New-York tribune., 1869-03-26
WASHINGTON.

THE TENURE OF OFFICE QUESTION STILL UN-
sETTLED-THE MODIFICATION REFERRED
TO THE JUDICIARY CQMMITTEE IN THE
HoUsE-PURTHER NEw-YORK APPOINT
MESTs--ALoNzo b. CORNELL, SURVEYOR OF
THE PoRT-EDwIN b. MERRITT, NAVAL OFF
CER-THE CURRENCY BILL-ALAsKA-LH-
NESS OF EX-PREsIDENT JOHNSON.
IBY TELEGRAPH TO THB TRIBUSEl
WASHINGTON, Thursday, March 2'' 1862
After dreary speech from Fernando Wood on But
lers bill to reconstruct the State of Mississippi in the
House, to-day. Butler called up the Senate bill TO
amend the Civil TeDure-of- Office law. This had the
effect of bringing Members from the lobbies and
cloak-rooms, where they had been driven by Woods
Democratic logic Butler, with Logan as his chief
ofstaff. had been busy all the morning canvassing
among Members, and urging them to fight the
Senate and vote down the new proposition. When
he called up the bill for action he looked sanguine
and with an of triumph moved the previous question
ON O motion to refer the bill to the
Committee on the Judiciary This brought
Bingham, Ward Farnsworth, and Others,
to their feet with motions to concur nl the Senate
amendments but by some rule of parliamentary law
Buffers motion took precedence, and the advantage
was with his side lie was entitled to one hour for
debate. and began by yielding ten minutes to his
lieutenant, Logan, who led off with speech against
the bill. Logan's remarks were damaging to the
measure. The points he made against the power the
bill gave the Senate over appointments were well
taken, and seemingly very effective. His point
about the action of the Senate their secret sessions
was particularly noted. c. c. Washburne followed,
with five minutes speech against the bill. When he
had finished Farnsworth allotted ten minutes to
advocate a concurrence in the Senate amendments.
Butler took half an hour to himself and closed the
brief debate. During his remarks, which were prln-
cipay denunciatOry of the Senate, he was inter-
rupted by Poland and others in defense of the meas
ure. Shortly after o'clock the debate closed and
division was had on a demand for the previous Ques-
tlon which showed majority in favor of the refer
ence Those opposed to Butler made several attempts
to gain time by motions to adjourn, but they could
not muster sufficient number to call the Yeas and
NAYS, and were compelled TO yield. The motion to
refer the whole subject to the Judiciary Committee
prevailed by vote of o. Yeas to 10 Nays. motion
was then made to reconsider and pending vote the
House adjourned. The motion to reconsider will
come up the first thing tomorrow, and Butler Will
move to lay the motion on the table, which is par
liamentary way of preventing any further action on
the bill until it is reported back from the Commit
tee. The vote was great surprise. 1t was generally
conceded that Bingham would get charge of the fio0r
and would push the bill through without material
opposition under the great pressure for early adj
journment and the desire TO have the appointments
to Office become more numerous and rapid. 1t is said
Al, n,t rd I hava lA
he told them he would like to have the law repealed
but was not desrOus of seeming eaptious, and
therefore assented to the Senate proposition The
vote in the House to-day is looked upon as a test
vote but there were many who voted
against the reference who did so with the hope of
securing direct vote on the motion to concur IN
order that they might vote for square repeal. The
vote, however shows a small majority of Republi-
cans in favor of the Senate proposition, but the
Democrats hold the balance Of power unless sufti-
cient number of Republicans can be secured to vote
to reconsider tomorrow. If the bill goes to the Ju-
dietary Committee, of which Bingham and Butler
are both members, it will be so amended to
amount to the absolute repeal and then will
come a square fight between House and Senate, and
who will venture to anticipate the result7 Buffers
supporters are divided into two classes, namely,
those Jealous of the power the bill gives TO the SEN
ate and those who think the bill still obnoxious to
the President. The first-named do not for the
Presidents opinions, but hate to have the Senate
control the appointments, which they think they
would otherwise control, and the other class are
afraid simply of doing anything that might
offend the President. An analysis Of the
vote to-day shows 81 Republicans voting
with Butler to refer, and 90 Republicans
voting reference 4 Democrats voted with the
52 Republicans for the reference, and 10 Democrats
with the GO Republicans against the reference This
shows q majority of II Republicans opposed to the
reference and that the Democrats give the minority
of Republicans the power to defeat the will OF the
majority The Republicans voting for the reference