Evening star., 1869-12-07
FORTY-FIRST CONGRESS.
This Afternoons Proceedings,
TUESDAY, December Z.

and promote "A national industrial exhibition TO
be held at washington IN 10. and also pre-
sented a memorial OF citizens OF Washington on
the same subject.
Mr.. Spencer introduced bill to reorcanize
the Engineer Corps OF the navy, fix its pay, &C.
Also, bill to amend the Civil Rights act.
Mr.. Sumner introduced bill to amend the
national frankng act, and TO promote return
TO specie payments.
Mr. Corbett introduced q bill to amend the
existing laws relating to the Internal Revenue.
Mr.. Morton introduced joint resolution declar-
ing the State of Virginia restored to its normal
condition in the Union, and entitled 10 T1presCn-
tatiOn in Congress
Mr. Trumbuu introduced a bill to relieve
members of Congress from importantly, and to
preserve the independence of the several De-
partments of the Government. lltprovides that
any member of Congress who recommends any
pcrsen to office, unless requested in writing bv
the President. or heads otDepartments, shall be
guilty Of mlstemeanOr and fined 81 900, unless
by a member OF the Senate in his constitutional
capacity
the civil service absolutely neces-
sary. In vast majority of cases appoint
mcnts were dictated by an influence utterly
unknown to the Constitution. Every member
OF this Senate ana OF the other House knows
that n majority of all the appointments are
made at their dictatiOn, and the President and
heads OF Departments are not left free to select
officers with an eye slngly to the public good. II
is generally the case that representatives claim
the appointments within their districts. and
where district is represented by an opposition
member the Senators will claim the privilege of
making the appointments. Often a good officer is
tnrned out because he did not go for the nomiRa-
ton OF the member of Congress from his district.
1iembelS OF Congress are often heard to saw that
they have such and such debts to pay, and tiIi>
is what it means often times. An Office j. made
Just to subscrvc the interests of some member of
Congress. All this is sIbvcrsive of tn CDnSt-
tuition, and is ,iemoralizing i'll the eNtrema.
This IL why we have the spectacle OF Senators
and members crowdjng the ante-chambcrs ofthe
President and heads OF the Departments. Ii s
m Pftral
a debit and credit account with members OF
Congress i'll this matter, charging them with
some certain Offices and crediting them with
Gel tain offices. If this bill l. passed it will allow
members of Congress to attend to their legi j.
mate duties, and relieve the President and the
heads of Departments from the pressure now
brought to bear uIOn hem.
Mr.. Davis was glad that the attention of the
Senator had been directed to this subject He
desired To know, however, how the State OF
Kentucky was to have good Officers, as she had
Senators and Representatives who had no in
fiuence with the appointing power. There was
one case in Kentucky now, in the Lexington
district where the present Internal Revenue
incumbent, q gallant soldier of the late war;
and who voted for General Grant, and who was
trusted by every one, was constantly mali sncd
by the Commissioner of Internal Revenue, who
had been seeking 10 compass his removal for
twelve months. There were other cases. The
manner i'll which appointments had been made
in Kentucky was shame and disgrace 10 the
administration.
| Mr.. Yates did not think il in accordance with
the dignity Of Senators to be signing recon-
mendatiOns oi persons to office. lie had seen
three signatures passing around, and he must
confess ii, his OWN. too, but he did not not like
il. He did not think it proper that Senators
who passed upon the nominations for Office
should solicit those nominations to be made.
Mr.. Drake offered a resolution that the Ser
geant-at-Arms lie directed to clear the floor OF
t al Gs S@ The to the
OF tie session. Laid on the table.
The Senate then adjourned.
HOUSE.-Immediately after the reading of
the journal, on motion Of Mr.. Schenck, the
House resolved itself into Committee OF the
Whole (Mr. Ferry, OF Michigan in the chair )and
resolutions were offered and adopted formally
referring the various portions of the Presidents
message to the committee having in charge the
subjects respectively OF which the message
treats.
