National Republican. (Washington City (D.C.)) 1872-1888, 1884-05-29

ported joint resolution for printing coo copies
OF the report OF the commissioner OF agriculture
for 1884. Passed $500.
The estimated cost of tho publication is 100000,
HOUSEKEEPING SESSION.
At its evening session Mr.. White moved to strike
out the appropriation for the civil service com
mission. That commission, he said, had been
tried and found wanting, and II should be abol-
ished. On the face OF IT, the thing was fraud.
IL had not succeeded in apportioning appoint
ments among the states.
Mr. JefIords favored the motion. For long time
the southern states had been without representa-
uvcs on the floor, and the northern states with re-
publican representatives had goDbled UP the pa
tronage which belonged to Mississippi He would
like TO know when the states entitled to patronage
would get II undor this civil service law. Inc
state of Mississippi had representative now. and
II this law were oblitorated Mississippi would
stand some CHANGE in the scramble for office: 81,
Mr.. Kasson said that the true friends OF civil
service reform had expected no miracle to be ac-
complishcd in the first years OF the law. The
spirit ofspols, the grasp ofpatronage had been go
strong among all men In public life, Of both par,
ties that It would require years to eradicate IL aud
enable the country to appreciate the enormous
benefit which will accrue to the public service by
eliminating that question from political contests
Mr.. Jones opposed the motion and was glad that
the proposition came from the other side. IL con-
gress in,erfered With tho law it should be to
Mr. Randall inquired of Mr. Kasson how far the
officials and heads Of departments paid respect to
the certificates issued under the law. He did not
believe that proper respect was paid 70 them,
Mr.. Kasson replied that he had known OF no
single person to DO appointed in violation OF CIVIL
Mr.. Willis believed that if the proposition to re.
peal the civil service act were presented to the
people and not To politicians, 1t would be rejected
by the vote of nine-tenths Of those who under
stood II, whether democrats or republicans. =,
Mr.. Bland denounced tho law rs fraud and
humbug; and as stone when the people asked
for bread
The motion was lost.
Mr.. Hepburn moved to amend by increasing
the Appropriation for travelling expenses of the
commission from So 600 to $1,000 and in the course
OF his remarks alluded to the manner in which
the author of tho act Senator :Pendletonl had
been condemned by his party in his own state.
Mr.. Potter ofNew York, thought that reform In
tho civil service was measure which should
command tue support of all well-wishers OF the
government If The government was to exist as u
free representative government, If the principle
that the citizen was the sovereign was TO be eXem-
plihed, congress must do away at once ana tor-
ever with tho vastly.increaslng power Of patron
age In this country let the power be in the hands
of whatever party 1t might.
Mr.. Horr said that the commission was working
honorably and honestly. and that the departments
were lending to 1t every possible aid to carry out
the law.
Mr.. White in speaking to the amendment, read
letor from the Hon. q, C. Mckee, of Mississippi,
in which ho states that for six months that state
has been Travelled over by revenue men under
government pay, doing nothing but e-sided
political work, and that the whole revenue sys-
tenn there was Shiny aud rotten.
Mr.. kasson regarded the civil service act ns the
first vital blow administered to tho spois system;
When the gentleman from Missouri Mr. Bland
pronounced IL 20 be n fraud ana hunDug, no
CHALLENGED him TO cite Il single Instance where
that law might be violated. except as law
against robbery might be violated.
Mr.. Bland inquired how this man" Senator
Malone got money 10 carry on his campaign
Mr.. Kasson replied that he did not know syl-
liable about 1t. He did not know that Senator
Malone got dime in violation of the law.
Mr. Hepburn's motion was lost.
The paragraphs relative to the expenses Of col
lectors of internal revenue were passed over in
formally for future consideration.
Mr.. Morse moved to increase the salary of the
United States assistant treasurer at Boston from
81, 500 to 5000. Lost.
At lao the committee rose and the house ad
iourned