Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1869-12-21
THE xLIst CONGRESS-.

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WASHINGTON, Dec. 20th-Seaate.-
The House census bill was taken up
and referred to the Committee on the
Revision Of Laws.
Mr.. SchurZ introduced a bill to re-
form the Civil Service and addressed
the Senate in explanation Of its pro-
visions. The remedies proposed by
the bill for existing abuses, are prOvi-
ded for by the creation of a Civil
/ Service Board, whose business it viii
be to examine the qualifications Of
applicants for Office with a single eye
to their fitness to discharge the
/ duties of the places they apply
! for and TO determine more fully than
! the Board could by mere examina-
ton. 1t is provided that the ap-
J pointee shall undergo year Of pro-
/ baton in Office, during which his su-
periOr will have ample time to dis
cover whether he possesses those prac-
/ teal qualifications necessary to make
an efficient officer. The appointing
power, however, may remove the
/ officer before the expiration Of the
/ year under the direction or the former
class.
/ A bill providing for examination
| into the promotion Of the second class
/ of civil officers, has been introduced
/ in the House, but the present manner
/ includes the whole OF that bill and
goes a step further, by applying a
somewhat similar rule to offices To be
| flied by present authority in the case
etc. The Civil Service Board may by
| the general rules, determine the fitness
OF candidates Tor certain offices, but in
the general class Of cases the Board Is
to ascertain by inquiry or eXamlna-
tiCn, or both combined, the fitness OF
applicants for the duties Of the place,
and the President may make the ST.
lection Of officials nom among the
whole number recommended by the
Board.
The bill further provides that all
officers already in the service upon
/ the creation OF the Board, except the
class covered by Mr.. Jenck's bill,
shall hold Office for a term Of five
years from the date of their commits
siOns, but the Presidents appoint
menJs made afterwards in pursuance
of the bill shall be for 3 term Of three
years. No removal Ia the former
class shall take place except on the
trial and determination Of the case by
the Board; but any inefficient officer
may be removed by the Board.
The bill was referred TO the Com
mittee on Retrenchments and ordered
to be printed.
NJ r71-.,rr, E,fTI f.oy,, tho TpFiaf9 ~
Committee, reported as d substitute
for various propositions before them,
a joint resolution declaring that the
State Of Virginia is entitled to repre-
senIati0n IN Congress.
Mr.. Sumner offered a resolution,
which was agreed 10, requesting the
President TO communicates 10 the Sen
ate any correspondence between the
United States and Great Britain con-
cerning questions pending between
the two countries since the rejection
Of the claims Of the convention.
A bih enaTveriHg the Dutch Gable
Company was offered and referred 20
the Committee on Foreign Affairs.
The Senate was in executive session
nearly fJur hours after the cOnfirma-
ton Of Stanton. 1t is understood
that the time was mainly occupied in
the discussion of the Pres idenU's re-
fusal to comply with the request of the
judiciary Committee that ne transmit
various papers relative to the nOmina-
ton Of Circuit Judges. None of the
latter have yet been reported from the
committee.
The President to-day transmitted to
/ Como fo q vrg1rr fl,pg1rr1aFaf
( reply to a resolution calling for ini0T-
nation in regard to Cuba. There is
but little in the correspondence sub
mitted.
HOuse.-Nr. Kelly presented a ne
mortal Of the Senators and Represent
| atives from Tennessee IN Congress,
praying Congress to interpOse for the
. relief Of loyal citizens of Tennessee
I against the recent or pending revolu-
/ ti0nary proceedings in that State, and
| for the maintenance Of the Republican
( form of government therein.
Bills and joint resolutions were in
troduced and referred, by Mr.. Pollard,
providing for the free system OF ma
tional banking.
Mr.. Whitmore introduced q bill
providing for the assembling Of the
I Virginia Legislature, and administer
ing the oath to its members and OFF,
/ GERS, which was referred to the Com
mittee on Reconstruction.
Mr.. Butler, of Massachusetts,, in
formed the House that reconstruction
had been postponed until after the re-
cess of the Joint Resolution Commit
tee as TO the admission of Virginia
because the committee had not suffi-
cient evidence.
Mr.. Farnsworth moved to suspend
the rules to introduce and put upon
its passage a resolution declaring NiT-
ginia entitled to representation, The
motion was lOst-yeas 90, and nays
lO6. MeSsrs. Bingham, FarnswOrth,
Hill, Latin, Poland, Smith, Of Yer
mont, Farmer and Watson, Of Min
nesota (Republicans), voted af1irma-
lively. The rules were suspended,
and the bill to promote the reconstruc-
ton Of Georgia, was taken
up. Mr.. Butler proposed to allow
an hour and a half for its considera-
ton. After considerable discussion
between Mr.. Butler and several Dem
OcFatic members, the resolution was
so modified as to have vote on the
passable bill at 3 pm. tomorrow.
Mr.. Bingham reserved his right to
postpone the bill to the third Monday
in January, and the Speaker stated
that the resolution would not preclude
motion to postpone or to amend.
The bill was then read.
Mr. Beck offered to amend by re-
quiring the day to be fixed for the
meeting Of the Legislature to be not
less than 30 nor more than 60 days
from the date of the Governors proc
lamation providing for elections to
fiji the vacancies Ia the Legislature,
and inserting the word voluntarily,
ia the cath declaring that the person
taken it has not engaged in the rebell-
ion.
Mr.. Butler spoke in favor Of imme-
diate action upon the BILL Mr.. Beck
states that Georgia having complied
with the requirements of the recon-
struction laws, was as much a SOW
ereign State as New York or Massa-
cusetts. He quotes a dispatch sent by
Mr.. Tiff to the Georgia Legislature,
partly in writing Of President Grant
advising the submission to the courts
of the question Of negro eligibility to
hold oficas and than to adjourn That