The national Republican., 1869-02-02
EaRnsga ssNsasas--yHlap aEsslaA,
MONDAY, FsnnuAnr ., lsce.
SENATE.

SENATE.
The Chair presented several female suf-
Nj fssss%a, ofs. H. presented similar
Nj. Motan. from the Committee on Com
ufrcs. rct0rt6 WIN amepdments q bill to
kcilitats isie sphlc communlcAtion between
the Eastern and western cou1inents.
Mr.. Conkling presented memorial from
numerous business men Of Now York In be-
half Of the New York Commercial Steam
Navigation Company, and protesting against
the continuance Of the present system Of al
lowing the United States malls to be carried
BY foreign ships.
tion approprintlng $780, 900 10 ft up the room
0ficc for the use Of the Interior Department,
and also TO authorize the Secretary OF the
Interior 10 rent for the use OF the department
the fire proof building on @ street, when by
unanimous consent,
Mr. Wilson, rom the Committee on Mil.
tnry Affairs, reported the bill to drop from
the rolls Of the army officers absent without
leave. ..
Mr.. Sumner presented memorial Of col.
orcd citizens Of Georgia, calling attention ia
the barbaric outrages on their civil rights.
Referred TO the Judiciary Committee.
Mr.. Henderson, from the Committee on
Indian Affairs, reported In favor Of the In.
definite postponement Of sundry bllls, In.
cludlng the bill to dissolve the Indian peace
commission and the bill to transfer the In.
dian bureau TO the Department OF War, and
the recommendation was concurred In.
The consideration Of the resolution called
up BY Mr.. Fessendcn was then proceeded
with.
Mr.. Morrill,, Of Vt, thought the resolution
was open TO serious objection. He did not
think Il at all expcdlent or in good taste to
banlsh from the public view all the models
put there by our Ingenious inventors.
Mr.. Fesscnden would like the Senator from
were to do. The Interior Department, wa,
sadly cramped for room, and the health Of
many OF tho clerks was seriously endangered
by the crowdlng TO which they were com.
PEELED 10 submit. More room must be had
somewhere, and the committee had come 70
the conclusion that Il was utterly useless "a
attempt 10 keep up the system Of storing
models. These models increased at the rate
OF fourteen or Hfteen thousand year, and II
they were to be kept the Government would
soon have to put up another building to &c.
commodate them. The British Government
did not preserve Its patent models. Sooner
or later the practice Of preserving these
models must be abandoned. Many Of them
were Of great antiquity, and many Of them
were models for patents which had never
been granted.
Mr.. Harlan thought these models Of no
utility whatever, and that there was no ne
cessity for keeping them.
Mr.. Wiley was Impressed, from q conver.
sation with the Commissioner OF Patents,
that these models should be kept for longer
period than IL years.
Mr.. Fessenden said that, although the bill
provided that these models should be kept
no longer than IL years, but leaving Il dis
cretionary with the Secretary to retain those
which he deemed necessary, Of course, oh
lection was to be from the gentlemen con
nected with the Patent Ofice. They thought
II O very fine think to have this magnificent
room set apart for the display Of models, but
the Government could not afford to CRAFTY
them. He had no objection to extend the
time to 81 years.
Mr.. Wiley then moved to extend the time
In which the models shall be kept to 81 years
which was agreed TO.
Mr.. Conkling moved q new section, thai
the act shall not take effect until the 18th Of
April, 1869. He was utterly opposed tc
giving any discretion to the present Admin
istration which could, by any possibility, b
avoided without detriment to the public
service.
Mr.. Hendricks said the rate Of mortality IL
the Pension Office was frightful on account
Of the insufficient accommodations for tht
clerks.
Mr.. Cragin said this was all true, but h,
was opposed to converting the patent build
ing Into other uses than that for which !
was originally intended. The Patent Ofiic,
did not derive Its support from the Govern
tuant hut from tho inyantnrs NJ the rnuutry
and they were already becoming jealous o
the manner In which their money was used
| and they would have the right to complain
| II their models were thus to be banished iron
| sight.
Mr.. Cameron doubted very much whethe
| the health Of any of the clerks In Washing
ton had suffered or was likely to suffer b,
too close confinement. There was no Gov
ernment In the world which treated Its EN-
ployees better than ours.
The discussion was further continued
when
Mr.. Fesscnden said the time was coming
and that very soon, when Congress woult
have to make up Its mind to one Of twt
things-either to put up new building fo
the Interior Department, or to put TO som,
use the great waste of room now occupied b,
models, and the committee had come to tn,
conclusion that the latter would be much
better and more economical.
Mr.. Conkling modified his amendment Il
provide that the act shall 60 into effect OF
the 3Oth Of March.
amendment. Was money to be made out o
Ii or partisan objects to be effected that tn,
expenditure Of this money was to be post
poned until a new Secretary came In
Mr.. Conkling said the Senator and ever,
one else knew than the most unwholcsom,
and scandalous suspicious attached TO tn,
Interior Department under Its present aus
pices.
Mr.. Patterson, Of n. H., would vote 70
the amendment Of Mr.. Conkling for the rea
son that at the close Of the last session b
had brought In resolution annulling tn
contract made for paper for the Interior De
partment. This resolution passed the Sen
ate, but failed to pass the House for want O
time. He (Mr. p had gone to the Secre
tary OF the Interior, explained TO him tn
resolution, Informed him that the committe
had abundant evidence, which they woul
lay before him, to prove the grossest frau
on the part of the contractors, and had aske
him to stop the contract. The Secretary rt
fused to do 30, and the Government ha
therefore lost thousands and thousands Q
dollars. He (Mr. P.) did not say that tn
Secretary was implicated In these frauds
| Dut ne nau certainty DeSA rclillsb III nis uuty
and he (Mr. P.) could not vote to place an
more money In the hands Of that official.
Mr.. Sumner said the Patent Office was nc
too large for Its purposes. There woul
have TO be a new building for the Indian DE-
partment.
Mr.. Morton was opposed to destroying tn
models, because they represent the history Q
American Inventions; and he could not yot
for the amendment Of Mr.. Conkling, becaus
he had no reason to doubt the integrity Q
the Secretary.
After further debate the bill was passed.
The Chair presented 0 communication fror
the Secretary Of the Interior, stating that
had received letter from Miss Winnie Rear
| to the effect that she has completed the plai
ter bust Of the statue OF President Lincol
ordered by Congress, and asking the pay
ment Of the 5000 due her for said statue
The communication was referred to the Con
mttee on Appropriations.
Mr.. Morrill,, Of Maine, called up the col
sular and diplomatic appropriation bill
| which was read.
The FIRST amendment reported by the Con
mittee on Appropriations was to strike OF
the clause consolidating the various sout
American missions; which was adopted.
They reported to strike out the ninth SET
tion providing for the appointment of agent
to examine into the accounts Of the consula