Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1883-12-20
CIVIL SERVICE REFORm.
AsApplied by RepublicaBAWhen
IA POWer-Ihelr Uauai Con-
sistency.


MASHIN0TON, december ID ne sen
ate to-day elected Arson G. McCook, o.
New York, Secretary Of the Senate; Chhs
w. johnson, Of Minnesota, Clerk; Jas. X
Young, Of Pennsylvania, Executive
Clerk; Rev. r. T. Huntley, Chaplain and
w. p Canaday, Of North Carolina Ser
geant at AIMS There was little OF nc
fuss about the election. Senator Pendle'
ton posed in his familiar role Of Civil Ser.
vice Reformer, and Messrs. Beck and
salisbury pointed out the insincerity Of
Republican Senators in their professions
Of reform. John Sherman engineered
the job Of reorganization. He refused Il
be drawn into debate, and his silence was
successfully initiated by bis colleagues
who sat calm and smiling while the Dem.
ocratic Senators got In their little
speeches. The proceedings settled III.
position Of Malone and Riddleberger, botf
Of them voting with the Republicans
When Sherman moved TO proceed Z
the election Of officers Mr., Pendletor
jumped 10 his feet with a demand for tn;
reason why there should be such an cleo
ton. The Chair told him the merits o
the case were not yet in order, and Pen
dleton sat down, after demanding th'
yeas and nays. ThirtY-four Senator
voted 10 proceed with the election. Thir
ty, the whole Democratic force presen
and impaired, voted no. Arson G. Nc
Cook was then put in nomination. Pen
dleton moved TO amend by striking GU
the name Of McCook and inserting thu
name Of l.. Q. Washington, correspond
ent Of the New Orleans Picayune. Nc
Cook was promptly elected by party
vote, Senator Miller, of New York, init
mated that the new Secretary was in thu
chamber, and should be sworn in at once
There was no objection, and Mr.. McCool
was escorted TO the chair by Mr., Mile
and subscribed to the oath.
Mr.. Edmunds evidently did not lik'
this method Of doing business, and be.orl
the next officer was elected he remarked
that there was no necessity Of swearing
the others in the presence Of the Senate
The ceremony could be performed in TN
Clerks room.
On Charles w. johnson being nomi
mated as Chief Clerk, Mr.. PendletoI
said:
"The present incumbent Of that plac
was selected by the Democratic party. H
is also the nominee Of the Democrats
party at this time. He has performed, a
we believe. his duties in such a manner q
10 entitle him to the confidence Of tn
Senate. II would be vain thing t,
move that the name Of Mr.. Shober b.
substituted for the name Of the gentleman
in the resolution. will therefore no
offer an amendment TO the resolution, bu
simply state that the votes on this side o
the chamber are given with view o
manifesting our desire not to change thl
Chief Clerk Of the Senate"
Mr.. Pendleton made similar speech
in regard TO each Of the officers 1t re
manned for Senator Salisbury to raist
the only laugh during the proceedings
Strange to say, it was raised on a solemn
subject, the election OF Chaplain. TIL
Senator from Delaware thought the mo
ton to supplant the present incumben
illustrated the slight respect the Republi
cans really entertained for the principle
Of Civil Service Reform.
"The proposition now is, said Mr.
Salisbury, TO remove the Chaplain VIII
has performed his solemn and responsible
duty as well as any other man can, VIII
on this very morning offered devou
prayer for every member Of this body"
This way of putting it evoked genera
laugh, which President pro TEN Edmund
did his best to suppress.
''The proposition" continued Mr.Sauls
bury, lis not only to remove every Office
who has any salary attached to his office
but TO remove q gentleman who has pray
ed diligently and fervently for the Senat
during the past two years. | rise to EN-
phasize the fact that this proceeding illus
trates the attachment of the other side 0
the Chamber TO the principles Of the bill
which we passed last year | think tn
country viii understand that, notwith
standing we passed a Civil-rights Reform
Bill the party in power in this ehambe
ignore its principles entirely, as they ar
doing by the proceeding Of this day.
Not a word was said in reply to this or
raignment. The new Chaplain was cleo
ted by thirty>nine yeas TO twenty-nin
nays. When Mr.. Oanaday was nomina
ted for Sergeant-at-Arms Mr.. Becl
wanted TO know what the.objections wer
to the present incumbent Mr.. Shermal
lodged this que ton.
II do not care, said he, ITO go into de
tails in regard TO personal qualifications
am doing precisely what the Senate
from Kentucky would do under simila
circumstances, and without any apology
| The gentleman nominated is well know
on both sides Of the Chamber. He is
man Of character and understanding AM
WE'LL fitted to discharge the duties Of tn
office. / have not one word or the hear
TO say against the incumbent"
This did not suit Mr.. Beek,wh referrel
in good round terms TO the pretended in
dignation Republican Senators exhibite'
when the Democrats elected few officer
in 1879.
"Wheneyer civil service reform stand
in their way" exclaimed Mr.. Beck, ut i
| found TO be absolute humbug.n
lie quoted the remarks Of Senator An
thony in 1867 against reorganization, AM
said to-day that distinguished gentlemal
was voting 10 dismiss man OF know
capacity, fidelity and intelligence, an
put in new and untried man
Among the other distinguished Repub
leans who have waxed eloquent in Tn
cause Of ciyil-seryice reform us applied I
Senate officers was one more able an
distinguished than any now left on tina
side of the chamber-Mr. Roscoe Conk
ling, Mr.. Conkliug was bitterly oppose
TO any change on high moral grounds
That was the tone Of all the Republica
orators at that time. He presumed, how
eyer, that the present nominee was cleo
ted because Of bis disposition to remov
everybody connected with his office"
There have,n continued Mr. Beck
'been good many divisions in the caucu
during the last few days because som
very distinguished Senators were LEI
without Chairmanships and some neV
members have been so honored, but tina
has nothing to do with it. l merely wan
to know the objection 10 the present Ser
geant-at-Arms and the particular qualif
cation Of the man proposed II Al
amounts TO this, that the Republoa
party is very loud in its professions, pre-
testations and clamors when the Dem
ocfacy sees fit TO do anything, but tn
moment they get the power, civil seryic
rules and principles are forgotten, so thG
they may put in men who can help ther
in any way in their campaigns
Sherman said never word in reply
Canaday was elected by a vote of thirty
two TO twenty-eight, and the work Of r.
organization was completed.
-. ----