Alter the resolutions had been read Mr.
Schcnck said he did rot propose to make
speech upon the resolutions. They were offered
for the purpose OF facilitating the business of the
House. Ii any gentleman wanted te speak upOn
the general subject he would yield. but lie
thought time would nc saved by considering the
matter as il came up from time to time i'm the
shape of bills from committees.
Mr.. Cox asked whether under the resolution
the Committee of Ways and Means that OF
Banking and Currency took charge of the matter
relating to the resumption of specie payments
Mr.. Sohenck replied that that question occu-
pied sort of debatable ground between the two
committees named, and he thought it could be
best left for the committees themselves TO settle
by mutual agree nent.
Mr.. Wood \. W said the resolution referred
the matter OF an inter-Oceanic canal at Darien to
the Committee OH Commerce. He thought that
was subject Tor the Committee Oh Foreign
Affairs.
| Mr.. Schenck said that was matter that had
been considered when the resolutions were pre-
pared. and it was determined to refer interna-
tiOnal postal matters, they wO uld be affected.
by the canal. to the Foreign Affairs Committee
but as the construction of the canal was clearly
matter OF commercial interest the Committee
Oh Commerce was deemed the appropriate COM
mittce.
Mr.. Lynch (AIe.) argued that the Select Com
mittee OH Navigation was the proper one TO con-
slider the subject.
Mr. Wood insisted that the Foreign Affair.
Committee was the proper one to consider Il
matter, as he did not see how anything cOuldbe
done until treaty was framed. and that would
deyOlye upon the Foreign Affairs Committee.
After some further discussion the resolution
was adopted as originally reported.
Mr.. Dawes (NIasS.,l introduced bill for the
reorganization of the Treasury Department and
TO fix the pay OF clerks. Referred to the Com
nittee on Appropriation.
Mr.. Butler introduced bill to repeal the
tenure of office act. Referred to the Committee
Mr.. Weiker (Ohio,) introduced bin to pro-
vide for an international exhibition i'm Washing
ton in 1871. Referred to Committee on District
OF Columbia.
Mr.. Cullom, of Illinois, introduced a bill to
repeal section of the additional bounty act OF
March ;, 1859, and TO provide for extension of
10 Committee OH Pensions.
Mir. Finckeburg. of Missouri, introduced a
bill to establish uniform system OF naturali2a-
ton. Referred TO the Committee Oh the judi
ciary.
Mr. Wood, of New York, introduced a bill TO
prevent members of Congress from acceptino
or holding places Of trust under the President
Of the United States. Referred TO the Commit
tee on the Judiciary.
Mr.. Sargent. OF California, introduced a bill
to annul so much of the agreement of February
IL, 1869. between the Unired States and certain
citizens OF San Francisco, for the lease Of
certain block of buildings owned by the United
States in the city of San Francisco. Referred
TO Committee on Commerce.
Mr.. Ingersoll (Iu.) introduced a bill to pro-
hbt sales Of coin on behalf of the United States
and to provide for the redemption Of United
States legal tender notes in coin at par. Re-
ferred to Committee Of Ways and Meads.
Mr.. Paine, (Wis.,) from the Committee on
Elections, reported back the credentials of
Messrs Dox Hefiin, Hays and Sherrard, of Ala
bama, with a favorable recommendation, and
they were severally sworn In.
Mr.. Kelley, (Pa.,) who occupies seat on the
outer circle, offered resolution to proceed
again to the drawing OF seats.
Those who have eligible seats at once became
excited, and made points OF order, &C., and the
matter was finally settled by laying the resolu-
tiOn ON tbe table, by a vote Of 102 to 50.
The regular order OF business having been de-
manded the Speaker proceeded to call the com
Mr. Cook, dill from the Committee OH the
District of Columbia, reported resolution re-
xvn<ffr ue1ry