Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1886-02-05
TRENHOLM ON THE LAW.
HE HEADS OFF THE PROPOSALS
To AMEND.

Examination of Those Holding once
Before the Passage of the Measure De-
ciared Impra Proportion
of Places FILLED by southerners Not
Small-The Long Bin Apt to Pass.
WASHINGTON. Feb. 4.-The confer
ences between the members of the House
Committee on Civil Service Reform and
the members of the Civil Service Commits
sion have satisfied the former that the
present civil service commission law need
not be changed. While the majority of
the committee have been friendly to civil
service reform since the first, the chair
man and some other members thought
before the conference with the commits
sioners that the law could perhaps be
strengthened and improved by amend
msnts. A tavorite proposition with them
was to amend the law so as to require
those who were in the civil service before
the commission was created to pass eX-
amInations similar to those required of
applicants for their positions.
THE soUTH's REPRESENTATION.
Some Of the Southern members were
anxious to amend the law so as to give
the South larger representation in the
civil service than it has heretofore had.
They thought that the South mad not
really had its quota Of appointments,
although it had been made to appear by
the appointment of Northern men charged
to Southern States that they had COTTON
their iull share. They thought some
amendment of the law which would
extend the limit OF age within which ap-
plicants might appear before the commits
sion would be to the advantage Of the
South.
MR.. TRENHOLM's INFLUENCE.
Naturally these gentlemen, placing
great confidence in Commissioner Tren-
holm, of South Carolina, listened attent-
lively to what he said. He assured them,
speaking he said as a Southern man and
a Democrat, that no change was neces-
sary in the law to secure perfect justice
to the South and full efficiency to the
commission. He showed them that the
proposed examination Of old employees
was unnecessary if not impracticable.
He showed them that the suggestion made
by one member to appoint ntnone but South
ern men to office until the South had it's
full share Of appointments was imprac-
ticable.
DIVISION OF THE PLUMs.
He showed them that of about 700 APP
pointments made through the Civil Ser
vice Commission about 300 had gone TO
the South. He assured them that even if
the men who had grown up in the civil
service should be turned out the States
which have not had their full share OF ap-
pOintments could not get many of these
places, because they could not furnish
persons competent to fill them. The men,
bers of the committee. particularly the
chairman and others from the South, were
so much impressed by what he SAID that
all thought of amending the commission
law has been abandoned. There is reason
TO believe however that the Long bill re-
pealing the tenure of Office act VIII be fa-
Vorably reported.
NEGROES TO MOVE NORTH.
j. Milton Turner, ex-Minister to Iibe-
ria, Gays that in the spring there will be
another exodus of negroes from the South
to the North. He thinks 10000 or $1,000
will go.
SNAP OF THE RABID PARTIsANs.
The Republicans of the Senate seem TO
be uncertain what to do next. This un-
certainty is the result of difference of
opinion among them as to the proper
course to be pursued IN their furthelsdeal-
ipgs with the President. Mr.. Edmunds
is as determined as ever in bis purpose to
annoy the President as much as possible
in the attempt to show that he has violated
the principles of civil service reform. SO
are the majority of the Republican Sena-
tors. But there is a small but re-
spectacle minority, OF which no less
person than John Sherman is
said to be the leader. Its members
believe that the course which has been
pursued by the Republican Senators under
the lead Of Mr.. Edmunds in dealing with
the Presidents nominations has been uD-
wise, ana should be abandoned.
HAVE HURT THEMSELVES.
They think that the Republican Sena-
tors have hurt themselves and not the
President. and thatnOthing is TO be gained
by a continuance in that course. AL
though with one or two possible excep-
tiOns the members OF this minority would
probably support any measure which the
majority put forward as a party measure.
they would not do so heartily. Their moral
influence would be lacking In their
support. In other words Edmunds has
not a said party behind him IN the Senate.
1t is now proposed by the members of the
majority to hold caucus on Saturday at
which an attempt will be made to unite
the party in support Of the report which
Mr.. Edmunds proposes TO make in open
session from the Judiciary Committee
affirming the right Of the Senate TO call
upon the heads of departments for any
papers or other information IN their Dos
session.
EDMUNDs' REASONING.
1t is stated that Mr.. Edmunds will not
hold in this report, that the Senate has a
right to the Presidents reasons for sus-
pending officials, and even TO his reasons
for making appointments, but he will hold
80 80.