Democratic Sentinel, Volume 6, Number 48, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 29 December 1882 — DOINGS OF CONGRESS. [ARTICLE]

DOINGS OF CONGRESS.

Mr. Voorhees addressed the Senate In opposition to the Pendleton Civil Service bill on the 16th inst He said (he bill provided for admission of competitive examination to only the lowest grade of public offices. Therefore the treatment of the bill in the Senate seemed to him to be “much ado about nothing.” The zeal of the Republicans for a reform of the civil service seemed to result from deathbed repentance, which was brought about not by hatred of their sins, but by fear that they would not be allowed to indulge in them 'much longer, and the Democrats were soothing the sufferings of the deathbed with the esthetic gruel of politics. Who had ever heard of any political scandals occurring among lower-grade clerks’ They were not the public officers who figured in star-route or whisky-ring transactions. Yet this bill proposed to examine and regulate and replace these poor minor officials, leaving the strong, arrogant, corrupt higher officers undisturbed. The real demand of the people was for penal laws to punish wrongdoers in high places, not for contrivances to wrong poor clerks. An amendment to the measure by Mr. Brown to limit the term of the Commissioners to four years was lost. The House devoted the day in committee of the whole to the Postoffice Appropriation bill Mr. Sherman presented a bill in the Senate, on the 18th inst, to extend for two years the time in which spii'rts must be withdrawn from bonded warehouses. Mr. Plumb reported a measure to authorize the sale to settlers of part of the Fort Dodge reservation. The provisions of the Indian Appropriation bill, which sets aside $6,625,000, were explained by Mr. Dawes, and several amendments reported by the Senate committee were adopted. Mr. Brown stated that the committee appointed to attend the funeral of Ben H. Hill expended only $1,025. The House resolution in regard to the death of Mr. Orth called out tributes of respect, and caused an adjournment The President nominated to the Senate John F. Gimsted, of the District of Columbia, to be Commissioner of the District. In the House, the desk of the late Hon. Godlove 8. Orth was draped in mourning, and the Chaplain alluded to his death in tender phrases. Mr. Butterworth offered a resolution reciting the injury done the tobacco trade by the proposition to reduce the tax, and pledging the House to grant a rebate on unbroken packages should the tax be repealed. Mr. Kelley reported back unfavorably the resolution for a holiday recess, arid it was voted down by 105 to 123. A resolution offered by Mr. Robeson, to impose a fine of SSO per day on members absent during the holidays, was adopted. Mr. Logan presented a bill in the Senate, Dec. 19, which was referred to the Judiciary Committee, regulating charges to be made by telegraph companies. It provides that such corporations must transmit messages for other companies in the same business at the same rates as are charged the public. The understanding is that the bill rs aimed at the Western Union, which has been in the habit of levying a prohibitory tariff on messages given to it by the Mutual Union. It is also alleged that the Western Union has been charging a royalty on Atlantic cable messages. A similar' bill was introduced in the House by Mr. Joyce, of Vermont. Mr. Sherman presented a memorial in the Senate asking that monthly publications be carried by mail at the same rate as weeklies. The Indian Appropriation bill was passed with an amendment directing the removal of the Crow Agency to the vicinity of ' Fort Custer. The bill to extend the time for the withdrawal of distilled spirits in bond was called up by Mr. Sherman. Mr. Ingalls secured an amendment for the collection of 5 per cent, interest after the expiration of three years from entry. Mr. McPherson offered a resolution for a rebate in case the tax on tobacco is reduced. In the House of Representatives, a bill was introduced to limit the number of liquor saloons in the District of Columbia to 200. Mr. Mills offered a resolution inquiring of the Postmaster General if letter-carriers had been prohibited from wearing overcoata A number of requests for leave of absence having been presented, it was voted, by 177 to HI, to adjourn from Dec. ii to Jan. 2. Bills were introduced—to pre-

vent Federal officeholders from Interfering with the freedom of elections, to stop the importation of adulterated tea, to annul the anti-polygamy law and to repeal the statute for the pre-emption of public lands. A resolution was adopted that the Garfield Board of Audit report all claims presented and allowed. The Postoffice Appropriatin bill was considered in committee of the whole and the relations of the Pacific roads to the Government were fully explained. The Senate passed the Consular Appropriation bUTDec. 20. Mr. Saunders, by request, introduced an act for the admission of Utah as a State, and a bill for the construction of a bridge across the Missouri directly between < )maha and (’ouncil Bluffs. When the Civil Service bill came up, Mr. Pendleton offered an amendment striking out the provision that original entrance to the service shall be in the lowest grade. This provoked a free-for-all talking match, in which several Senators tired out their tongues, when an executive session came to their relief. The House passed a bill to permit retired armv officers to hold civii offices in the Territories, after rejecting an amendment to cover their retired pay into the treasury. The Postoftice Appropriation bill was passed. Mr. Lynch offered a resolution to extend the provisions of the Pension Appropriation bill to enlisted colored men. A proposition for a holiday recess was voted down by the Senate, Dec. 21. The Agricultural Appropriation bill was passed Petitions were presented for a rebate on tobacco, for the repeal of all taxes on that article, and for immediate action on the Bonded Whisky bill Mr. Bayard gave notice that he would"endeavor to quiet apprehension in the. tobacco business by pressing a tobacco rebate resolution. Mr. Saunders offered a resolution in favor of reserving ail Government lands for actual settlement In the House. Mr. Kelley reported a resolution for a rebate on tobacco in stock hi the, event of a reduction of the tax, and Mr. Kasson presented a substitute affirming "that the only reduction made will be that provided lor in the bill now pending. The Speaker presented a report by the Collector of Customs at Sitka, justifying the bombardment of an Indian tillage by the revenue schooner Corwin. The Armv Appropriation bill, which sets aside $24,681,700, was considered in committee of the whole. Mr. Hewitt argued in raver ot giving land-grant railroads for transportation only half what is paid by private parties, and Messrs. Hiscock, Robinson and Butterworth antagonized his position.