New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1897-03-04
June 90. "a yeas C2J Republicans. . Dsnsr.
to IL nays Il Republican. II Democratic
BEGINNING THE NEW NAVY

to IL nays Il Republican. IL DenocratA
BEGINNING THE NEW SAvY
The President having advised a reconst,t
OF the now almost obsolet' and inef'icsst A
lean Navy, Congress. at this session. sush<,
a beginning by ordering the building Il
large unarmored cruisers.
The subject Of Internal Revenue r-1r
gave rise to the longest discussion ~ tbs N.
In view Of the Overlooking Treasury. the E>,&
lican party resolved 10 repeal all the n-s
revenue taxes then remaining except he
tobacco. spirits and malt liquors. and % ns,
facturers and merchants of tobacco and 90
A bill to that effect was reported. aiming uiS
duction Of S26.OOO.Ur year. IL was u<ss<
opposed by the Democrats II the House. VI -
ferred that the whole abatement Of ~
should come by reducing the duties On inps'
goods. The tariff battle was Ought ov9 ~
and the bill was opposed desperately.
ma ssed however in the Hous" ~ ~ tW
Republicans and % Democratsl TO ~ nan
Republicans ~ Democrats. anf Greenne1,
and Readjustersl. No CONCLUSION va
in the Senate. The Democrats there ssvv i
secure a reduction Of import duties W 80
ments to the bill. After an eShausiins ~
the bill was laid aside until after the rory
the report Of the Tariff Commission ~
winter. 4
CIVIL SERVICE REFoRM
The XLvIIth Congress met for rs secsoe
sion December 4. 1ss2, adjourning sine dk -
3. 1889. The roll:
Senate-Republicans. 81: DemocratA ~ y
adjuster, /; Independent ]. Total. ~
House,. Warren Keifer. Of Ohio
Speaker. Republicans. H.: Democfs9
Readjusters, =: Greenbackers. .. TstS, ~
President Arthurs Message repos'ed N
plus revenue OF the year As Slio.1kAvH
eether with x2O.OOOOO from cash % ~
the Treasury. this surplus had been 49,
the public debt, which had been reduees ~
OOO.OOO. The balance Of foreign trad<. "
had ranged from 5l.O0O.VV to ssa-v"~
wear :, favor of the United States fos ave -
had fallen TO $2GOOO.OoO during the ~
The President reported that 26.vDO.M d {
YER dollars had been coined during The ia
which only 81, .OOUD had gone int cfcss1
and e. mass Of silver had accumulated
Treasury. until there WAS lack -
ROOM A suspension Of the system d o@'
sorry coinage was advised. The Presiien! W
mended A reduction in internal revenue
and tariff duties. both To relieve the peopk
war taxes and because. he declared. that ~
wise either a large idle surplus would sos
late in the Treasury. or II would have toS
piled to reducing the public debt BY m'
bonds in .he market at the high premiums
prevailing.
President Arthur renewed his Request
law regulating appointments H. The Ciu
vice; he declared that the burden impcG
the Administration. relative 10 the lWvweS
at its disposal. was too great; public inis's
the subject had greatly increased. ana tm !.
had come for law. Referrins % reinc'as
office and public complaints that tried anu
full officials had been removed in large nue.
the President reported that during iou Y.
President Hayes had made 2GD appo'n'1-
244 being 10 fill places made vacant by r.~
President Garfield. during his four month";
made 3w appointments, ~ being remosA
far President Arthur had made lls spw
ments ~ being removals President NJ
announced that in July. I'M. ne had -
notice to Federal employees that they "%
liberty 10 refuse payment u pOntlA q
ments without affecting their status
Civil Service. but he reminded congress
there should be a law on the subject ~
One Of the first acts Of this session "as W
law creating a Civil Service ,o''''.
which should conduct open compeu'l.s Z
atoms for testing the fitness II apphy sh'
appointment in the classified pubic seNn'
requiring that places and promotions -
service should be filled only by selecuon
those who have passed the eNaminsuo"sS-
law was limited To the executive drp.ns{
and 10 offices whose employees numbere1 - 80
fifty. and required that appointments 49, =
apportoned among the states ana Ienm
The law also expressly freed all persons
public service from the obligation 10 onu.
to political campaign funds, and ipihaN
beers, Senator's. and employees of both m~
Of Congress from soliciting or receivlns
paign or political subscriptions from einp'S g.
the Government. The Democrats ~ Dan -
showed considerable apathy with resara
bill hut IL was passed 10y thu Senate. ~ ~ M.
-. lsS2. by 3? yeas G2G Republicans, "a -
crats) 10 = nays ,all Democrats an. o.
House January I. l>>i. by l1J yeas l'c s m,rr
leans. & Democrats) 10 I. nays q Kepvsss
10 Democrats) From the origin OF the W.,
vice idea and its adoption ana practical ~
ton by President Grant down ID the 49,, !
this law. this was a Eepublicdn u'''e"
every respect an a
A bill forbdding political assessments "a -
holders was passed by the Senate nut is
Ia, il had become