The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1866-05-01
CONGRESSIONAL PROCEEDINGS.
WASHINGTON, April 80.

I q
explanation. Some weeks since he had
referred to an organization in the city
4 known as the National Rifles, as a
rebel organization. This he since
/ learned was mistake.
Mr.. Howe rose to a personal explana-
/ ton. He had seen in the special dis
patches to the New York Herald par
agraph that Gov. FaircEild was here to
arrange matters relative to the Fon Du
Lac Postmaster. twas not true. Gov.
| Fairchild was here to settle accounts
between the General Government and
the State of Wisconsin. In the course
of few remarks on this subject Mr..
Howe said the assistant Postmaster
| General had remarked that no man
should eat President Johnson's bread
and butter who did not support his
policy. He Howe did not agree in the
| opinion of the assistant Postmaster
General, that the public patronage OF
this country was designed as an instru-
ment for dragooning people into the
support of any particular line of
policy.
relief of the poor of Alabama, which
was referred to the Committee on
Mr.. Trumbull called up the bill to
| authorize the construction of certain
bridges on the Mississippi river at
Quincy. Illinois, for railroad purposes.
| Mr.. Grimes offered an amendment,
which was adopted, authorizing the
| Chicago, Burlington and Quincy rail-
road TO bridge the river at Burlington.
Mr.. Henderson offered an amends
ment, which was adopted, authorizing
| the construction of a bridge at HHnni-
bal, Missouri. The bill as amended was
! then passed.
The bill making appropriations Tor
the support of the POSt-ofhce Depart
meut for the ensuing year, was
called up.
Mr.. Trumbull offered the following
as an amendment to the bill: No per-
son exercising or performing the duties
of any office which by law is required
to be filled by the advice and consent of
| the Senate, shall, before confirmation
by the Senate, receive any salary or
compensation for his services, unless he
be commissioned by the President to
| fill up a vacancy which has, during the
recess of the Senate and since its last
adjournment, happened by death, resig-
nation or expiration of term of office.
Mr.. Trumbull did not think the right
| of the President to exercise the power
of removing from Office was understood
| in his amendment. According to stat
ute of 1868, to provide that officers APP
pointed by and with the consent of the
Senate, should be removed only by
and with the advice and consent of the
Senate. This wasAprovided in the law
creating the office of Comptroller of the
Currency. The President, Mr.. Trum-
bull said, has no authority over the
Treasury of the country. He cannot
draw his salary without the consent of
Congress. There is, therefore, no con-
stitntional question involved in this.
The intimation ofthe amendment was
to prevent any one being put out of
Office and another being put in his place
SO as TO receive his pay, and If the Pres
ident thinks proper and undertakes to
refuse officers, the successors Shall re-
ceive no pay, if this provision become
a law, until he is confirmed by the
Senate.
Mr.. johnson said that admitting the
power of Congress to refuse to pay an
officer, 1t was questionable whether
there was any moral right to do SO, The
precedent about to be established
to plague the inventor. 1t might hap
pen that those now in the minority
should obtain majority in Congress.
While the other party had President
elected, Congress might refuse to pay
the Presidents appointees. Mr.. john
son said he would read letter from
Mr.. Madison on the subject, written at
at a time when there was more bitter
war between Congress and the Presi-
dent than now EXISTS, admitting there
is war ut present,
Mr.. Clark-There is no war. Laugh-
ter.)
Mr.. Johnson-I say admitting there
is war.
(Laughter.)
Amer few remarks by Mr.. Sumner
in its favor, Mr.. Trumbull replied to
Mr.. Johnson.
Mr.. Trumbull said Mr.. Johnson was
mistaken in supposing that this was
measure hostile to the executive. 1t
was simply an amendment to carry out
clear constitutional power of Congress
| to prevent II practice which had grown
up of making appointments to office
without consulting the Senate.
Mr.. Sherman said he believed Con-
gress had the right to limit the power
of the President to appoint: It exer-
ercised that power in 1868 in the bill
creating the office of Comptroller of
Currency. The pending proposition
was however very harsh and he would
hesitate before giving his assent to it..
The Senate at 5 o'clock, without TAX
| ing action on the pending bill or
amendment, adjourned.
HOUSE.
Mr.. Rice. of Maine, introduced a bill
giving further time and facilities for the
conversion of State Banks into Nation
al Banks, which was read twice and
referred to the Committee on Banks.
Mr.. Rice also introduced bill to dis
approve of the act oil the Legislative
Assembly at Washington Territory, in
reference to Scanamond county, which
was read twice and referred to the Com
mittee on Territories.
Mr.. Garfield, of Ohio, introduced
bill to promote the construction of n
Railroad between the city of Washing
| ton and the Northwest for National
purposes. Also bill to promote the
construction of Railroad from Pitts
burgh to Cleveland, Ohio. Both were
read twice and referred to the Commit
tee on Military and Postal Railroad,
and ordered to be printed.
| Mr.. Spaulding, of Ohio, introduced a
Joint resolution for the construction of
a railroad bridge across the Cuyahoga
river over and upon the Government
piers at Cleveland, which was read
| twice and referred to the Committee on
| Commerce.
Mr.. Smith, of KY, introduced a bill
4 to aid in the construction of a wagon
road in the territory of Montana, which
was read twice and referred to the Com
mittee on Territories.
Mr.. Kuykendall, of ILL.,, introduced a
Joint resolution declaring the "consti-
! tutional'' relation of the State of Ten
nessee restored to practical relations
with the United States, which was read
twice and referred to the Judiciary
Committee.
Mr.. Hubbard, of Iowa, introduced a
L a az Hf rNf 10 1874