Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1886-12-15
.TENUREOF FOFFICEACT.
1T Is DISCUSSED IN THE SENATE YESTRR-
DAYBYHOAR AND EDNUNDS.
The Two Take Diysrging Views Of the Subject and
the Civil Seryice-MOrrisOn VIII Make q No
tOn in the House on Saturday to Consider
Revenue MatsrS--Gsneral News

WASHINGTON, December 14.-In the
Senate, to-day, among the memorials pre-
sented, was one by Mr.. Spooner. for the
German Aid Society of Wisconsin, express
ing the idea that there was no further ne
cessity for stimulating immigration to this
country and that no satisfactory reason
can be assigned for allowing foreigners to
vote and hold office after one years resi-
dence and before they are naturalized, and
suggesting the enactment OF laws making
naturalization and suffrage conform to a
uniform standard.
Mr.. Morrill, from the Committee on
Finance reported back fayorably a bill
for the retirement and recoinage of the
trade dollar, and bill to prevent frauds
on American manufacturers. Calendar.
Among the bills introduced and referred
were the following: BY Mr.. Harrison (by
request to increase the pensions of those
who have disabilities equivalent to the
loss of hand or foot.
On motion of Mr.. Hoar the House
amendment to the Electoral Count Bill
were nOM SOuCuiiSu III anu IOnlCASHNS
asked.
Senators Hoar, Edmunds and Pugh were
appointed conferees on the part of the Sen
ate.
Mr.. Mcpherson introduced bill to
amend the OleOmargarine bill. Referred.
Also bill for the presentation of medals
to each of the officers and soldiers who
volunteered for three months service un-
der the Presidents call of April, 1901. Re
feTred.
Edmunds then took the floor on
THE TENURE OF OFFICE LAW.
Mr.. Edmunds opposed the bill. The law
had been in existence nearly twentykyearS.
President johnson (tO restrain whom it
was enacted) obeyed it although he be-
lieyed it unconstitutional, and all his
successors had recognized its validity as q
guide ard restraint. If there was any
value in that constitutional power of
restraint vested in the Senate the value
was to be entirely destroyed by the repeal
of this statute, and there would be turned
over (as if in affirmative languaSe) to the
President the power of immediate removal
of every one of the public servants whose
appointments were confirmed by the
Senate. That was a very grave and
serious step to take. This bill was brought
forward in apparent aid of their
friends on the other side and to relieve the
President OF the difficulties and embarrass-
ments now attending removals and sus-
pensions. 1t was an invitation to him to
make short work of the whole Civil Service
business and to expel from Office at once
all the officers who are within the provision
OF the statute. Its passage would be the
greatest practical step back on the theory
OF the reformation of the Civil Service of
the United States. 1t would be affirm
ing that Congress was willing and desirous
that the President should exercise the
power of selecting persons to fill the
offices, whether Sthe Senate advised and
consented 10 it or not. If he had the
slightest doubt of the cOnstitutionality of
the tendure of Office act he would be
willing TO consider how far that law
trenched on the executive power; and so
far rs it did 50 to retreat from it immedi-
ately, but if it were found that the statute
was not only conservative of public good,
was constitutional, then Congress ought to
stand by it. If the Senate vote6 to repeal
that statute it would make mistake
which it would live to regret.
MIR. HoAR
advocated the passage of the bill. 1t had
been reported from the Judicial Commit
tee, but on account of the controversy then
existing with the President on the subject
of offices, he had not deemed it proper
to ask the Senate to act upon it. But as
that question had subsidized, he now deemed
it proper to ask the Senate to vote
whether it would return TO the ancient
policy of the Government, to the
rule which had existed from 1889 to 1867
and which notwithstanding the condi-
tiOn OF statute books had practically
existed since the Accession to power of
Gen. Grant in 1869. President Grant
had recommended its repeal. 80 that he
lHoarl was acting under pretty substan-
tial Republican authority in trying to get
rid of this legislation. While expressing
himself in full sympathy with the princi-
pies of Civil Service Reform he still de-
ClaTed his conviction that the people of
the United States expected and demanded
that no man should be kept in an execu-
tive employment who had not the conf
denCe Of the person responsible for the
success of the Executive functions.
Pending discussion the Senate went into
Executive session and when the doors re-
opened, adjourned.