Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1883-12-21
NEWS FROM WASHINGTON.
The New senate Rules Under Consid-
tIOn.

The New senate Rules Under COnsid-
tlOn.
WASHINGTON, d. c., Dec. 10.-The Senate
in committee of the whole resumed consider
alton of the rules today. Senator Frye
withdrew his call for the yeas and nays on
the clause of the first rule relating to the three
days limitation of the authority of the pres-
dent pro tempore to name a substitute to
perform the duties Of the chair. The clause
was then voted on and rejected, leaving the
rule as it has been heretofore, but when the
rule comes up in the Senate the subject may
DC again brought up.
The second rule read as follows: "Thc
Senate may elect secretary, chief clerk,
principal executive clerk, chaplain, sergeant
alarms and assistant doorkceper to continue
in office until their successors arc chosen and
qualified each of whom shall take and SUBJ
scribe to the oaths prescribed by law before
entering on the duties of his Office. The
secretary of the Senate in open Senate, the
other officers in the Office of the secretary
and sergeant-at-arms shall each appoint oil
the employees of his department, unless other
wise directed"
Senator Frye said this simply formulatcs
into rule what has heretofore been the prac.
ticc of the Senate.
Senator Garland said these Offices are al
ways in the hands of tho Senate, and it was
unnecessary to adopt such rule. lie
hoped for time when efficient aud faithful
officers would be permitted to retain their
positions without regard to their politics
He had the clerk read from a speech of
Thomas Ii. Benton in which he denounces
the practice of harassing good officers with
fears of expulsion through the intrigues OF
mere Office seekers.
Senator Bayard thought the rule open TO
objection. He had Yesterday seen how cast
y the political machinery works, how quick
ly tried and trusted officers could be dis
penscd with aud new men put in their places.
When the Senate had Democratic majority
he differed with his political friends as to
some of the removals then made, but not
withstanding that changes were made there
were no such sweeping changes as had now
been made, and before the removals OF yes
terday morning were effected the fact was
undeniablc that the majority OF the employees
of the Senate were Republicans. The Dem
ocrats had removed the then secretary of the
Senate because he had been in public and
private the aggressive, violent, denunciatory
opponent of more than onc-half of the men,
bers of this chamber, and had made his office
the centre of active campaigning in which the
motives and character and objects of the
Democratic majority were most unjustifiably
aspersed. That change therefore was un-
questionably for the benefit of the public SER
wee. No efficient or faithful officer of the
senate had been removed with his consent.
This was perhaps no occasion for extended
remarks with regard to civil service reform,
but he thought the subject was sinking deep
ly into the minds If the thoughtful people OF
the country, he had strong belief in civil
service reform, and If lie did not much mis-
take the temper of the American people they
intend to have such reform, and are not ro'
ing to be content that men shall be elected
to Office by venal machinery. In other
words this country is not going to be run by
political machines built upon and supported
by political offices. The least evil of that sys-
tenn was the poor class If service rendered in
office. AS to the men who lose their self
respect and conscience and give up all upon
the demand Of party, what can be expected
| of them but struggle for place. The tree
can bear fruit only after its kind He did moi
| want to see the Offices of this country filled by
a set of men who are nothing but office
brokers aud wire pulcrs,
The second rule was llsa greed to. Sever
al of the new rules were then agreed to after
some amendment
A clause of the 18th rule gave rise TO CON
siderable debate in which Messrs. BAyard
Beck, McPncrson, sherman, 1ng,ll auc
Jones of Florida participated. 1t reads a:
follows; Every resolution OF inquiry adj
dressed to the President or heads of depart
ments SHALL if objected 10, be referred to thu
committee having jurisdiction on the subject
The clause was rejected.
| A message was received from the Hous
embolyiug concurrent resolution for adj
journmcnt to January 81. The Scnat
amended the resolution to make Monda,
Jan. 7th the dry for Resembling. A
amended it was adopted and returned to tn
House.
The Senate today confirmed Nalte
Evans rs commissioner Of internal revenue
Albeit L. Wyman as treasurer of the Unite
States and L. o. Graves assistant treasurer