Mr. BROWN. The substance of this resolution is an attempt to conform the civil service, in many of its details of appointment and of dismissal, to the regulations and conditions which govern th'e military service of the country. I cannot hope, at this late stage of the session, to get any definite or final action on the subject. It is one of such a large character, and will necessarily involve so much consideration, that all I can hope, at the present time, is to brin it to the attention of the distinguished gentlemeu who compose the ComJudiciary, and invite for it their consideration. I will say further, however, that I had been engaged in the preparation of bills covering the objects specified in this res olution with the design of bringing them before the Senate at this session; but absence and sickness have interfered so largely with my ability to prepare them that I have not been able to complete them. I did not think it right, lfowever, to let the whole subject go by without taking some notice of it, and without stating that is my design, if I am spared, to present the subject in a more tangible form at the next session of Congress. I believe, sir, that the great danger of this Government one that probably threatens its life within the next ten or 15 years consists in the use of the public patronage for party purposes. I believe, furthermore, that no party is benefited b that public patronage any more th s an government of Europe benefited by i staning army. If there were a general disarmament of parties here of this great force of public patronage it would go further to give our Government character, to defend it from corruption, and to insure its perpetuity, than all other legislatiOn within the scope of my conception at t iis moment. I believe, sir, it is perfectly feasible. We all know, and we all have seen, that there are 2 great branches of the public service the Army and the Nov which derive their appointments from tesame source, which are subjected to the same revisal here as the other branches of the public service; and yet they, by the necessities of the case and the gravity of events involved in connection with them, have been kept free from this sinister and debasing influence. The Army of the U.S and the Navy of the U.S., today embracing large numbers of appointees, are not political appliances within the meaning of the term. I see no reason why the same safeguards and conditions mayIne t be thrown around the public service in other depts, and I believe that the gravity which begins to ather around our financial dept our Treasu Deptthe gathering in of 500 millions of revenue a year and its disbursement throughout the country, requires that that shall be put on a more stringent‘footing as to the great purpose of requiring that public functionaries shall do the public service and that alone. However, sir, I did not intend to be drawn into any extended remarks, this morning, on the subject. I slimply desired to have it referred to the ComJudiciary, tor the sake of bringing the matter to attention here and to the attention of the public elsewhere. I trust that the resolution will be acted upon now. The resolution was agreed to. MINERAL LANDS.