Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1858-04-16
CONGRESSIONAL.
Thfrty.fifth Consress-First Session.

In THE SENATE, yesterday, after our report
closed, the Pacific railroad bill was further con-
sidered, and postponed until today.
Several private bills were passed, as were also
bills anenddtorv of the acts respecting the Ii
ccnsing of steamers and coasting vessels.
In THE HOUSE, an effort made to take up
the Minnesota bill; but 1T was resisted, and the
House went into Committee Of the W hole on the
Police bill
MI Thompson had no objection to a proper
bill organizing police force. The District, in
fact, was under the jurisdiction of Congress. He
thought these police officers should be appointed
by the Mayor. with the approval Of the Common
Council. He would have single head; and If
TO vote $50 900 from the Treasury to be put
with that amount to enable them to maintain an
additional force for the protection of life and
property.
Mr.. Scales hoped that matter Of this sort in
which they all felt interest, would, at least :.
he free from anything like party prejudice.
These objections struck him as Discount eOus to
the President. He was not in Congress to vim
dicate the character Of the Administration ; it
did not need vindicatiOn at his hands. The bill
did not impair or infringe any rights, hut merely
aided the people in preventing blOOdshed and
assassination which had become Of SO frequent
occurrence. Congress possessed this power un-
der the Constitution, and if the Constitution was
anti-Democratic then the bill was anti Demo-
cratic.
Mr.. Kelly said the citizens asked Congress to
provide means whereby they might be protected
rom laWleSSneSS. Inc Dill OnerCu proposed
give the power to the President to appoint
chief of police, and that that chief of police, with
the consent of the Secretary of the Interior,
should have power to appoint his subordinate
officers The amendment OF MIR Letter proposed
the appointment of three commissioners with
power 10 appoint the subordinate officers. His
experience had taught him that where they put
power in the hands of the commissioners TO APP
point the policemen, the moment they APP
pointed, they set to work 10 bring about their
reelection. The increase Of expense not
material. in his opinion. They already paid
$4,000, and this pense would only be Increased
| to Sl0O.OO0 to give police which wonld no
doubt he Of such character that no one would
be Liable to complain.
Mr. Eusticew uld not vote for tho bill because
| il would be gross Insult to the people to say
that he citizens of Washington could not elect a
| mayor in whose hands they could place the ap-
pointment Of police officers. 1t would also be
an insnt to the President TO make him mere
| chief OF police.
| Mr.. Granger was oppoSed to the bill. II wa,
| wrong to take from the treasury the money that
| belongs to the people of the whole country and
give it to the city of Washington.
| Mr.. Morse said ii was a erequsstion of money
| He opposed the bill and attacked the admins.
| tratiOn.
| Mr.. Letter was opposed to the bill He an.
nounced his determination TO vote for his subsii
| tute, but had little hope of its adoption. Ht
hoped, however, that a bill would pass thai
| would meet the wants of the times.
| The COmmitte rose, and the House adjourned