Evening star., 1870-02-07
F0RTY-FIRST CONGRESS.
This Afternoons Proceedings.
MONDAY, February Z,

MONDAY, February Z.
SENATE.-Mr. Morton presented resolutions
OF the Legislature of Georgia ratifying the four
teenth and fifteenth amendments to the Consti-
tuition; also, the assent of the Legislature
accepting the conditions imposed by Congress
relative to an amendment of the State constitu-
tion; all of which were referred to the Commit
tee on the judiciary.
mittee also inquire whether the Legislature of
Georgia, as at present constituted, is loyal
body.
Mr. Edmunds said the committee had already
been instructed to do that by resolution of the
Senate.
Mr.. Conkling presented memorial asking
female suffrage. Referred to the judiciary
Mr.. Wilson, from the Committee on Military
Affairs, reported a lolnt resolution placing 10
the credit of the National Asylum for Sick and
Disabled Soldiers the funds belonging to it.
MIR. Edmunds, from the Committee on PEN
siOns, reported back informally the various peti-
tions from soldiers Of the war OF 1872 for PEN
sions.
Mr. Edmunds said the committee would have
been very glad to grant pensions to these SOL
diers, but in view of the present condition of the
country and the high taxes, and the fact that
there were so many disabled soldiers who needed
pensions, they did not think it would be justif-
able to include the soldiers of 1872.
MIR. Cole introduced bill to amend the act es-
tablishng ocean mail service between the Uni
ted States and the Hawaiian Islands, and to ex-
tend the same to Australia. Referred TO the
Committee on Post Offices.
Mr.. Pomeroy introduced bill to regulate the
sale Of intoxicating liquors in the District Of
Columbia.
Mr.. Trumbull introduced bill to extend treaty
stipulations, SO as to protect trade marks. Re-
ferred TO the Committee on Foreign Relations.
MIR. Sumner fferedresOlutions instructing the
Secretary Of the Treasury to inform the Senate
full particulars of all bonds issued to Pacific
Railway Company, amount, dates, sc. Passed
Also, resolution instructng Secretary of
Treasury to furnish report of the agent sent out
Belgium. Passed.
Ir. Bayard offered resolution directing the
Postmaster General to inform tie Senate at
whose expense the blank memorials in favor OF
the abolition of the franking privilege were
printed, and also the facts upon which the
charges of fraud in connection with that privi-
ege are based.
MIR. Thayer objected, and it went over
Mr.. Trumbull called up his bill to relieve
members of Congress from importantly and to
preserve the independence of the different de-
partments Of the Government.
The bill was read, when Mr.. Patterson said
the Committee on ketrenchment had this sub
ject under consideration in connection with
many others, and bills would soon be reported
covering the whole subject. He therefore sug
gested that this bill be left for the present.
Mr.. Trumbull said the bills the Senator al
luded to would cover very wide field. His
bill referred to one particular abuse, and which
should be corrected as speedily as possible; and
he believed this bill could be passed at once
of Congress from impOrtuning the President to
appoint persons to office, but OF course would
not prevent them from answering any interrog-
atories put to them by the President in refer
ence to the fitness of an applicant for Office.
Mr. SchurZ was as anxious as any one for a
thorough reform of the civil service, but he did
not believe this proposition to be either wise or
expedient. He knew that the practice now pre-
vailng was demoralizing, but this would only
transfer the solicitations from large politicians
to small ones. 1t would take much more COM
han IN 1xr
abuse.
Mr.. Howard could not vote for the bill al
though he was satisfied that there were abuses.
1t was certain that the President could not ad-
wise himself as to the fitness of all applicants
for office, but must depend upon others, and
there were no more tit, persons to advise him
than members of Congress.
Mr.. Williams moved to amend by prov iding
that no judicial, military or civil officer of the
United States shall make any recommendation
TO Office, under the same penalties of fine and
imprisonment as are prescribed for members of
Congress.
Mr. Trumbull asked if that would not prohibit
the General Of the Army from recommending
d. serving officers for promotion
Mr.. Williams had no desire to do that: but il
vas known that judicial and military officers
often interfered to urge the appointment of men
ID ofhces which were neither judicial or mill
tary, and as they had no more right to do this
than members OF Congress his desire was to
stop it.
The morning hsQr here expired and the bill
The unfinished business, being the Census bill,
was then taken up.
Mr.. Sumner called for the reading Of the bill,
and it was accordingly read through.
HOUSE.-Under the call of States for bills
and joint resolutions for reference the following
named:
BY Mr.. Morrill, (Maine): Bill to aid in the con-
struction of sea-going vessels, steamers and
ships. Commerce.
BY Mr. Ella (N. H.: Bill to regulate the rank
OF naval constructors and civil engineers in the
navy. Naval Affairs.
BY Mr.. Burlington (Mass.): Resolutions of the
Legislature of Massachusetts in relation to
French spoliation claims Foreign Affairs.
By Mr.. ScOfield (Pa.): Bill to except from the
operations of the bill repeating the franking
where published Post Offices and Post Roads.
By MIR. Kelley (Pa.): Bill to promote the
establishment of national decimal system of
coinage. Coinage, Weights and Measures.
sion of knowledge among the people, Post
Offices and Post Roads.
BY Mr. Hambleton lMd): Numerously signed
petitions of citizens OF Kent, Talbert, Dorches-
ter, Somerset and WicomicO counties, praying
the abolition Of the franking privilege. Post
Offices and Post Roads.
provisions of the act of July 4, 1864, in relation
to the jurisdiction of the Court of Claims to the
loyal citizens of Virginia. Claims.
, BY Mr.; Welker (ohio); Bill to abolish the
Lands. Education and Labor.
Also, bill to amend the act establishing the
Department of Education, and to discontinue
the Bureau of Refugees, Freedmen and Aban-
doned Lands. Education and Labor.
BY Mr.. Stevenson (Ohio): Bill to amend the
Bankrupt act. Judiciary.
=, BY Mr: Arnell (Tenn.l: Bill to do justice to
the female employees OF the Government. Educa-
ton and Labor.
By Mr.. Asper MOI: Bill to amend the act
authorizing the construction of bridge across
the Missouri river at the Leavenworth reserva-
ton. Commerce.
Under the call large number of bills were
introduced Of private nature, as for claims,
post roads, to remove political disabilities, &C.
Mr.. Hawley (Ill) offered resolution that in
the construction Of the bridge across the Missis-
sippi at Rock Island, H., the Secretary of War
be authorized to construct the same for single
track railroad, and that the wagon road be
placed below the railroad; provided that the
whole expense Of the road shall not exceed one
million dollars. The resolution was adopted.
Mr.. Benjamin (Mo.) offered q resolution di-
recting the Committee on the District Of Colrm-
bia to report bill authorizing the authorities
Of the cities of Washington and Georgetown to
levy tax on the property Of the city subject to
cities.
the table.
Pending consideration of this motion. Mr..
Marshall (Ill.) called attention to the fact that
he offered q resolution last Monday which went
over under the rule, and that it should have
come up In regular order as unfinished husiness