Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1869-04-21
SPECIAL SESSION OF THE SENATE.
WEDNESDAY,. April Il.
TIE SENATE met az IL O'Clock.


Mr.. Sumner offered n resolution proyidin Q
the Senate sine die on Thursday be rescmded
Laid over unit! to-morroH.
Mr.. Wilson called up his resolution author
lzlng tie Secretary OF the Navy 10 have m ide 4
survey for a ship canal across the 18th aus o.
Darlen, provided the consent o: the Govern.
ment OF Colomh hia ootsined.
Mr. Sumner inquired as TO the probable coS'
OF the same. He thoughtthe expenditure wouI.i
oe useless one, AS treaty between the UGIJ-d
, aus and the Government OF Colombia had
Just been concluded. the first article OF which
provided for the survey alluded 10.
MT. thurman inquired IL any appropriation
mad been made 10 defray the expenses OF The
survey.
Mr.. Wilson thought the adoption of the reSo-
luton would call the attention OF the adtniuis-
tTation 10 the matter. and preparations could
be made for the survey, as the appTopria ION
could be made at abe next session. He thought
probably the Navy Department had mans TO
defray the expenses OF the same.
Mr.. POmerOy thought the resolution shouid
be modified SO as to request the President 10
have the survey made.
MIR. Anthony, from the Committee on Print
ing, reported tnat the committee mad made q
satisfactory contract with Rives 4 Bailey tor
the publication of the Congress- sional debates.
Mr.. Carpenter called up hts resolution re-
questing the Secretaries OF State, War, Navy.
Treasury, Interior, the Postmaster General
and Attorney General TO furnish the Senate
with the names and ages of all clerks and en-
States from which they ara appointed, how
long they had Iesided IN such Safes, aud upon
whose Recommendation they had been ap.
pointed.
fore the Committee on ReirenchHent. ana he
suggested the resolution be referred TO that
committee.
Mr. Carpenter thousht there were twice As
many employ res iii The Departments nrces-
sary to conduct the business. He believed il
the force was reduced TO halt its present nun.
ber and the salaries Increased, the public ousi.
ness would bs well conducted.
Mr.. Sherman was opposed to the resolution,
as the Blue Book contained most OF the de-
sired information.
Mr.. Carpenter said many clerks were charged
TO States where they never had resided.
Mr. Trumbuil hoped the resolution would be
adopted. He condemned the practice Of Ssna-
tors hanging around the Departments seeking
offices for persons. Within the past eig hteen or
twenty years Senators had become mere soil.
ci,ors at the Departments.
Mr. Abbott offered an amendment providin 2
that the office patronage should be distributed
equally among all thr S'ates according to taeir
population.
Mr.. Cameron was IN favor of the resolution
He said a few days ago the President had
nominated person from Pennsylvania for a
Foreign Mission, and the Senators from that
State had hard work 10 con vince the commit.
tee that he was not a suitable man for the posi-
ton, when ii was we'll known thai tn. person
nominated was an habitual drunkard. In au.
otfer instance a man WAS nominated from that
state for a coDs ushD " no was a constitutional
thief. although he had the recommendation OF
the Union League OF which he was a member
; ma ols should be- more indepe ndsnt, and not
recommend every one. He admitted that nine
Il "a ms OF the appointments IN the State Were
OF his friends because the President could not
select from the party without getting his tthe
peaker's) friends.
Arer some further debate py Messrs. Wilson,
SUmnev and Eessauden-
MIR Edmunds at I.:p p. M, moved that the
Se. ate go into Executive session, which
motion was adopted.