The New York herald., 1870-02-23
FoRTY.FIRsr CONGRESS.
Second Session.
SENATE.

WASHINGTON, Fec. %, 1870.
THE SENATOR'S FROM GEORGIA.
Mr. STEWART, (rep.) or Nevada, presented the cre-
dentlals OF Messrs Farrow and Whitley, Senators
elect from the State OF Georgia. and asked their
reference TO the Judiciary Committee; which were
read
Mr.. DRAKE, (rep.) OF Mo-, said the papers were
simply commissions from the Governor OF Georgia
to these men to act as Senator's The manner OF the
election of Senators ana the manner or authentlcat
ing the fact to the Senate were prescribed by the
constitution; and nothing In that instrument or in
any acI Of Congress authorized any Governor OF any
State to commission any man senator OF tue
United states IL did not appear from the papers when
the party was eiecied nor was his election certified
by the President Uf the State Senate required
by the law. lie thought the papers should not be
received.
MIR. POMERoY rep., OF Kansas, said the constitu.
ton required each House TO judge OF the quallnca
lions aud elections OF Its members; therefore he
favored the reference TO the committee, so that the
facts might be investigated
Mir. STEWART remarked that il the credentials
were not valid the fact would be shown upon lnyes
tigatl0n, which was now asked for.
Mr.. DRAKE said his objection was based upon the
TACT that they were not credentials ID the sense OF
the constitution and the laws, out were commits
sons from party not authorized to issue them.
Mr.. PoMEROY said that III The case OF the mpeach-
ment OF senator rom Tennessee some years ago a
demurrer to The jurisdiction OF the Senate was sus-
tanned by the body on the ground that senator was
officer of the United States, but OF The State.
Mr. STEWART asked and obtained leave to with
draw the papers Tor the present III order to permit
The Senator from New York tMl. Conkln2j to address
the senate.
NORTHERN PACIFIC RAILROAD.
Mr.. HOWARD, trep1 or Mich, from the Committee
on the Pacific Railroad reported q JOINT resolution
authorizing the Norhern Pacific Railroad TO issue
mortgage bonds, with .n anendTent, providing Tue
company may make good deficiencies III us land
grants arising from the previous disposition oil lands
along IT'S line by taxing IN equal quantity with an
additional limit OF ten miles.
DISPOSITION OF USELESS MILITARY RESERVATIONS
Mr.. WILSON, (rep.) OF Mass, from the Committee
np nj thnt,f dJn "a
Di providing Ior the disposition oil various useless
military reservations; also the House joint resolu-
uon authorizing the sale OF certan land ~ SPRING
| neld Mass.
REFORM IN THE CIVIL SERVICE OF THE UNITED
STATES.
Mr.. SCHURz, (rep.) OF NO. from the Joint Commit
tee on Retrenchment, reported without amendment
the bill introduced by himself last December to re-
form the civil service OF the United States Il pro-
vldes for the appointment by the President with the
consent OF the Senate, OF q civil service board OF
nine commissioners, VINO shall prescribe the qualit
cations requisite for an appointment into each branch
and grade Of the civil SERVICE and examine appil.
cants Tor such positions except judges and clerks OF
the United States courts, members 0l the cabin ct,
ministers to foreign countries and the officers OF the
Senate ana House OF Representatives,; and hereafter
| all other appointments OF civil officers shall be
| made from persons VINO have been found duly
| qualified under the regulations established by TINS
| board. Appointments by heads OF departments
are TO be made IN tue order or seniority and merit,
AS thus established the board may call to It's assist
ance such officers OF tue government and men OF
| learning US IL deems ut. Officers now in the cyl
service may be required by the President to submit
TO tue test or examination, and II not found Qua-
ned shall be dismissed; otherwise the present
OifCers shall hold their positions for the term OF five
years from the date oil Their commissions. Oilcers
appointed on the recommendation OF the board
shall hold ONCE for eight years; the members OF the
board all to be appointed for twelve years; bat o
the trstnne appointed three shall 60 out every foul
years. Their salaries are fixed at six thousand dot
lars per annum. Women are 10 be equally eglble
with men for examination ana appointment to all
Offices that they can fill equally well.
| NEW YORK AND THE FIFTEENTH AMENDMENT.
| Mr.. CoNKLING trcp.) Uf n. u, from the COMMITTEE
on the Revision or the Laws, recon mcnded the IN
definite postponement Of tue consideration or the
resolutions or the New York Legislature resCindilQ
the ratification OF the fifteenth amendment liz
then delivered speech OF considerable length OF
tue subject OF the amendment showing that not
withstanding the State OF New York mad rescinded
her ratification or that measure, lJ had become IN,
law OF the land. He showed what the effect OF tn
amendment would be throughout the country-ex
tending the right oil suffrage TO hundreds OF thou
sands OF . downtr0dden race, and claiming tina
there was no more lifting time Tor rejoicing owe
this great accomplished reform tnan on the birtlda
or Washington.
Mr.. DAVIS (dem.) OF KY, delivered an argumen
TO show that the power TO REJECT CONSTITUTIONS
amendment existed In the State by lmpiical Ion a
q necessary consequence Of the power to rauIy. IL,
charged that the dominant party had secured tn
adoption OF the fifteenth amendment through tn
medium VI partisan Legislatures ana by preventing
an expression OF The people upon 1t.
MIR. PoHERoY moved. as u tribute OF respect 10