Rensselaer Republican, Volume 15, Number 20, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 25 January 1883 — WASHINGTON NOTES. [ARTICLE]

WASHINGTON NOTES.

Presidtent Author will sign the civil service AilL The purchase of the house in which President Lincoln died was authorized for 112,000. Ex-Senator Dorsey has resigned the Secretaryship of the Republican National Committee. The pension appropriation bill has been reported to the full committee. It appropriates $81,000,000. The conference committee on the agricultural appropriation bill, report in favor of $405,640, an increase of $13,000. At the request of J. F. Olmstead, President Authur has withdrawn his nomination to be commissioner of the District of Columbia. The interesting debt of the United States is now less than $1,400,000,000, or accurately speaking, it was but $1,392,245,450 on the 2d of January. The sub-committee which has charge of the postoffice bill has retained the clause providing for a reduction of letter postage to two oentsper half ounce. The treasury department is docking its employes for absence. One man has been notified that for this month he had been docked $36, another S3O and a woman $25. The Supreme Court decided that the bottles in which ale and beer are imported are subject to a duty of 85 per cent advalorem in addition to the duty of 35 cents per gallon on the ale and beer contained in the bottles. Thirty government offices outside of the government departments at Washington will be affected by the new civ service reform law- It applies only to government offices in which as many as fifty appointees are employed. General Wheeler, of Alabama, was sworn in at 11 o’clock, Monday. He introduced five bills under the call t>f States, and made a speech on the justice of pensioning Mexican soldiers. He was a noted Confederate cavalry officer, which may account for the dash with which he makes his entree.

Congressman March, the Maine Green backer, who charged the chief clerk of the House with being the representative of the Washington Gaslight company on the floor of the House and of improperly influencing members, has withdrawn all allegations and charges. The investigating committee, however, concluded to examine Mr. March and his papers oh the subject. President Arthur and Cabinet have considered the Fitz John Porter bill in several Cabinet sessions. This was for the purpose of deciding what shall be done in the case Congress passes the bill. The question was referred to the Attorney General, and he delivered in the Cabinet a long opinion upon the subject. The decision is adverse to the bill, and advises the President to withhold his approval of the measure in case it is passed by the House. Mr. Brewster proceeds upon the basis that the Scofield board was an extra official one, and had no authority to administer an oath or to take competent testimony. Porter’s guilt or innocence had been passed upon by a competent tribunal. The President had an undoubted right to pardon Porter. His twenty years of punishment were enough, but the Attorney General doubted very much the propriety of attempting to restore Porter to the army. He thought that the prevailing opinion in the North was against his restoration. The Attorney General's opinion was discussed and a vote was taken. The President approved the views of the Attorney General and all the members of the Cabinet voted with the President and Mr. Brewster, except Mr. Frelinghuysen and Mr. Folger. The latter did not vote. It is certain, from the occurrences in the Cabinet that the President will veto the bill if it should be passed by the House. The Pendleton Civil Service bill, passed by Congress states in the preamble that all citizens should be allowed equal opportunities for employment and promotion in the subordinate civil service of the United States, and the government should have the largest choice among those likely to answer the requirements of the public service. It authorizes the President to appoint, with the confirmation of the Senate, three commissioners to constitute a civil service commission, not more than two of whom shall be of the same political party, who can hold no other official place under the government, and shall receive a salary of $3,500 a year and necessary traveling expenses. The bill provides that the oommissinoers shall prepare rules, and all government official* are expected ro aid in putting them in force. These rules shall require competitive examinations bearing on the fitness ol the applicants for the positions they se Appcmtments must be apportioned among the States, Territories, and Distric of Columbia in ratio of population, as shown by the last census. Evidence as to bona fide place of residence must be under oath. There shall be a period of probation before absolute apapointment Persons in office are not

under obligation to give money for political use, and no person in the service shall have any right to use his authority or influence to coerce the political opinions of any employee. The commissioners shall render a yearly report to the President, to be sent to Congress. The commission shall employ a chief examiner at $3,000 salary, a secretary and a stenographer at $1,600 each, and a messenger at S6OO. The commission will sit at Washington, and at one or more places in each State or Territory easy of access to applicants. Three persons already holding office in the State or Territory where the examination is to be held shall act as examiners without extra pay. Favoring and particular applicant by any commissioner or examiner in any way to the detriment of others being examined shall be punishable by fine of from SIOO to SI,OOO or imprisonment for ten days to one year, or both on conviction of guilt. All promotions in the civil service must be made under rules, to be prescribed by these commissioners six months from the passing of this act. Persons honorably discharged from the military or naval service ate not to be deprived of the preference accorded them under existing laws. Recommendations s to character and place of residence only can ue received from applicants. No person habitually using intoxicating drink to excess is eligible to any appointment The bill says that no Senator or Representative in Congress, or any officer or employee of the two Houses, or any person connected with the executive or judicial departments, or with any branch of the civil, military, or naval service, is permitted to solicit or receive money for political purposes from any other person employed in the public service* and no person is permitted to enter a public building for this purpose. The penalty for violating these provisions is a fine nofr exceeding $5,000, or imprisonment not exceeding three or both in the discretion of the court.