Rensselaer Republican, Volume 20, Number 20, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 19 January 1888 — THE FIFTIETH CONGRESS. [ARTICLE]

THE FIFTIETH CONGRESS.

In the Senate on the 11th the re*e ntton offered t»y Mr. Hale, on the 12th o( December, for • select eommitteo to examine fully Into the present condition of the civil ervlee, was takes up, and Mr. Halo add rowed the -pnate in ex- 1 planation and advocacy of it. He doOhtrod that' his object in offering it we# to secure an invectigation. with a since'e purpose of bringing before Congress the present actual condition of tht civil-service of the country, and also certain performances of certain high and low officials of the Government. Mr. Hale then reviewed the eivll-sorvioe under various administrations. He then labored to expose the claims of reform by the present administration, observing by a table of figures that but few officers remain In the service now that had not been appointed by this administration. M. Hale also devoted himself, to the rubjeet of political assessments in #hieh he argued the Democratic administration had flagrantly violated the law. Mr'. Coke spoke inopposition to the Blair educational bill The House referred the President's message ta ' the Ways and Means Committee. The '‘little deficiency bill” was taken up. A long debate ensued, ana during its prcgiess the question as to where the responsibility for the defeat of the deficiency bill at the laat session rested, was » fully discussed. The custom of holding bask appropriation bills also received considerable attention,, On motion of Mr. Burnes an amendment was adopted, appropriating *100,006 for the payment of judgments and awards against the Unite 1 States on account of damages caused by reos nos the impiovement of the Fox and Wisconsin rivers. The bill was then passed. Tho Senate on the 12th passed a bill authorising the construction of a bridge across the Missouri river/at Sti Charles, Mo. Mr. Chandler made a brief speech in the Senate on his resolution for an investigation of the Jackson, (Miss) election, and offered several letters from citisens charging that the election was Interfered with both by private citizens and federal officers. He was followed by Mr. Riddleberger, who wanted to knew whether this was intended as an attack upon Mr. Lamar, to affect his confirmation, saying that If this was the case, the matter should be considered in exeontive session. If he thought this attack was intended for such a purpose, he, for one, would vote to confirm Lamar, Senator Maxey spoke briefly, claiming that as the ejection referred to was not for any United States official it was not within the jurisdictioe of the Senate to inquire. into it. Mr.. Walthall and Mr. George opposed the resolution for ths same reason. The resolution was then adoptedyeas 29, nays 24.' Mitchell called up his bill abrogating all treaties operative between China and the United St-ites and advocated its passage, as did Stewart also. The bill proposes to absolutely prohibit the landing of any Chinese whatever except consular officers. ’ The House passed a bill to punish robbery, b urglajy and lareeny in the Indian Territory. It fixes the maximum punishment for those offenees at 81,000 fine and fifteen yeais imprison ment. Wilkins of O. called up the bill providfn lor the issue of circulating notes to National banking associations. Wilkins statod that nn- . der this measure the National banks, if they saw fit, might increase their circulation. There wst in the Treasury security ior a circulation of 816',, 000,0 00-'-Uniied States bonds to the amount of >189,000,600. If this bill should become a law, the circulation of National banks would be Increased in round numbers sil.ooo 000. Mr. Wilkins demanded the previous question on the third reading of the bill. The yeas and nays were ordered, pending which the opponents of the bill resrrted to filibustering tactics, which consumed the remainder of the morning hour, in which the bill was being eensldered, and the matter went over. The resolution Calling upon Secrerary of War for information concerning the “rebel battle flag order” was adopted. The bill fixing the salary of the Commissioner on fisheries at 85,000 was passed. Mr. Riddleberger made two futile attempts la the Senate on the 13th to go into executive session, to consider the Lamar case, but failed in both insiancos. Mr. Vance favored the Brown resolution abolishing internal revenur taxation. The Blair educational bill was also discussed. The House passed a private bill. On the 16th Mr. Blair presented in the Senate a memorial and resolutions of the General Assembly of the Knights of Labor in favor of an investigation into the management of the Bureau of Engraving and Printing, and for such legislation as will prevent the debasement of currency note-/, etc,, and also for-an inv.stigatioa as to the present method of 'supplying postage stamps, etc. He asked that the memorial (covering twelve sheets of type-writing) be printed in the Record, but as Mr Harris obj.-eied, he proceeded to state the chief allegations contained in -it. In executive session the appointment of Lamar as a Judge of the Supreme Court was confirmed, the vote standing yeas 8?, nays 28. Riddleberger, Stewart and Stanford voting with the Democrats in the affirmative. The appointment of Don M. Dickinson as Postmaster-Genera and W. F. Vilas as Sooretftf y of the Interior were confirmed without division. in the HouseJ Mr. McMillin, of Tennessee from the oommitte© on merchant marine and fisheries, reported the Dingly resolution calling for information relative to discrimination in tolls against Amorican vessels passing through the Welland canal. The resolution was adopted. A,long discussion arose over the delay in the printing of the Record and other public documents by the public printer, and a resolution to investigate the matter fully and completely was defeated by a vote of 136 to 140. Perkins of _ Kansas offered a measure providing for a clerk for every member of the House, which measure was defeated by ayes 64 nays 181. The man who imagines that his exist* ence is necessary to the movement of the world is generally buried in a pine coffin without trimmiogs.