Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1870-12-14
FORTY-FIRST CONGRESS.
This Afternoons Proceedings.
WEDNESDAY, December IA.

SENATE.-Mr. Conkling presented memorial
Of soldiers OF 1912, asking pensions. Referred Il
Committee on Pensions.
DISTRICT BILLS.
Mr.. Sherman, from Committee on Finance,
reported back with amendments the bill 20
create relief fund for the employees in the
Executive Departments.
MI: patterson introduced bill to incorporate
the Capitol Hill Savings Bank OF Washington.
CUSTOMS DUTIES.
Mr.. Fenton moved that the Secretary OF the
treasury be directed TO transmit to the Senate
statement Of the fines. penalties, and for
FIXTURES exacted for violations or evasions of the
customs duties at Boston, New York, Philadel-
phia, Baltimore, New Orleans, and San Fran
cisco, with the moiety received BY the oficers
at the ports named, with the names Of the par
ties, &c. Adopted. Also q resolution instruct
ing ,he C0mmittee on ketrenchment, to inquire
whether the customs duties cannot be collected
al the above ports at less cost, and also inquire
into the details Of the carriage and warehouse
system. Adopted.
PROPOSED SHIP CANAL.
On motion OF Mr.. Harris, the Committee on
Commerce were directed TO inquire into the
practicability or constructing Q ship canal to
connect the waters OF the Mississippi with the
BOTH HOUSES TO ADJOURN FROM DEC. 22D TO
JAN. 4Ta.
Mr.. Foreman called up the House concurrent
resolution to adjourn from Dec. 22d TO Jan. 4,
1871, and it was concurredin-yeas 80, NAYS It,
Mr.. Ross, from Committee on Indian Affairs,
reported joint resolution directing the Secre-
tary of the Interior to withhold any further
issue of patents for the Miami Indian reserya-
ton in Kansas. Passed.
Mr.. Nye introduced a resolution requesting
the Secretary of the Treasury to comma nic ate
to the Senate what measures have been taken
relative to the collection Of the tax on the forty
I'VE million scrip dividends of the New York
central railroad, and whether the same has
been paid into the Treasury.
THE CLERKS RELIEF FUND, AGAIN.
Mr.. Drake called up the bill to provide re-
LIEF fund for the employees in the executive de-
DartmentS
The amendments OF the Finance Committee
were agreed to.
Mr.. Conkling would like to have some assur
ance, before voting for this BILL that the clerks
were DESTROYS that the government should take
charge OF them Is If they were infants and
should levy upon them compulsory fund. He
plans by which people we're compelled to take as
care OF themselves. He thought these clerks
could take care of themselves.
Mr. Morton said the only design was to make
fund FOR the improyident and the necessitous.
There II no humiliation about il, no begging
when q clerk dies. 1t Ii 90 small an amount.
one-tenth OF one per cent, and will not be
Mr.. Upton hoped that Congress would be
harrassed until they did
JUSTICE TO THE CLERKS;
and properly remunerated them for their ser
vices. And justice would never be done them
until they were removed from political indu-
ence. He had been q clerk, and he knew the
contemplate slavery to which the department
clerks were subjected. If he had his way, when
one Of them died he would bury him SO silently
and so secretly that the greedy outside world
should not know that there was q vacancy.
Mr.. Howe thought it best to let the clerks ad-
minister their own finances. The next thing
Congress would he asked to appropriate money
to build
CIVIL SERVICE HOSPITAL.
There was one thing though that Congress
should do; 1T should provide regular and suffi-
cient fund to relieve all actual want in the Dr.
tgict OF Columbia. 1t was a brazen sbame and
hideous crime before God aud man that there
should be under the shadow of this Capitol any
srch thing as actual personal want.
DIR. Howell was sorry that all the continued
clam0T about the poverty OF the clerks and their
insufficient pay had no effect upon the country
at large, but that day after day hundreds of the
people where constantly wri..Dg and coming
here, ard begging members of Congress 70 get
them cleTkships. It looked as il they made more
here by being clerks than they could any where
else. Further,
WASHINGTON WAS MOST scANDALoUsLY SLAM
DERED
throughout ithe country, and probably the
world, as being q most extravagant city to live
in. He had not found it so. Or course if all the
round OF amusements was to be gone through
with, it would take good deal of money; but
to live quietly and as comfortably and decently
no more, If as much, was required than in any
other city.
MIR. Davis moved an amendment making il a
misdemeanor to levy any political or cleo
pioneering fund upon any Of the clerks.
MI Drake moved to amend the amendment,
ocratic party comes into power. Laughter
MIR. salisbury eulogiZed
THE DEMOCRATIC PARTY,
and advised Mr.. Drake to return, like the prod
igal son, to the fold from which he had strayed.
Mr.. Drake had once belonged to the demo
cratic party, but he should never return to II.
1t had strayed from the fold.
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Kelley, PAL from the Committee on Coinage
Weights and Measures. reported q bill for the
redemption of copper and other token coin;
which was ordered TO be printed and recon-
mitted.
Mr.. Julian, (Ind.,) from the Committee On
Public Lands, reported a bill authorizing the
settler TO any person qualified to hold land as a
pre-emptor, and providing that the purchaser
shall conform to all the requirements OF the
presumption laws. Passed.
The regular order being demanded which
was the call of committees tor reports
Mr.. Morrell, from the Committee Oh Mann
features, reported the bill introduced last SEES
sioI. for celebrating
THE CENTENNIAL ANNIVERSARY OF INDIE
PENDENcE, IN 1876,
by an exhibition OF the manufactures of the
country at Philadelphia, the place where the
Declaration OF Independence was signed Mr.
NoITell proceeded TO address the House in favor
Of the bill, urging the propriety of such ceie-
braton, and the advantages that would accrue
TO the country from the exhibition. In the
course OF his remarks. he said that he was
authorized 10 say that the city Of PHILADELPHIA
Il
free use of Paramount Park and erect ali the
necessary buildings without expense to the
government.
Mr.. Cleveland N. j. had read at the clerks
desk preamble and resolution introduced by
him in March 1869, directing the Committee Of
Manufacturers to inquire into the expediepcy
Of extending government assistance to the inter-
national fair, proposed to be given by the
American Institute in 1876, and said that the
proposition now submitted, had grown ont of
that. He opposed the bill proposed as imposing
heavy expenses upon the government, while
there were at this time several private sseocia-
tions in the field ready to undertake the enter
prise Of worlds fair in this country. -.
Mr.. Myers (Ps.) spoke Of the Importance or
the anniversary, and the pr0priety Of giving to
its celebration . national sanction, and said
there was no place 20 propey 70 celebrate our
national nssI.y e the place which gave Ii birth.
IN reply to Mr.. Cleveland, he said that the OBJ
with bad grace from him, g the resolution
originally introduced BY him looked to govern
ment aid. ~. $3.50
Mr.. Allison uowa) objected to the large num-
Der OF commissioners, (three from each State.)
Such body OF men could not manage such an
affair. II It was to be done by the government
Of the United states, let there DO commission
Of eleven or fifteen eminent men appointed to
manage il. He was opposed to . second con-