Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1869-03-19
FORTY-FIRST CONGRESS-.
This Afternsen'S PROCEEDINGS
FRIDAY, March "a.

fhipAh' March 20.
SENATE-Mr. Wilson. from the Comrni,,aa
Military Affairs, repCr'.i bill relating =, m,
Freedmsn's Bureau, con snulng rh- educstonaI Al
department Of the DureAu until Januarv
ls7i. Passed -
Mr.. Tk,ton introduced a bill to Aid in ,h.
construction Of raiiroad from Lincoln, Ne
brsska, to Denver, Colorado Referred 20 Com.
mittee on Public Lands
Mr. Fenton introduced bill 70 encourage
the building of steamships in the United States.
and 20 provide for the transIni> sion of the
United States msils BY steamships ouIlt in the
United States. Referred 10 Committee on Post
Once.
Mr. Ferry introduced a bill TO cres,e he Of
flee OF Associate Judge for the eastern dis:rict
of Texas Referred to the Committee on The
judiciary.
On motion of MT Kellogg the Secretary Of
the Treasury WAS requested TO communicate To
the Senate any Information he may have rela-
tive TO the cost and the present value OF the
Marine hospital at New Orleans.
Mr.. Howe asked 10 take up his resolution 10
provide that Fridays after the morning hour.
shall be set apart for the consideration OF busI-
ness from the Committees on Claims, Pensions,
District of Columbia. &c.
Mr. Trumbull hoped the resolution would
not pass. He thought 1t had been decided that
only a few very important matters, sud not 10
go into general legislation. II they could not
concur in the House resolution of ad iourument
ne hoped they would be able TO fix day very
soon thereafter.
Alter further discussion the motion was mot
agreed TO.
Mr.. Trumbull called up bill relating 10
divorces in the District of Columbia. Passed.
MI Wilson asked TO take up House resolu-
tion providing for adjournment on March ~.
Mr.. Sherman did not see what was 10 h.
gained hy taking it now.
MIR. Fessenden remarked that there was no
certainty that the adjournment could take
place next week, and it would be useless TO
agr.e 70 the resolution If they had 10 nndo It,
Mr.. Wilson then withdrew his m ouon.
MIR. Trumbull called up the bill relative TO
married nj fb0 0s
Columbia. Passed.
Mr. Sumner called mp the bill making an
United States courts relative TO captured YES
sells during the rebellion.
Mr.. Stewart said this bill was 70 pay British
subjects for their vessels which Were captured,
and he would never vote a cent for any such
purpose until Great Britain paid he Alabama
claims.
The bill was discussed until tre expiration
Of the morning hour, when it went over; and
the tenure -of-office matter was taken up, upon
which MI. Scott was entitled to the floor.
Mr.. 5. argued that the Senate properly
controlled removals from Office. Such a DO wer
had always been claimed, and the Republican
party was committed 10 il. not only by this
TENURE of office law. but by Its platform during
the last canvass, by the votes of the Republican
Senators on the impeachment trial: and IL
would not do at this late day 10 surrender this
power. and they should not be asked TO do il
upon any meie question OF admiration for
man. He would favor the suspension, with a
modification.
Mr. Schurz had carefully considered this
subject and .endeavored to arise at a proper
conclusion. He believed that any Sen ator
might vote for the repeal without inc urriug the
suspicion of protecting hmselfs AT the throne of
power. and on the other hand any Senator
might vote against IL, without indicating anv
distrust of The President. In regard to the
Tsnure-of. Office act he had no doubt OF its
consttuuonallty, and this point had oeen
enlarged upon by many of the Senators. who
seemed to forget that there were three aspects
in which the matter should be viewed other
than its constituuonality.
Mr. >. then argued that the present system
of appointments 10 Office was one Of demorali.
zation. and for this reason he should yot. to
suspend the tenure-of- office BILL in the hope
that at the next session they would be able TO
so modify the law as to make il more perfec,
lie advocated the adoption OF a system which
would make merit the test OF fitness for Office
and that no man should De removed without
cause
HOUsB.-Mr. Scofeld (PA) offered a resolu.
ton authorizing the Committee on Naval Al
fairs to employ clerk. Referred 10 Committee
on Accounts.
Mr.. Benjamin Mo- offered a resolution au-
thorzing The Committee on Invalid Pensions
10 employ a clerk. Same reference.
Mr.. Cock (lll) offered 8 similar resolution
on behalf OF the Committee on the District of
Columbia. Same reference.
Mr.. Butler, Mass. from the Committee on
Reconstruction, reported a bill TO organize a
provisional government in the State of MIssis-
sippi. Ordered printed. together with the con-
sutution of Mississipi, and recommitted TO the
committee.
Mr. Dockery IN. c. introduced bill 10 re-
peal taxes illegally collected by the Internal
Revenue Department Referred TO the Com
mit,ee Of Ways and Means.
Mr.. Dawes (Mass.l moved to lay aside the
regular order (the call of COMMITTEE for reports
of a private nature) and 60 ILto Committee of
the Whole on the Indian Appropriation bill,
and pending that motion that all general de-
bate on the bill cease in one hour. Agreed TO.
The House then resolved itself into Commit
%sb Aolo ~
Mr.. Dawes. Mass chairman OF the Com
miftee on Appropriations, said the bill was in
the same shape that it had passed the House az
the last session. He explained that il failed
b. cause OF the action OF the Senate in loading
it down with amendments, amounting an the
aggregate TO about four million of dollars He
hoped the House would insist upon the bill
without these amendments.