The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1869-12-21
LATEST NE w s
BY TELEGRAPH TO THE
PORTLAND DAILY PRESS.
XLIst CONGRESS---second Session

WASHINGTON, Dec. 20.-Mr Kellogg pre-
sented pet ton from the cit Zens of New Or
leans for navy yard at that.point. Referred.
Mr.. Anthony, from the Committee on Print
ing, reported with an amendment joint resO-
luton for the publication, for the use of the
Senate, of 5000 copies, and for the use of the
House 5000 copies, of the eulogies upon Sena-
tor Fessender with an accompanying portrait.
Mr. Trnmbull, from the Judiciary Commit
tee, reported joint resolution, declaring Vir-
ginia entitled to representation in Congress.
Mr. Schenck introduced a bill to reform the
civil service, and addressed the Senate in ex-
PLANTATION of its provisions.
MIR. Patterson reported fayOrably on the
House joint resolution to amend the leasing o f
the Custom House block in San Francisco.
The resolution was finally passed.
Mr. Morrill,, of Vermont, reported favorably
on the bill relative to repeating duties on
corned and preserved fish.
Mr.. Schurz introduced bill to reform the
civil service of the United States, whose pro-
visions he explained. He said that the ap-
continents to office were now mostly made on
the recommendations of politicians of low
grade, and the means by which such recon-
mendatOnS were obtained were we'll known,
the best interests of the public service being
often made a matter of secondary consldera-
ton. The remedies proposed by the bill for
existing abuses are provided by the creation of
civil service board, whose province it will be
to examine the qualifications of applicants for
office with single eye to their fitness to DIS
CHdrSe the uulleS OI Tue place Uney apply 1OF,
to determine more fully than the board would
by mere examination thus provided, that the
appontees shall undergo year of probation
in Office, during which his superior will have
ample time TO discover whether he possesses
those practical qualities necessary to make an
efficient officer. The appointing power, how
ever, may remove an officer before the expra-
ton of year. The bill distinguishes in the
civil service two classes of officials: those ap
pointed by the President by and with the ad-
vice of the Senate, and inferior officers who
work under the direction of the former class.
A bill providing for the examination and prov
ocation of the latter class has been introduced
into the House, but the present measure in
cluded the whole of that bill and went one
step further by applying somewhat similar
rule to offices to be filled by Presidential au
thority. In cases of applicants for country post
offices, &c, the civil service board may, by
general rule, determine the fitness of candi-
dates for certain offices by more general in
quiries, but in this general class of cases the
board is to ascertain by inquiry or examina-
ton for both the combined fitness of the appli-
cants for the duties of the places, and the
President may take his selection of officials
from among the whole number recommended
by the board. The bill provides that all officers
already in service, upon the creation OF the
board, except the class covered by Mr. Jeucks
bill, shall hold Office for a term of five years
from the date Of their commission, but the
Presidents appointments made afterwards in
pursuance of the bill shall be for term of
three years, and no removal in the former class
shall take place except on trial and determin-
alton of the case by the board; but any ineffic-
lent officer among these may be removed by
the board, and this vacancy thus created shall
be filled, not for the unexpired term, but for
the full time of five years The bill was re-
ferred to the Committee on Retrenchment and
ordered to be printed.
The House census bill was t,ken up and re-
ferred to the Committee of Revision of Laws
Mr.. Trumbull, from the Committee on the
Judiciary, reported as substitute for the va
rious propositions before them a joint resolu-
ton declaring that the State of Virginia is en-
titled to representation in Congress.
Petitions for the removal of the duty on coal
were presented.
the American & Holland Ocean Gable Com
pany and providing for direct Geographic COM
munication between Washington, New York,
Holland and Europe generally under the con-
cessiou granted by the King of Holland to Mr..
Jewell. Referred to Committee on Foreign
Relations.
Mr.. Sumner offered resolution, which was
agreed to, requesting the President to commu-
nicate to the Senate copies of any correspOn-
dence between the United States and Great
Britain concerning the Alabama question
pending between the two countries since the
rejection of the convention by the Senate; also
a resolution, which was agreed to, calling on
the Secretary OF the Treasury for reports OF
~. Il. ID.
