Democratic Sentinel, Volume 6, Number 47, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 22 December 1882 — DOINGS OF CONGRESS. [ARTICLE]

DOINGS OF CONGRESS.

Mr. Pendleton gave notice to the Senate, at the s'-ssion of the 9th inst, that after the Bankruptcy bill was disposed of he would move to take up the Civil Service bill. Mr. Jance se" cured the passage of a resolution directing the Secretary o: the Treasury to furnish a detailed s atcinent of the cost of collecting internal revenue in each district. Mr. Haw ey intoduced a bill to prevent officers of the United States from col ecting subscriptions or assesiments from each i ther. A brief executive session was hold. Petitions from tobacco- ■ i a rs v e e presented for a rebate equal to any reduction that mav be made in the tax. In the llou-o of Representatives, Mr. Page reported a resolution ending on the Secretary of War for informs io.i whether the funds set aside by the River and ITarbor bill were appropriated for work-; n t of interest to commerce or navicao-. i-nd, it so, requesting that specifi- ai- ns be furnished. An exciting debate t> liowi-d, in which McLane and Robeson supported re resolution and Cox and Kasson oppc.H d it, but it was adopted. Mr. Kasson report cd a bill to improve the civil service. A bill rvas pu-sed to rectify the title to the military post >-t Ei Paso. Mr. McCoid introduced a biU to r-'eu'.ate in erstate commerce. Mr. Slater introduced a bill in the Senate, on the 11th inst, to forfeit the unearned lauds of the Oregon Central road. Mr. Ferry presented a measure to increase the pension of soldiers and sailors who lost an arm or leg in tho service. Mr. Van Wyck offered a resolution of inquiry whether a railroad is being constructed across the Niobrara military reservation w-ithout authority from Congress. The Bankruptcy bill prepared by Judge Lowell and recommended generally by Eastern Boards of Trade and Chambers fit Commerce, was sub-.lituted for what is known as the “Equity bill.” which was championed by the Western and Southern Senators. The vote stood 34 to 3' and the substitute was sent to the Judiciary Committee for revision. A motion to take up Mr. Pendleton’s Civil Service bill was carried; but the Senate dismissed and defeated a scheme to release the Memphis and Little Rock road from its obligations to carry troops free and mails at a reduced rate. The Senate confirmed the nominations of Gen. Pope and Col Mackenzie, to be Major General and Brigadier General respectively. In the House, Mr. Springer introduced a joint resolution providing for an

amendment to the constitution which shall extend the terms of the President and Vice President to six years and render them ineligible for re-election. It also fixes a threeyears’ term for Congressmen, and provides that, beginning with the year 1885, the Congress elected in November previous shall meet on the first Wednesday of January. Mr. Townshend, of Illinois, introduced a resolution reciting the efforts of certain railway managers to prevent the construction of competing lines in the Northwest, and directing the Committee on Commerce to report a bill to prohibit and punish such combination. Mr. Waite introduced a bill to stop the coinage of silver dollars until the stock is reduced to $50,000,000, and Mr. Ellis offered a measure to authorize the State «of Louisiana to establish quarantine stations. Mr. Dibrell presented an act to abolish internal-revenue taxes and allow a rebate on whisky and tobacco, and another to reduce the specie in the treasury to $150,000,000. A bul was passed to authorize brevet commissions for distinguished conduct in Indian campaigna A memorial of the Chicago Board of Trade in favor of the Lowell Bankruptcy bill was submitted in the Senate on the 12th inst On motion Mr. Hoar, the Postmaster General and Secretary of the Treasury were directed to transmit reports made on the administration of the Federal offices in New York. Bills were introduced to grant a pension to the widow of Gen Revere; to pay certain Indian war bonds of Colorado, and to prohibit officers and employes of the United States from contributing money for political purposes. Mr. Vest offered a resolution instructing the Committee ox Territories to report what legislation is necessary to protect public property, preserve the game and enforce the laws in Yellowstone Park. Mr. Pendleton explained the provisions of his Civil Service bill, and an extended debate took place, participated in chiefly by Messrs. Sherman, Allison and Pendleton. ‘ Numerous amendments were offered, but no definite action was taken. In the House the Postoffice, Military and Agricultural Appropriation bills were reported and referred to the committee of the whole. Mr. Randall offered a resolution requesting the President to furnish a complete statement of the expenditure for the improvement of rivers and harbors since the beginning of the Government The Congressional Library bill was not taken up. It was agreed that the building shall not cost in excess of $2,000,000 and that it shall be erected on land belonging to the Government.

