The weekly democratic statesman. [volume] (Austin, Tex.) 1871-1883, 1883-01-04

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whether levied directly. or indirect,
~, was a far more important object
then the distribution of offices, which
had occupied so. much of : the time. OF
the senate. So far as he was Con-
cerned be did, not wish to. turn the
present otlice-holders out. He would
be glad if no man or woman from
Kentucky should aeYer. seek office in
Washington. He would rather see
any son of his breaking stone on the
roadside. than seeking a department
office. ui. - .-1-t.- ..sl
Hawley said Beck had been chal-
Ienged emphaticallyr to- produce one
person who had been removed. from
office fer failing or refusing to make a
political contribution in the last scam
paign. No such person. had been pro-
duced, but if. it should turn out that
any person had been dismissed ON that
cause, be hoped the officer who dis
missed him would receive. "a. Sc
we're punishment. as well AS the
contempt of the American. people.
The object at which his (Hawley's)
amendment7 was aimed, was the pre-
vention OF oppressive. ,exaetionS from
employees of the government, and it
was drawn carefully with that object
in view. A proposition to go beyond
this and provide that no clerk, after
earning and receiving salary, 'shoAld
spend.a dollar of it foE any political
purpose in which he might take inter
est, was one. which he could, not SUPP
port. ,e,-;x ....,.a..- ~ d.s.,..-. III.
Vest said any provision of law which
did not absolutely prohibit employees
of the government from paying
money for political ID purposes
would be az nullity.i He again
offered, in another form, his amend
ment which was rejected Saturday,
providing that the solicitation of
money. property or other thing OF
value by any executive. officer, clerk
or employee, of the United States, or
the giving by any such officer. clerk
or employee of such money, property
or other thing of, value for political
purposes, OH to advance the political
interest of, any person or. party, is
hereby prohibited, and any person
offending against any OF these pro
hibitions is to, be deemed guilty. of a
misdemeanor, punishable on conyic-
ton by fine not exceeding $500, and
their dismissal from office. ID. ~.
Harrison, Logan, Lapham and Sher-
man opposed. the amendment, and
Jones OF. F florida, George and Maxey
supported it. -. n ,.,
The amendment was rejected-ayes
IS, nays II. 49, -. -. 100
George moved to amend the section
of HawleyS amendment prohibiting
the soliciting or reception of contribur
tions for political, purposes. in public
buildipgS.,s so as to, extend the provis-
ions to the whole District of Column
bia; lost-ayes 19, nays %. ..-.
} aBlair offered the following as an adj
ditiOnal section:
+ mo person habitually using intoxi-
eating beverages shall he appointed to
.or!. RETAINED in any Office, business or
Unemployment to which the provisions
lofithis act are applicable" .
r. Brown moved to amend the amend
htent by, inserting after the word
|:'heverage" the words ito excess
agreed to. - ~ ,,. -. -
~. Blair, spoke. briefly in, support
OF his amendment. He thought it
entirely relevant to the bill proposing
to regulate admission to the public
Service, and much more important
and philosophical than the proposal to
distribute public appoin tments among
the states according to population.
Every one knew that indulgence in
Intoxicating drinks was a great evil
among the people in public places as
well as among Others Jefferson had
been cited several times as authority
for the. doctrine that integrity and
capacity should be the tests for adj
mission to the public service, but
another utterance. of Jefferson, made
later in. life, showed that; there
! was still another test which. he
thought of at least equal importance
which might be cited in support OF
this amendment. The habit of in
dulging in ardent spirits by men in
Office" said Jefferson, has occasioned
more injury to the public than all
other causes, and, We're Ito, commence
my administration with the expert
lenee now have, the firSt.question |
would ask respecting a, candidate
Would be, does he use ardent spirits
This amendment simply proposed to
ask as to candidates for public ap.
ppintmentS the first question that JET.
feTson would ask if he were now pres
ident or a head of an executive de.
pertinent. =: 80 =. -, 4.
s5.Edmunds said the amendment as il
stood contained a legal implication
that the services We're to be
excluded from consideration by the
civil service. commission, and to cure
this defect by inserting after "intoXi:
eating beverages" the words, cor is
guilty of any other immoral habits
after Some Il discussion the amend.
ment was agreed to-ayes 81, nays 16
,Hawley moved to RECONSIDER the
Vote; loSt-ayes IA, nays "a, g,---a-.,I..
Blair's amendment as amended was
then agreed to,
Plumb offered an additional section
Which was adopted, providing thai
where two or more members of a
family are in the public, services in thu
grades covered by this act, no othel
member of such family shaHa bt
leligable to appointment in hsuch
| gradeS."- go =: IL 80
Plumb offered an amendment
| fixing the term of,office of appointees
tatsix years, subject to removal fol
cause, and allowing reappointment
| Without examination, but providing
that no person should be permitted tt
fenain in office longer. than twelve
years; loSt.i .., ...-.s- ui.. "a ,
~ George offered an amendment pro
viding that sending by mail, or other
I wise, to any government officer or EN-
ploke any letter, or, print containing
! solicitation of. a. contribution fOl
political purposes, or. receiving such
communication by mail or otherwise
1 should come under the penalties pre-
/ scTibed in. this act; loSt,1. mo- ya4.s
Blown offered, the following; "a
neatly all jpublie positions are nov
.t4fllea by Republicans, it is further en-
lsacted that if the board of examiner
iascertain by public examination, which
shall be- free to. all applicants, tina
two, or if there be more than two o
equal qualification and merit, thel
from those of the highest grade of qual
LITIGATION, they shall select from thOs
Fbest qualified, the one whose politica
fafhiations are with the political part
l.haying, the lowest number in position
until there is at least an approving
ton to an equal share in patronage O
1.-THE government. among those VIII
sbear equally 4. its burdens, and tia
after such approximation. to equalit
lis reached, it shall be illegal for sue
board. in future to inquire int
i or consider the political. utilization
of any applicant for position Brow
n advocatediJ this !. amendment. ,as
) measure of Justice necessary in ords
to makea fair start under the .prOpo
ed law .ssaa u" q. r