Mr. Sumner introduced bill to provide for
the adjustment and satisfaction of the claims
of American citizens for spoilations committed
by the French prior to July 81, 1861. Referred
to Committee on Foreign Relations.
On motion of Mr.. Trumbull, at 1.35 z. NJ,
the Senate went into executive session. Upon
the doors being opened, shortly after o'clock,
the Senate adjourned.
Mr.. Kelley, of Pennsylvania, presented a
memoir Al of the Senators and Representatives
from Tennessee in Congress, praying Congress
to interpOSe for the relief of the loyal citizens
of Tennessee against the recent pending revo-
lutionary proceedings in that State, and for
the maintenance of a republican form of gov
eminent therein.
A large number of bills and resolutions were
introduced and referred, among them bill by
Mr., Niblack, of Indiana, suspending the pro-
visions of the act OF March 49, 1869, to strength
en- the public credit until the United States
shall resume pay ment in coin of all the obli-
cations of the Government.
Among the resolutions was one by Mr.. Cox,
of New York, that it is one of the highest du-
ties OF the Government to secure to the citizens
a medium of exchange, unvarying in value,
that imnlies return to specie basis, and that
no substitute can be received; and that it
should be commenced now and reached at the
earliest practicable moment. Referred to the
Committee on Banking. Also one directing
t1e Secretary of War to communicate a repors
of estimates, etc, as the feasibility and cost oil
cutting through Halletts point off He'll Gate
at about the head of Long Island Sound, a
channel sufficiently straight and deep to re-
move or materially reduce the peril now at.
| tending the navigation there; also as to the
progress of the work in blasting at He'll Gate
Adopted. Also one instructng the Post Office
Committee TO incorporate in any bill 1t may
report for the abolition of the ranking privi-
| lege a provision allowing newspapers to be
70 al 1tNcar iharS fro Of cfnnn
| ferred to Post Office Committee.
By Mr.. Woodward of Pennsylvania, request
| ing information from the President whether
| any citizens of the United States are impris
oned or detained.in military custody by army
officers, aud if so to furnish full particulars
| Adopted.
| By Mr.. Schofeld of Pennsylvania, instruct
| ing the Judiciary Committee to inquire int
the expediency of changing the present mod
Of selecting jurors for the United States courts
| Adopted.
The morning hour having expired, Mr.Wash
| burn of Wisconsin, from the Committee oil
appropriations, reported bill making appro
| priation of $4,000 for the prosecution of work
and the improvement OF Des Moines rapids OF
| the Mississippi river. Tee bill was passed.
Mr.. Judd of Illinois introduced a bill t
amend the act of July %, 1866, to protect th
revenue. Referred to the Committee on Com
merce.
Mr.. Poland of Vermont offered resolutio
| lQSUruCl1Ug Tue SOtumlUUee on h6VlSlOu l
| Laws to inquire whether the bankruptcy Law
ought not to be amended so that proceeding
in bankruptcy pending in enc district may b
| transferred to another. Adopted.
Mr.. Whttemore of South Carolina intro
duced bill providing for the assembling OF til
| original Legislature and administering the tes
oath to its members and officers. Referred {
the Committee on Reconstruction
Mr.. Butler Of Massachusetts informed I'll
House that the Reconstruction Committee ha
postponed until after the recess the joint res
luton as to the admission Of Virginia, becaus
| the committee had not sufficient evidence.
| Mr.. Farnsworth of Illinois moved to suspen
the rules that he might introduce and have ps
} upon it's passage joint resolution declarr
, that Virginia has performed the required &C
, | emitting her to representation in Congres
and that she is entitled to such representation
The House refused TO suspend the rules; Ye
63 nays 1906 \,
Among the Republicans who voted for M
e Farnswortb's motion were Messrs. Bingha
Z of Ohio, Farnsworth of Illinois, Heaton OF
o Carolina. Hill of New Jersey, Ketchum OF Ne
q York, Latin of New York, Poland and SIM
OF Vermont, Turner of New York and "lis'
= MT Butler of Massachusetts, then moved tn
n the House proceed to business on the Spea
er table, IN order to take I'D and pass t
Senate bill to promote reconstruction in Gee
gia. A motion was made to Law that mott
on the table. Negatived; Yeas 49, nays 49,