The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1894-01-23
DIVISION OF THE OFFICES.
Senator Berry Opens Fire on the
Civil Service Law.

He Expresses the Opinion That It Is
Party Machine to Keep Republt-
cans in ofhoe-Senator Wolcott De-
fends the Law-Senator PETER Talks
Against Issuing Bonds.
Washington, Jan. 22.-The usual grist Of
petitions and memorials against tinker
ing with the tariff, was poured into the
Senate hopper this morning.
A remonstrance from the Knights of
Labor against an issue OF governments
bonds was also presented by MIR. Hoar.
The resolution offered last Thursday by
Mr.. Call instructing the committee on
the civil service to examine into the con>
dition of the civil service law. and the
expediency of its retrenchment or in
crease, was laid before the Senate, and
an amendment offered to it by Mr.. Berry.
directing the committee to report also
the number of persons employed in ths
classified service from each state and
territory and, as far as possible, the
political party TO which they belong.
PARTY MACHINE.
Mr. Berry remarked that the law had
been called non-partiran, but he believed
that it was a regular party machine
which was used to keep republicans in
Office. 1t was alleged, he said, that five
out of every six persons employed in the
classified service belonged to the Repub-
lican party, and that was unfair and un-
just He did not know whether the law
could be repealed or not; but he believed
that is should be modified and It's opera
tions restricted.
MIR. Cockrell asked whether the re-
sponsibilitY for the retention Of republi-
cans in Office was in the law or the execu-
tive.
Mr.. Berry said that he did not know
whore the responsibility lay, but he did
know that the civil service law and rules
were not carried out In a non-p artisan
way, and that some of the most extreme
republicans were holding office under
democratic administration. He believed
that a democratic Presldentiought TO be-
surrounded by political friends and not
by those who were continually doing
what they could to make his administra-
tion failure.
woLCoTT DEPENDS THE LAW.
Mr.. Wolcott moved to strike out of MFR.
Berry's amendment the part that requires
the politics of employees TO be reported.
Who, he asked, could tell their politicss
There were men who, six months ago, en-
tertained certain political views, and
who had since changed those views radi-
cally. The best test Of the fitness of the
civil service commission was that the
members of each political party found the
most fault with it when their own party
was in power. He agreed with MIR.
Berry that the President should be sur
rounded by his political friends; but it
was not always the fault of his political
friends that he was not so surrounded.
Laughter.
Mr. CockreH suggested that the dates OF
unnoiO fmanf QhOnlH ha ronOrfad n auRfs
dates would indicate very clearly the po-
litical party to which the appontees be-
longed, and MIR. Wolcott adopted the sug-
gestion.
After further discussion, Mr.. Wolcott's
amendment was agreed to, Mr. Berry's
so amended was agreed to, and the reso-
luton was adopted.
The credentials of Senator Martin,
dem, Of Virginia, for the term beginning
March 4, 1895, were presented and placed
on file
PETER AND THE BONDS.
The resolution offered last Thursday by
Mr.. PETER on the subject of the notice OF
the issue of bonds, declaring that the
Secretary Of the Treasury had no lawful
authority for issuing or selling such
bonds, was laid before the Senate, and
was discussed for nearly three hours. Mr..
PETER held the floor most Of the time,
y
interpose remarks. One of the most
pregnant of these remarks was made by
the populist senator from Nebraska, Mr..
Allen, and had reference to the PROPOSE
ton on the part of the Knights of Labor
TO apply TO the courts for an Injunction TO
prevent the issue of bonds. MIR. Allen
suggested that the courts might decline
TO interfere with the executive branch of
the government, and that the best way
would be to allow the bonds to be issued,
and then TO enioin their payment
The resolution went over without action
until tomorrow, when il is TO be further
discussed by Mr.. Stewart
Then there was a short executive ses-
sion, and afterward, at 4 o'clock p. M,
the Senate adjourned until tomorrow.
The executive session was confined to
the consideration of routine business.
The nomination of Mr. Peckham to the
supreme bench, under the rule, was re-
ferred 10 the committee on the judiciary,
which committee will not meet until next
Monday.