The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1870-02-12
Washington.

and comes to the relief of the Executive
Departments most opportunely if it shall
be passed. There is continual difficulty
arising out of the custom of permitting
Congressman to designate, and therefore
substantially appoint Collectors, Assessors
and other Federal officers whose appoint
ment the law solely vests in the President.
The bill pending before the Senate is in
tended to put an end to the pernicious Gus
tom. and forbids Congressman from recsm-
mending or soliciting the appointment of
Federal officers. 4 case in point is at this
moment giving trouble in the Treasury De-
partment and Internal Revenue Bureau
An excellent Collector in New York, one
whose record is that of an efficient, honest
and faithful officer, and withal a staunch
Republican, originally appointed at the re-
quest of the Congressman of his District,
is to be removed because he will not be Of
special service to the member of Congress
in securing the latter's nomination. The
Commissioner of Internal Revenue has no
complaint to make against the present in
cumbent ; OIL the contrary, he says lie is
one of the best Collectors in the country
But the member of Congress is getting
weak with his constituents in one of the
counties Of his District, and to make HIM
self strong for the nomination in that couR-
ty proposes to give the Collectorship to a
citizen thereof, thus making the good of
the public service subServient to the per-
sonal ambition and selfishness Of an indi-
vidual. The member of Congress will re-
gard the Executive as opposed to his nom
ination if he shall be refused, and urging
this point, demands the change. Now, if
the hill before the Senate were at this mo-
ment law, there would be no danger Of
losing an honest and efficient Collector of
lott Il
inatien of politician. The bill is favored
in the Executive Departments.
Senator Vickers, of Maryland, will op-
pose the admission Of Revels, the colsred
ed Mississippi Senator, to a seat in the
Senate. Among the Sensational stories
trumpet up against Mr.. Revels personally,
is that he was in a row in Kansas, had his
head smashed by bottle, and was cleaned
out Of the State under a charge of misap-
plying funds.
| President Grant in his interview with the
Georgians expressed the opinion that the
Legislature of that State ought not to elect
Senators, thereby indicating that the cleo
tions already held were valid.
The Ways and Means Committee of Con-
! gress are stated to favor a reduction of the
income tax to three per cent. and an ex-
emption of salaries of two thousand dol
| lars or loss.
| In the United States Senate On Monday
Mr.. Edmunds, from the Committee on
| Pensions, rel ogted unfavorably upon the
proposition to pay pensions to tho surviving
soldiers Of the war of 1912, stating that it
would not be .iustiiiable in the present con-
dition of the National finances. The Sec
rotary of the Treasury was called upon for
all the information in his possession rela-
tive to the issue of bonds to the Pacific
| Railway Companies. Some debate occur
red upon Mr.. Trumbull's bill to relieve
members of Congress from opportunities,
and to preserve the independence of the
different departments Of the Government,
| but no vote was reached. The House bill
! for taking the census of 1870 was called
| up, and MIR. Conkling spoke in opposition
| To it, contcnding that the census could be
most efficiently and cheaply taken under
| the bill of 1850. Mr.. Sumner defended the
| system proposed in the new bill, and pend
ing the debate the Senate adjourned.
| In the Houseot Representatives on Mon
day Mr.. Marshall's preamble and resolu-
| ton in favor of free trade and in opposi-
ton to tariff for any ether purpose than
to pay the debt and provide for the common
welfare and defense Of the country, were
laid on the table by vote Of 80 to n. The
President was requested to transmit all
respondencebetween this and the Spanish
Government in relation to Cuban AFFAIRS
The Indian Appropriation bill was report
ed and made the special order, for Friday.
The appropriations made are $3,0ss, $50,
being about three millions less than for
last year. The death of Mr.. Hoag, MEN,
Der from Ohio, was announced, and tie
usual resolutions were passed and eulogies
delivered.
In the Supreme Court on Monday the
opinion of the Court was delivered that
bebts contracted prior to the passage of the
Legal Tender act lin 1862 by Congress
must be paid in gold.
A delegation of Gesrgians, visited the
White House on Monday to lay before the
President an official communication from
Governor Bullock, announcing that the
State Legislature had properly organized
under the act Of Congress of December 90
last by adopting the fourteenth and tif-
teenth proposed amendments to the Con-
>titution, and complying with all other re-
quirements Of Congress. The committee
was cordially welcomed, and the President
expressed his qualification at the progress
made towards reconstruction in Georgia.
He cordially endorsed the action of Gen.
Terry and Governor Bullock in the prem
ises, and said he considered the present the
only legally organized Legislature in the
state siacc the rebellion.
Mr. Morrill,, of Maine, has introduced
in the House bill to aid in the construc-
ton Of SEAL going vessels, ships, and steam
boats, which provides that any person OF
company who may hereafter construct YES
sells for ocean commerce, within the juris-
dction of the United States, shall be en-
| it'll d to receive from the Treasury Of the
United States such sum Of money as shall
| lie equal to eighty-five per cent. of the
amount received as a revenue by the Gov
crnment on the materials which enter into
| and are used in the construction of such
vessels. If the builders shall use articles
manufactured in the United States, instead
IF foreign manufacture, they shall receive
ninety per cent, according to the compar-
alive value between such articles of home
| and foreign manufacture upon which for
| eign manufacture duties are laid. This
| bill is intended to encourage the building
| of vessels in the United States out of Amer
| lean material.
The House Committee ON tho Pacific
| Railroad agree to report bill authorizing
| the Northern Pacific Railroad Company to
>Cii DShue, sSSuiSu ~ eiiSii lidhSHiSS dtiu
their stock, for the purpose of raising mo-
aey to complete their road. The bill allows
tho company to change the location of the
western terminus Of the road from Puget
Sound, as at first contemplated, to Column
bia river; or rather such point on that river
as may be selected by the company. 1t
| gives the company the right to an amount
Of public lands equal to that which has
been taken up by settlers on the lands origi-
nally granted the road, such land to be To-
Gated in any part of the national domain
not taken up, contiguous to the line of the
| road.
The Comptroller of the Currency has ad-
dressed letters to several national banks
complained against for charging usurious
rates of interest transmitting decision Of
| the Solicitor that such rates are unlawful,
and saying in conclusion that the frequen-
cy with which complaints are made by the
the public against national banks, for
charging exhorbitant rates of interest, and
the growing discomfort will probably make
it his duty to commence proceedings against
certain banks, as provided in section fifty
| tbrao IF thu ho MI inr l., fn,. -, ~