The times. (Owosso, Mich.) 1882-1897, 1886-04-16
CONGRESSIONAL.
Senate.

MARCH Ex-senator Vance On. e. adj
dressed the senate to-day in support of his
bill to repeal the civl-Service law. The act,
he said, was unconstitutional, and the
president invOluntarily submitting to it was
surrenderlng prerogative which it was his
duty to protect. The people had demanded
change of officers, but its Will had not
been respected by it, The result was that
political enemies and spies surrounded
every administrative officer. This was try
ing to serve the Lord with the devil for an
active partner. The whole thug was q
humbug, and in partial proof the senator
read an advertisement Offering for ten
cents to supply series OF examination
questions Which would qualify anybody to
pass a civil-Service examination.
The civil-service law, Senator Vance said,
was triumph of the republican party and
made up for the exposures of the many cor
ruptions of that party. 1t should have
been called IAN act to regulate and inn
prove the civil service" but the last will
and testament OF the republican party"
Mr.. Vance was only sorry that democrat
ic president had become Its executor in
stead of administrator de bOnls non. In
the presidents tender and touching fare
well to the putative parent OF ciyil-service
reform. Commissioner Eaton, said Senator
Vance, spoke OF those who opposed the law
as the worst elements of both parties.
There was no earthly doubt that the great
majority of the democratic party was OPP
posed TO that law. If the presidents state
nents were true the democratic party was
indeed in q bad way.
Senator Vance having stated that at the
time of the passage of the civil-service law
the government departments were working
night and day to make all the appointments
possible before the bill should become a
law, Senator Teller (COl.) made distinct
and positive denial of the statement. He
said 1t had been said in some newspapers,
but it was an entire mistake.
APRIL 1.-Senators Dolph and Morgan
spoke in the senate to-day in support of the
bill to admit Washington territory into the
union, after which the amendments pro-
posed by the committee and another affect
ing the school lands were adopted, and one
providing that the counties of Idaho that
are to become part of the state of Washing
ton shall not by the change be released
from responsibility for their proportion of
the bonded debt of the present territory OF
Idaho was rejected. Senator voorhees, sub
mtted as substitute his bill providing for
the admission of Montana Qhe enabling
acD, and pending vote the senate went
into executive session.
APRIL 5-Discussing the army bill in the
senate to-day, Senator Plumb said he hoped
the bill of the senator from Illinois (Mr.
Logan for the equalization or bOunties
would be passed before the salaries and
emoluments OF the regular army were piled
up SO high that there should be found 10
more money In the treasury. Senator
Plumb thought the senate could postpone
q bill to increase the emOluments of the re-
gular army until the volunteer army, of
which Senator Logan thought so much, had
had justice done to Ii.
Senator Cockrell took the floor in OPPOSE
ton to the bill. There was, he said, ample
power to protect our institutions without q
single regular soldier. Our foreign wars
had been fought by volunteers. The PEG
pie OF this republic could resist the com
bined nations Of the earth.
Senator Logan spoke at considerable
length In further explanation Of the details
of the BILL and In reply to criticisms made
the citizens I'm time OF trouble, and when
ever largo army was wanted. but said citi
Gems TO be effective had TO be organized.
|, APRIL 6.--The senate received from the
president to-day a long MESSAGE transmit
! ting correspondence between the secretarl