Numerous petitions to fix the tax on tobacco and to increase the pensions of soldiers who lost an arm or a leg in the war, were offered in the Senate on the 13th and referred Ingalls introduced a bill to compel the prosecution of proceedings in bankruptcy to a final decree. The resolutions offered by Mr. Beck and Mr. Hale to investigate political assessments were referred to the Judiciary Committee. Mr. Pendleton’s Civil Service Reform bill was taken up. Mr. Logan secured an amendment providing that examinations shall be practical in their character, and Mr. Sherman caused the defeat of the permanent appropriation for the expenses of a civil-service commission. Mr. Garland introduced a bill to grant a right of way through the military reservation at Fort Scott for the St Louis and San Francisco road The President sent to the Senate the name of J. C. Bancroft Davis to be Judge pf the Court of Claims. The House, on motion of Mr. Springer, passed a joint resolution athorizing the payment of S2S,<XX) from the Virginius indemnity fund to Mrs. Eliza Dunn, of Chicago, the mother of Gen. W. A C. Ryan, who was slaughtered in Cuba The Congressional Library bill was recommitted, with instructions that it be changed to provide for the erection of a building on Government land in Washington. The Military Academy Appropriation bill was passed A resolution offered by Mr. Randall was adopted, requesting the Secretary of the Treasury to report the estimated amount paid for ocean freights during the fiscal year. Mr. O’Neill presented a petition from tobacco jobbers, asking a rebate equal to the reduction to be made in the tax. The session of the Senate on the 14th inst. was devoted almost wholly to debate on the Civil Service bill introduced by Mr. Pendleton. Mr. Hoar expressed a belief that the passage of this bill would mark an important era in American politics, and would be regarded in the future as almost equal to the adoption of a new and better constitution. Mr. Brown opposed the bill, and did “a little plain talking to the Democrats.” The object of the bill, he said, was to give the Republican party a permanent tenure of office, and the Republican party was clearly a minority of the people of this country. Mr. George thought there was reason in the objection that the bill did not permit competition by nil for offices of every grade, and expressed his regret that Mr. Brown had broken its force by coupling it with an argument that the bill would do the Democratic party ini'ustice. He was not so confident as Mr. frown appeared to be of Democratic triumph in 1884, and he thought the reverses of the Republicans this year were to be attributed in a large measure to that party having occupied the very position upon this question which Mr. Brown now wished the Democrats to take. He agreed with Mr. Brown that this bill, if passed, would not prevent the Democratic President, when he did come in, from following Jefferson’s rule. In a colloquy between Mr. Brown and Mr. George, the latter admitted that he would have the Democratic President turn out every office-holder who had responded to political assessments in the last campaign. The House consumed the day, in Committee of the Whole, in considering the Postoftice Appropriation bill After adjournment the Democratic Senators held a caucus, and resolved to oppose the admission to the Union of any new Territory at the present session of Congress. . -x. The Pendleton Civil Service bill again occupied the attention of the Senate on the 15th inst. Mr. Miller advocated the passage of the bill, saying that if the evils of the present civil-service system continue to increase in the same proportion as in the past, the Government could not outlive another century. Mr. George thought the adoption of the measure would inaugurate a most important and necessary reform. Mr. Bayard supported the bill, and spoke of the demoralizing effects upon public men of the “spoils system. ” The bill was amended to provide' for the confirmation of the Commissioners by the Senate. The French Spoliation bill was amended and passed. In the House Mr. Reed presented the memorial of James H. McLean, who was elected to the present Congress to succeed the late Thomas Alien, of Missouri, and who was refused a certificate because the Second district had been legislated out of existence. After considerable debate it was resolved, by 144 to 15, to swear in Mr. McLean, and he took the oath. The Postoftice bill was taken up, discussed and amended.