, 1886-05-02

h~AohiNbloNi NAY l.-nuF. rlnulay,
of Maryland, from the committee on civil
service, heretofore reform, submitted the
report on the resolution offered by Taul-
bee, of Kentucky, directing the secretary
Of the treasury to inform the house by
what authority the practice Of permitting
employees in his department to appoint
substitutes is allowed. The committee
in its report says it can see no reason for
questioning the good faith of the state
ment made by the acting secretary of the
treasury that substitution is allowed when
permanent employees are absent on ac-
count Of sickness. Accepting this as valid
valid reason for the temporary appoint
ment of substitutes, the committe asks to
be discharged from further consideration
of the subject.
Mr.. Taulbec thought the statement of
the acting secretary of the treasury could
not he construed SO as to mean that sub
stitutes were appointed only when per-
manent employees were absent on account
of sickness. Such a statement to his per.
sonal knowledge would be unwarranted.
The practice was an abuse of public
power and an abuse of the civil service
law. That law was part Of the Hypocrisy
1t had been conceived in sin and brought
forth in iniquity. But while it was bad
law the government was committed to it,
and while it could not be repealed it could
be respected and lived up to. In the
matter Of appointments at the time Of the
passage of the law, there were inequali-
ties and the law itself prohibited the cor
rection of these inequalities. The District
of Columbia, out of 1000 appointments
since the passage of the act, has been eu-
titled to two and received twenty four;
the state of Kentucky, which had been
entitled to thirty-three. received only
seventeen. This was not fair.
Mr.. Willard. of New York, inquired
whether the gentleman held that the
president and secretary OF the treasury
had not enforced the law.
raulbee replied hat he believed the
president and secretary were earnestly
trying to enforce it; but that the %lieuten-
ants under them were mislead and it was
impossible for them to give a faithful
execution of the law.
MI. Cannon, of Illinois-Is there any
thing in the civil service law that pro-
hibits the secretary OF the treasury or the
president from removing chief clerks, APP
pointment clerks and every head of the
bureau in that Appointment
Taulbae-There is not; but when the
Democrats took possession Of the execu-
tive branch Of the government the presi-
dent announced his policy that while the
civil service law should be carried out in
its letter, its spirit should apply to all
officers. The president may have differed
with some of the most jealous leaders Of
the Democratic party on that point, yet
it was his policy and with a few excep-
tons he is carrying it out-he carried it
out more fully than any of his predeces-
sors.
Canon-You are satisfied that these
abuses arise from the heads of the bu-
reaus2 If this is true, is the president in
competent, or knavish in refusing to re-
move them?
Taulbee-Neither. The president has
been occupied for the last three or four
months in trying to hold the senate in
check to keep them from besmirching his
character wrongfully. because he exercises
the discretion the constitution %confers
upon him.
Cannon-As l understand the contro-
versy, the gentleman refers to it as a con-
troversy between the senate and the presi-
dent as to whether the president shall pro.
fess to do one thing to please one portion
of his party, and then turn around and do
another thing to please the gentlemen like
my friend from Kentucky.
Are you in good health2r queried
Taulbee. II think something must be
the matter with you"
leave II to the country TO say
whether the gentleman is sick or well, .
replied Cannon.
Mr.. Taulbco did not wish to be under.
stood as making an assault upon the pres
ident or secretary of the treasury, because
they had enough to contend with in theil
controversy with the senate; but thes,
abuses ought to be corrected. The Dem
o%cratic party with its doctrines and prac
tices stood as far above the Republican
party as the stars above deep caverns o
the ocean, but if his party did wrong an,
abuses grew upon the Democratic admin
istrations. he would call attention tothem
MI. Fndlay moved to lay the resolu
ton on the table. The vote upon thi
motion was close and some excitemen
was manifested as the clerk proceeded t