Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1870-02-19
EVENING STAR.
CONGRESSIONAL.
Conclusion Of Yesterdays Proceedir
The International ExpOsition-Sala
rieS Of Female (slePka.

The International Exposition Sala.
ries of Female Clerks.
SENAIE.--After our report closed-the bill
to encourage and promote the International In
dustrial Exhibition, to be held in washington
CITY in 1S1 I. being under consideration
Mr.. Thurman said that he had just been in
formed BY a citizen OF this District of another
objection. 1t well known that this u
city where extOrtiOnate rents were demanded.
Even now the poor clerks and mechanics were
barely able TO get a covering for their heads and
the heads of their families. Pass this bill, and
the landlords here would immediately put up
the rents 20 high that these poor people would
be utterly helpless. He regarded this whole
thing a humbug.
Mr.. Patterson would not have favored this
thing did he suppose il would cause any drain
upon the Treasury. But he was assured this
would not be the case. The citizens of Wash
ington had come forward so literally that men
Of means and of position in other parts of the
country were cooperating with them. He
thought Washington was the very place for this
exhibition: lt was midway between the North
and the South In regard to the rents being
raised, that objection would apply wherever the
exhibition was held. He was amused at the
Senator from Nevada, mir. Stewart.l Tha
Senator thought this was not the place. Prob
ably Nevada Was the place. Nevada had 5000
people, and the District OF Columbia had $50 900.
II paid as much internal revenue Nevada
Nebraska and Kansas combined. He though
Washington had been shamefully treated by the
Government, which had not appropriated as
much To her during her whole existence as the
interest on the value OF the property cedel by
the original prOprietOrs.
Mr.. Stewart insisted that Washington was not
the place, and he did not want foreigners to
come here and see what a poor place IL was
unpayed streets, no railroads, and the evidences
OF decay all around Washington was sick and
wanted dOctOring, and If this exhibition must be
held here, let do right, andspend ten or fifteen
millions 10 put Washington in decent condition
Mr. Nye said Washington was not disgrace,
but an honor To the country. Such recollections
clustered around Washington As did not cluster
around any capital in the world: and there was
no capital that had such public buildings. There
Wro1.
world He did not think his colleague need be
ashamed of Washington. He wanted this bill
passed; he wanted the people of Washington to
have an opportunity to show what thew can do
and suppose this did cost little money to the
Government, why should il rot be done?
MI sherman thought it was an exhibition of
Washington to hold the exhibition when they
wanted to 90 it. There was no money asked for;
they were willing to bear all the expenses them
selves. What State Legislature would dare to
refuse such an application As this? It NAV be a
bad speculation, but We should not DENY to them
TIE power to go into it He should have adj
ylsed the Washington people that this was not
the way to show their enterprise; they should
rather ask Congress for the power to govern
themselves, to pave their streets, to build rail-
roads and telegraphs. The people of the Dis
trict Of Columbia were the mere vassals and
serfs OF Congress, and they should be treated
With more consideration. He regarded this as a
mere show, but there was no harm in il.
Mr.. Schurz was surprised to hear the Senator
Mr. Shermanl call an international exhibition
snow. the senator know this
one OF the most important enterprises that
nation can enter into? He was opposed to this
bill. IL Congress had treated the District of
Columbia badly, he thought to let them hold
this exhibition here would be treating them
worse than they had ever been treated before
London and Paris, where these exhibitions had
peen generally heldwere centers of trade, CON-
merce, population, and wealth. Either of them
had populations greater than most of our large
States, and within fifteen hours more people
could be brought into them than cover the whole
surface SfltpS. tho, Il
vantages of the two cities named, and look at
the result Mr.. ). then read from the statistics
OF the different expositiOns held in London and
Paris, showing that only the first where great
economy of administration prevailed and where
the novelty OF the thing added to its attraction
proved Pecuniary success. Now look at Wash
iDgton; IL has but one railroad; il has less trade
than any other city in the United States
that arPTOSimates its population in the least
Talk about subscribing - 50O,O 900 for this pur-
pose here. Why any amount of money cannot
make II success here. The building alone N
Paris cost 50 600 OCv in gold, and where the wages
paid to the employed averaged not more than
Sl-2O per day, here il would certainly not be less
than 50 80 per day. Now this idea is. as the SEN
ator from Massachusetts would style it a mon
strous preposterOsity. Just for the reason that
he was friend of the people of Washington
would he oppose getting them into such scrape
He wanted 10 keep them out of a grievous loss,
because they had not much money to spare
The tradcspeOple OF Paris found that the expo
sitiOn diminished instead OF increasing thei
sales, because every one went TO the exposition
but the hotel and clearinghouse keepers and
they were certainly the last class that we should
attempt to bencAt.
Viii out further action the Senate, at $40 D
m, v. mt into executive session, and after som
time pent therein, adjourned.
HOCSE-After our report closed-the legis
lative appropriation bill being under considera-
ton
Mr.. Holman QndJ offered an amendment
that where female clerks in the Depar tment
perform the same service in the Department
thew shall receive the same paw as men.
The amendment was advocated and enforced
by Messrs. Holman, Arnell, HOar and others.
Mr.. Dawes Mass admitted that it was wrong
and mean and contemplate to make females do
the same labor as men, and not to give them the
same pay; but he contended that the security OF
the females in their terms Of office was in the
fact that their salaries were lower than the SAL
aries paid the men, and for that reason the Gov
eminent employed them as a matter OF econ
Omy. But put them on equality with men in
the matter OF salary, and the women would be
excluded, while the politicians from all over the
country would demand the Offices as paw for
what they had done for the party at home. With
the salary at $500 the men would not take the
offices, and therefore the women were secure in
their positions. IL was really an unkindness to
them, therefore, TO increase the pay
MIR. Rogers (Ark.) deprecated the employ
ment OF females in the Treasury or any other
Department of the Government He thought il
Was degrading To women, and inspired in them
a lobbying spirit; and he insinuated against
them dlshOnorable purposes.
Mr.. kelley( Penn. defended the female clerks,
and said that there were in the Departments
ladies of a. much refinement, intelligence and
dehcacy ~ could possibly be found in any socie-
" or station of life. They were in employment
here because necessity drove them to this work,
and they supp rted their families by their honor
able labor. He had not a very extended ac-
quaintance among these ladies' but he could tes-
tlfy To the Intelligence and correct social DO
sltion OF those with whose acquaintance he was
hOnOred. He denounced the remarks of Mr..
Rogers a. digraceful to the whole House. and as
Icing Unwarranted and unfounded. He agreed
with MIR. Dawes, however, that il would be det-
Timental TO the interests of the female clerks
themselves, and for the reasons stated to increase
their pay. He had too much respect for women
20 place any reliance upon the charges made in
such a wholesale manner against the sex.
Mr. HOar Mass thought the excuse made by
Ar- Dawes was one that should not be enter
tanned, and he appealed TO the House to increase
the pay a. a matter of justice.
Mr.. Dawes said that in a contest between a
lot of hungry politicians who had votes to give
and who could carry other political influence
the females who had nothing but mere abstract
idea OF justice, would stand a very poor chance.
Mr. Stevenson (Ohio) also defended the female
clerks from the assaults of Mr.. Rogers.
After further discussion the amendment was
rejected-yeas IS, nays 6s.
The committee then rose.
MIR. Logan introduced a bill appropriating
$500 To defray the expenses of the military
committee in investigating the alleged sale Of
cd