Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1883-12-19
CIVIL SERVICE
Reform, So Loudly Advocated by the Re-
publicans at the Last Session
Of Congress,
Turned Into a Farce by the Senate TURF
ing Out Every Democratic OFF,
GER, Even to the
Chaplain. and Replacing Them With New
and Untried Men Of tile Repub-
Hcan Faith.

WASHINGTON, December 1S.-Sendte.-
The following bills were reported from the
committees and placed on the calendar:
By Senator Harrisoni Providing a civil
government for Alaska.
Nv Senator Hoar: In regard TO the cleo
ton Of Presiueh.. .-t Vice-president-
Senator Van WyGk offered Z teseluti.cn
calling on the Secretary VI the Interior
for copies of the mortgages given by the
Texas Pacific Railroad Company on lands
ihform the Senate of the names of railroad
corporations claiming lands not earned
during the lifetime Of the grant, together
With the number of acres claimed by each
raad. Asrehd tt,
At the conclusion Of the tttothihs hour,
Senator Sherman asked the immediate
| consideration of the resolution offered
Yesterday. that the Senate proceed to the
election Of officers, namely: Secretary oil
the Senate, chief clerk, principal eSecu-
tive clerk, chaplain and sergeant-et-arrns'
Agreed to-yeas 81, nays 80. The division
was on strict party lines, Senators Malone
and R~iddleberger voting with the RepuD-
Leans.
Senator Sherman moved that Arson G..
McCook be chosen secretary of the Senate.
Senator Pendleton moved to amend by
substituting the name OF L.. q. Washing
ton. Lost-yeas 30, nays 81.
The resolution was then agreed to, and
McCook sworH in.
The remaining Republican nominees
were then elected, as follows: Chief clerk,
! Charles W. johnson, Minnesota; execu-
| tive clerk. James X. Young, Pennsylvania
chaplain, the Rev. Elias Dewitt Huntly,
| District of Columbia; sergeant-at-arms, W.
I tt E.3pofGv. North Carolina
Senator Salisbury called attention TO the
regard the Republicans were paying the
| Civil Service, act they so highly praised,
and for which they voted, when they not
only took The offices with good salaries at
tached, but even the cfaVlsincy.
Senator Beck objected to the cottse oi
the Republicans In turning out Bright, a
man of conspicuous ability, ana electlne
Canaday, a man without experience. He
said it was clear that the Civil Service idea
was considered by the Republicans a mere
humbug when it interfered with them,
He asked what special fitness the new
nominee had for the office.
Senator Sherman replied that he was
doing Just what the gentleman from Ken.
lucky Beck would under similar circum-
stances do, with a straight face and with.
out apology, and he (Sherman) had nj
apology to offer. Canaday was a mar OF
standing and high character, well fitted fol
the duties of the office.
The Senate went into executive session
and when the doors were re0pened went
into Committee of the Whole for the pur
pose of continuing the consideration OF the
new rules.
Senator Cameron wis. suggested that
as several Senators were absent, consider
alton of the new rules had better be post
poned, and moved an adjournment. Los
-22 to 81.
The question pending was the adoption
Of the first new rules relating to the cleo
ton of president pro tempore, and his right
in case of absence, to name q substitute
who should perform the duties of the
Chair.
On motion of Senator Garland the di
vision rule was agreed to, so as to permit
the first two clauses, which were not OBJ
jected to, to be voted upon separately.
On the question Of agreeing to the third
clause, which gives the Nice-President
the power of substitution, a debate arose
Senator Bayard stated that he had not
been able to discharge his mind Of the
grave objections that existed to thi,
clause, owing to complications that might
ensue in case OF the death of the President
and Nice-President. He thought it placed
the question of the Presidential succession
in a very dangerous position. This is q
matter in which it will not do to say the
weight of argument rests on one side ol
the other. 1t should be placed in sucl
position that there is absolutely no doub'
about it, and he could not soc hat the
arguments advanced by those who favored
were at all satisfactory.
Senators Jones and Blair thought it dan
gerous to clothe the president pro tempO-
with such power.
Senator Maxey remarked that this pro
posed clause was a change in a rule which
had been in force sixty years, and wa:
practically a departure from a theory
which the rule defended, for it was onl,
meant for temporary necessity, while
under the construction nov held, if tn,
time could be made three days, it could b,
extended to thirty days. He opposed thu
provision.
Senator Frye, who reported the clause
as chairman of the Committee On rules
said he could not see any possibility how
the rule could touch the question a tn,
Presidential succession, nor how it raiseC
a constitutional question. There being III
president of the United States, and tn,
Nice-President pro tempore OF the Sen
ate being necessarily the presiding office
for the next two years, the question i
whetherin case of a days sickness or a da,
or two's absence the United States Senate
can transact business without being com
PEELED to oust him from the place to which
it has elected him? Under the rule, as i
stands now, if the presiding officer is to,
sick to come to the Senate, it is obliged
under the craftsmanship of the secretary o
the Senate, to elect a new president pr
tenpore, and that president pro tempOre b.
clothed with all the powers which unde
the constitution are attached to the Office
Senator Bayard stated that the constitu
ton provides that the presiding officer o
the Senate shall be the Nice-President
and if the Nice-President, in his absence
cannot nominate his locum teneRS, the
Senate must elect one, and if the Vice
President comes back next day, the Sena
tor who was temporarily president goe:
out of Office ipso fdctO. On one occasion
the president was in doubt whether thu
fact that Henry Wilson was in the gallery
and 80 within the walls of the Senate, die
not vacate an election of President pr
kmpore made in his absence theday before
senator Frye pointed out that in thu
House of Representatives the Speaker hal
power to appoint a substitute for a perioC
of ten days, and it had never been OBJ
jected to-. He called for a yea and ma,
vote on the adoption of the clause. OBJ
jected to.
Senator ingalls, offered the customar,
resolution, which was agreed to, that tn,
President and House of Representative
be notified of the election of a new secre
tary of the Senate.
Pending a vote on the rule the Senate
adjourned.