National Republican., 1883-12-20
CIVIL SERVICE REFORM.
The Interpretation Put Upon That Much
Abused Phrase by Mr.. Bayard.
He is for Tuning Republicans Out and
Keeping Democrats In,
Creation Of Long Line Of Special Committees in
The House.
Mr.. slinncr's Right TO Seat in Com
grcss-The Holiday Recess Agreed Upon.
THE SENATE.

THE SENATE.
In the senate yesterday morning prayer was
offered by the new chaplain, Rev. Elias Dc Witt
Huntey, ID. d.
After the reading Of the journal number of
petitions and memorial were submitted, among
the one by Mr.. Mcmillan embodying resolutions
of the legislature of Minnesota complaining that
the piers Of many Of the railroad bridges across
the Mississippi river are a serious hindrance TO
navigation steamers frequently colliding with
them, and loss of life being caused thereby, and
asking that steps be taken 10 erect shear booms at
Mr.. Ingalls, reported back from the committee on
the District of Columbia the bill TO establish a
standard Of time in that district and gave notice
that at the conclusion of the morning hour he
would ask unanimous consent that 1t be immedi-
atey considered.
Among the bills introduced were the following
By Mr; Culiom 10 provide for the acceptance
by the United States of the Illinois and Michigan
canal from the state of Illinois.
BY MIR. Fair: 10 provide for the sinking of ar
tesian wells on lands Of the United States in the
state of Nevada
By Mr.. Call 10 regulate the subletting of mail
contracts.
BY Mr. Ingalls,: To establish municipal code
for the District of COlumbia; also, to provide for
the appointment OF Q commission to investigate
the subject OF railroad transportation; also to pro-
BY Mr.. Logan: 10 consolidate the bureau of
military justice and corps of judges advocate of
On the conclusion of the morning business Mr..
ingalls, called up for consideration the bill relat
lum5la.
III provides that from date the standard OF time
in the district shall be the mean time of the sew
enty,ilh meridlan but that this shall not affect
The bili was passed without debate.
Mr.. Van Wyck offered u resolution, which was
ordered to lie over till to-day. calling on the
secretary Of the interior for information as TO how
much land has been certified or patented for the
benefit of railroad companies since the date OF u
decision OF The supreme court ofthe United States
i'll 1875, which SO construed the indemnity clause
OF II CONGRESSIONAL grant rs TO allow Indemnity
lands only in lieu OF lands originally included in
the grant, but which are afterward sold and dis
Mr.. ingalls,, Of Kansas, offered concurrent
resolution providing that when the two houses
adjourn on Thursday, twentieth December,
it be to Thursday, the third Of January, 1884.
=, Mr. Harris moved TO amend by substituting for
third OF January. Under the rule, the amend
ment and original resolution both were ordered
to lie over unul to-day.
The senate then resumed consideration of the
unfinished business Of Tuesday-the rules. Mr..
Frye Withdrew his call for the yeas and nays on
the clause Of the first rule, relating to the three
day Limitation Oh the authority OF the vice pres.
idents substitute. The clause was then voted OH
and was rejected, leaving the rule about as 1t has
been heretofore; hut when the rule comes up in
tho senate, when not in committee of the whole,
the subject may be again brought up.
The second rule was then read as follows:
the senate may elect a secretary, a chief clerk,
principal executive clerk, Il chaplain, sergeant
at arms, and an assistant doorketper TO c1nIinue
in Office until their successors are chosen ani
qualified each Of whom shall take and subscribe
the duties of his Office the secretary of the senate.
in open sennte, the oIher officers in the Office OF
the secretary. The secretary and sergeant at arms
shall each appoint all the employees of his depart
ment, unless otherwise directed" -t'r
Mr.. Frye said this simply formulates into rule
what has heretofore been The practice OF the sem
ate,-these officers having heretofore been elected
without formal rule.
Mr.. Garland said these offices are always In the
hands OF the senate, and IL was unnecessary to
adopt such rule.
Mr.. Bayard thought tho rule open to objection, -,
and said that he had yesterday seen how easily
the political machinery works and how quickly
tried and trusted officers gould be dispensed with
and new men put IN their places. When the
senate had democratic majority he (Mr. Bayard)
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 have now been made; and before the
removals of Tuesday morning were effected the
fact was undeniable that a majority of the en-
ployes of the senate were republicans. The dem
ocrats had removed the hen secretary Of the
because he had been, both in public and private,
the aggressive, violent, denunciatory opponent OF
more than one half OF the members OF this cham
ber and had made his office center OF active
campaigning in which the motives and charac-
ter and object Of the democratic majority were
most uniustifably aspersed. That change, there
fore, was unquestiona0ly for the benefit of the
public service, No efficient or faithful officer of
the senate had been removed with his (AIr. Bay
ards) consent. This was perhaps no occasion for
extended remarks with regard 10 civil service re-
form, but Mr.. BayHrd thought that that subject
was sinking deeply into the minds OF the thought
ful people ofthe country. He had strong belief
in civil service reform, and if he did not much
mistake the temper Of tho American people they
intend to have such reform and are not going 10
venai machinery. In other words, this country
is not going to be run by political machines built
upon and supported by political officers.
The second rule was disagreed to.
The consideration OF the rules was further pro-
ceedcd with, and several Of the new rules were
agreed to, after some amendments OF detail
On reaching the rule relating to voting Mr..
Bayard said he had hoped that the committee on
rules would have endeayored in some way to
cover the case of senators being present In their
places and refraining from voting
yiding that all senators present. and not voting,
shall be recorded in the negative.
Mr.. ingalls, thought Otherwise, on the ground
that silence gives consent.
The rule on the subject of voting was, however,
adopted as reported, further debate on the subject
being reserved till the future consideration OF the
subject when the senate is not acting as in COM
clause of the fifteenth rule gave rise to con.
siderable debate, in which Messfs. Bayard Beck,
Mcpherson, sherman, Ingalls,, and Jones Of Flor
ida. participated. 1t reads as follows Every
resolution Of inquiry addressed TO the President
of the United States, or to the heads of depart
ments shall ifobiecled to- be referred to the com
mttee having jurisdiction of the subject mat ter
of such resolution said committee Shall report
thereon within one week thereafter and said res
olutions shall be in order for consideration when
reported"
and Beck strongly opposed 1t, and II was rejected.
message was received from the house Of rep
resentatives embodying concurrent resolution
passed by that body, TO the effect that when con.
Rress adjourns on Monday next II be TO Thurs
day, Jan, o 1881, ANA asking the concurrence of
the senate thereto
The message was read and the senate then went
into executive session.
On the termination OF the executive session the
resolution OF the house relating to the holiday ne
cess was taken up. On motion of Mr. Allison, the
date for the reassemblng Of the two houses was
made Monday, Jan. z. instead OF Thursday the
third and this action Of the senate was ordered 10
be communicated to the house OF representatives
for its concurrence.
A message from the President was laid before
the senate transmitting the correspondence re-
Gently called for by the resolution OF Senator
Miller, OF California, In relation to the Clayton
Bulwer treaty.
The senate then adjourned
THE HOUSE.
In the house yesterday Mr. Scales, of North
Carolina presented the certificate of election OF
Thomas G. Skinner as representatiye-elect from
the first district of North Carolina.
Amer the reading of the certificate Mr., Kefer of
Ohio, offered resolution recitng that at the No
vember election w, II. Pool was elected as Il repre-
sentative from the first district of Nor Carolina;
that he died on Aug, 30 1888 that since the cleo
tion of Pool the legislature redistroted the state
ot,A tod a fbot 40