Pendleton the first
ectlon of the bill WAS amended so as
o require the Civil Service Commits
toner's to be confirmed by the Senate
Ihe question was next On Allison 5
mendment providing that there shall
,e three commissioners instead of five.
I'D that they shall not be connected
With any of the Departments.
Bsyard spoke of the importance Of
eforming the civil service. and the
effects upon public men of
he spoils system. He would support
he pending bill Morgan offered two
whichs Were ordered
rinted. One OF them provides that no
dvice or recommendation 0: any appli-
an. for examination or appointment
iven by a Senator or Representative
hall be received or considered by the
unless it shall have been
revious'y asked in writing by one or
lore of them. The other authorizes the
commission to designate in each State
We examiners not in the service of the
Inited States, and not more than
hree of them belonging to the party,
Tho shall examine applicants residing
the State.