Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1891-03-03
HoUsE COMMITTEES
Report on Civil Service Bill and
Pacific Railroads.

| Lehlb8cn OF New Jersey, from the com
mittee on reform in civil services, today
suomi,ted to the House bill agreed on b,
the majority Of the committee Saturday
for the re organization Of the civil servics
commission. He submitted the report or
the result of the committees investigation
into the workinys Of the civil service iA~
The report ssys: "Your committee inves
tigsting the civil service lAw have come T.
the conclusion that certain Improvement,
can be made. Since the creation of the
civil service commission investigation dis
closes that the public service. has beer
greatly bene fitted, and the law, on the
whole. we'll executed. One objec.
:ion to the present law is that the
person appointed to that position, after
having passed civil service examination
msy be discharged by the superior without
cause. This is not the intent and spiri. OF
the law, and your committee feel there
should be q remedy proposed. We have
| come to the conclusion that q remodeilinp
of the civil service law is desirable, in order
that the duties of The civil service commis
| sion and those Of appointing officers should
| be clearly stated and defined"
Bill as agreed unon appropria.es Of S37, =
| sos, 1868, being 81, ,30l, ,7l9 less than estim-
| .tes. All lighthouses provided for either
by senate or house are retained with few
exceptions. The following seDsts provis
Ions were retained: 800, 900 TO pay ths
daughters of the late joeeph Henry, Sl0,-
600 each for the statues OF Sheridan, Logsn.
! and Hancock; the appropriation for
quarantine service for the prevention
Of epidemics Was reduced to $3.50 900
For ENFORCING the contract labor law, re-
duced from 500 000 to $4,000 Appropvi-
alton for geological survey $596, 400; for
military posts S745 900. Appropriation for
public printing aggregates 100000 more
,han House appropriation. Appropriation
of $3.50. 900 for new building for agricult-
uSai department and 500, 900 for irrigation
Investigations was struck out.
Se1ator Frye, chairman of the Senate
committee On the Pacific railroads, tooa,
reports 10 the Senate from that committee
and had recommittsd bill for the settle
| iDeut OF the Indebtedness to the government
| of the Union and Central Pacific Railroad
Companies The provisions of the bill sre
| in brief: In the case of the Union Pacific
Railroad Company. an extension of the
| debt 10 cover 100 years, 20 bear interest
| for the first ten years at per cent. and
| for the remainder of the time at 2 l-2 pe'
| cent. 10 addition, the company Is to psy
| a sum ranging from 20 of per cent tt
| l per cent Of it. total Indebtedness. The
| re rsquirements in the case of the Centrs
Pacific Railroad are that its debt b,
extended to cover 100 years, and bearing
interest for the first ten yesrs at per cen
and thereafter at 2 per cent. There is ,
provision for additional payments ss in the
| rf ha stut
sidy bill has at Last received final action il
Congress and now goes to the President TO-
| his signature.
| The provisions in substance are: Tha
the postmsstsr-general be authorized Il
contract with the lowest responsible bid
dsrs, for terms not less than I've nor NOR,
than 10 years with American citizens, TO
carrying the mails on American steam.hip
between ports Of the United States an,
such foreign ports (exclading CANADA q
| in his Judgement would beet promote tn
postal and commercial interests Of tn
United States, the mail service to be dis
trbuted eqniiab!y smocg the Al
lsn,ic. Mexican, Gulf aud Pacific ports
vessels to be American built ship.. owne
and cficered by American citizens; tb
crew to be composed Of American citizen
of the following proportions: During tn
first two contract years, one-fourth; De1
three, one third; the remsininR time q
least half. The vesseis to be consructe
after the latest and most approved type
jivided into four classes; First class. iro
or steel, 20 KNIT vessels and not less this
2500 tons American and English mail I
be carried on this class en,irely)
Second Class, iron or steel, IA kns
v.sssls not less than 2500 tons
Fourth class iron, steel or wooden IL knt
vessels of no. less than 1900 tons. Til
vessels Of first, second and third classes q,
to bs constructed with particular referenc
to prompt and economical conversion ih'
auxiliary and naval cruisers, strong enoug
! to carry six inch rifles, for bisheI
: known maritime rating. The compef
sation to be paid for mail servic
First class. - per mile; second class,
per mile, BY shs shortest practicable rout'
for esch outward voyage; third clsss,
per mile; fourth class, two-thirds Of do
: lar per mile, for the pnmbef Of mile
required by the post office departmei
travelled on each ouswart voyage. Pr,
visions are made for deductions on accoui
! of omitted voyages or delays; for tran
pofts,ion Of = mali messenger on each vel
} sci; for carrying apprentices or cadets {
American birth Zone for each 1000 tons
for use Of vessels by the Uoi.ed States
transports ar cruisers upon the payment
owners of the actual value 1t the time
taking, and for the assignment to duty q
/ who may volunteer for service.