Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1870-03-24
F0RTy-FIRST CONGRESS.
This Afternoons Proceedings
THuRsDAY. March >. ,s-a

$50 THURSDAY, March "a, fs,o a
THE SENATE went into Execnti,e se.-,ar
immediately after the reading of sAe Jeurn.,
to-day.
HOUSE.-Mr. Logan Inl.) as a privsled ques
ton, submitted . report in relation % the nj.
legged sale of appointneats 10 the Military and
Naval Academy. The committee say they have
examined q number OF witnesses, and md thai
many appointments we're made In violation OF
law, and that cadets were appointed vhe were
not actual residents of the district from which
they were appointed In some Instances money
ton to individual cases the evidence was con-
ficting, and the committee therefore dee med Il
best TO report i'm a general way rather than O.
report on individual cases, when the evidence
did not fully warrant if- ~
The committee also report q bill and three
resolutions, the adoption of which they recon-
mend. -.. rs. =.
The bin provides that no appointments to the
Military or Naval Academy sh all be considered
valid unless the sppontee Is an sctual bona tide
resident for two years preceding the appoint
msnt- The fact Of residence shall be proven by
affidavit, and no appointment shall be made in
any other manner than Is provided In this act.
III IL Is subsequently found that the AFFIDAVIT il
false, or that corrupt means has been used TO
procure the appointment, the cadet shall be
Mr.. Wood asked whether the bill was retro
active, and proposed the dismissal of any one
who had already been appointed
MI; Logan said the bill was altogether pro-
spectiys. --,5
Mr.. Ward said he could not help compliment
ing the committee upon the fair and impartial
manner in which they had conducted this inves-
ugation, and he should therefore freely support
any proposition they recommended.
Mr.. Potter N. W thought the residences re-
qnifed was too long, especially In large cities
where persons were continually changing their
residences from ward to ward
li;s M; Logan was willing to ACCEPT any proper
ment that no member should appoint as a cadet
person who was within the fourth degree of
consangunity to said member.
Mr.. Logan declined TO accept the amendment
Mr.. Wood suggested that o longer residence
should not be required Of cadet than was re-
quired Of member Of Congress who made the
appointment Ii the rule was enforced I'm that
direction some of the privileges Of the Southern
members might be cut OF.
Mr.. Stevenson tOhio) suggested that in that
case the privileges of the gentlemen's (Mr.
Wood'sl colleague Mr.. Cox might be cut on.
Mr.. Cox said he had resided i've years i'm NeS
york before he was elected to Congress, and
that was three years longer than the gentleman
from Ohio had resided in his district: in fact IL
was Two years longer than the gentleman had
been member Of the Republican party
tLaughter.l
After further discussion the bill was amended
10 make the period OF residence one year, and
then the bill was passed without q division
The House proceeded with the consideration
OF resolution that il was in evidence that Com
mander D. r. Cpshur, Of the Navy, had paid a
sum Of money to M. ID. Landon to procure An
appointment for his son i'm the Naval Academy
at Annapolis, and directing the Secretary of the
Navy TO order a court martial to try Comman-
DER opshnr ON the charge OF conduct unbecom
ing an ofhcer of the Nauy.
Mr.. Scoheld Pa-) hoped the resolution would
he changed, and not be made mandatory.
Mr.. VOORHEES, (lndl was reluctant to differ
ssss fhs nsob ans tSsm Ss
q scharged; but as there was no evidence that
any member had been bribed in this case, he
did not think it would be exactly Just to adopt
TINS extreme measure with Upshur, who was a
faithful naval officer.
Mr. Starkweather (Conn.) said Commander
opshur was resident OF his district, and while
he wanted the fullest investigation, he did NOT
wish TO have the case prejudged, as this resolu-
non contemplated. He claimed that Upshur
oid not know that he was doing anything wrong,
He agreed with Mr.. voorhees, that there ought
10 be some evidence TO show that a member vas
brIbed before this resolution was adopted
MI Mr: Logan explained that there was no evil
uence 10 implicate a member of Congress- be-
cause no attempt was made to brbe the mem
triet Of Mr n son was sPgol=nssS = from the the D,s,
1y MI. Hoge: 1t was effected in this way.
Mr. Hoge made an appointment, and Mr.. Ian
don, as Commander Upshur's agent, bought
cancy, the Secretary Of the Nayy apno;nted
I rshur's soa at large. In view OF this fact. the
friends Of Cpshur ought to court an investiea-
premises. - e
= Mr.. Garfield offered an amendment that the
resolution be so amended as to authorize n COM
mittee OF inquiry to ascertain whether Com
mander Cpshur had been guilty of conduct
unbeeoming An Officer and gentleman.
The amendment was rejected, yeas n. navs
ia; and the original resolution was then
adopted.
The second resolution reported by the Com
mittee recommending the dismissaiof General
Schoepf from his position a. Examiner in the
Patent ONCE, for his completely in the matter,
was then taken up.
The discussion OF the resolution led 10 remarks
by Mr.. Maynard and Mr.. Kelley that it was com
mon practice some fifty years ago for member
to sell their patronage. Mr.. Kelley stated that
all his predecessors were in the habit of doing
SO.
The statement was Indignantly denied by Mr..
Dawes and Mr.. Schenck, who said that after
many years OF service here, this was the most
surprising statement they had ever heard upon
this floor. = -
Mr.. Logan also denied the charge, and said
the committee had examined all the cases tho |
roughly and reported all the evidence that ap-
peared against every member. : |
The resolution was then adopted.