Worcester daily spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1850-1888, 1871-12-15
FOrty-SecOnd Congressional Session
WAsHINGToN, d. c. Dec. "A, 1871.
GENA 'HE

Mr.. Scott introduced bill providing that, in
addition to the present force Of the navy, there
he annually received into the service three hun
dred boys, between the ages of fifteen and sew
enteen years, to serve MS apprentices until TWEEN
ty-One, at such pay as may be fixed by the pres
ident and, at the end of that time, he entitled
to examination for promotion to the grade of
seamen, said seamen, however, not TO be in adj
ditOn to the whole number allowed by law.
Mr. Irumbull asked Mr.. Sherman, as of the
chairman committee on finance when that com
mlttee intended to report the house bill repeal
ing the duties on coal and salt.
MIR. Sherman said the committee was ready 10
report the bill with amendments regarding in
ternal and external taxes, as parts of one great
system He thought it inadyisable to take up
the tariff question separately from the question
OF internal taxation, and, therefore, was wait
ing for the house TO dCVelOpe somewhat further
the course it intends to pursue ON the question
Of taxation.
Mr.. Trumbull gave notice that tomorrow he
would move to discharge the committee on
finance from the further consideration of the
house bill
On motion OF Mr.. Wilson, the senate took
up the house bin to equalize the pay OF work
ing men under the eight hour law.
Mr. lrumbulPs amendment repeating the
law, was also read.
Mr. Trumbnll said that no one could be
more in favor of rewarding and ceVating labor
than he but this law had never had any such
effect. 1t had done the workngmcn no good
whatever, but, on the contrary, done great
harm by exciting unpleasant feelings between
those employed by the government and work.
ing only eight hours and those working outside
ten hours He thought ii would De better for
the working men and TIL country to repeal the
law.
Mr. Morrill, of Vermont favored repeal of
the law. II was preposerous TO enact such
law, and degrading to the wOrkingmen.
tpH t,ull m
his amendment, so as not 10 cmbarrass the
original bill
Mr. Trumbull withdrew the amendment.
MIR. Ferry of Connecticut renewed it, He
said he could not vote for the house bill because
it would give TO the eight hour law a legislative
construction contrary to that intended by the
trainers of the law and erroneous in itself. He
remembered that when the eight hour bill was
under discussion, its advocates distinctly stated
that it was not designed to secure men ten
hours pay for eight hours, work.
MIR. Thurman" Then what advantage would
it be to the wOrkingmenp
Mr. Ferry-"lts advocates claimed that the
workngmen would have more time for culture
than under the old system"
The bill was referred to the committee on
finance.
The senate resumed the consideration of Mr..
Anthonys resolution, TO create a committee on
retrenchment, with Mr.. Trumbull's amendment
authorizing il to sit during the recess and send
for persons and papers,
Mr. Wilson warned his republican friends
that they were placing their party in false po-
Stion before the country. Already there were
millions throughout the country who believed
an attempt would be made in the senate TO
shield the administration aud the party
that has control Of it; he, of course, did
not believe it true, but it was very mpor-
tant to appear right as well as do right. In
1866, the committee on retrencbment was or
nEi 10 yigf-
ence, it rghted great many wrongs but there
still remained work for il to do. He had no
sympathy with those who desired TO aSSal
or embanass the administration The senate was
itself a part of the government, responsible with
the president for its successful administration,
and the best friends of both were those most
vigilant in seeking out abuses and most active
in taking measures for conviction. He was in
favor of both the pending propositions; he
thought it unwise for the republicans OF the
senate to go before the country with divided
vote upon this question of retrenchment. Pub.
lie prints showed that there was Il general Sus-
picion abroad that some friends of the admins
tration were trying to cover up abuses, and
therefore he hoped that there would be a unani-
nous vote for Mr.. Trumbulps resolution, so as
TO let the people see that the republicans We're
determined to keep the administration pure in
all its departments. He had no sympathy with
the plan ofcovering our own shortcomings by
talking of the gigantic Swinde in New York.
There were republican thieves, as well as demo-
cratic thieves, and a republican thief was to him
far the more hateful Of the two, because he
brought disgrace upon the republican party;
but, Notwithstanding the defects OF the present
administration, it was far purer and more eff
Cent than most of its predecessors. No prev-
ons administration had ever been so prompt in
Furnishing delinquency among its officers.
Mr.. BlaiT-"Ihe senator is very b0aStful
about the purity and ygOr of the adminstra-
ton. | wish to call his attention to the case in
Arkansas where the district attorney and mar
shall were both removed from office for procuring
an indictment against man for violating the
law of the United States"
Mr.. Wilson-'I don't know whether that was
so or not"
Mr.. Scott said preliminary measures for the
removal of the district attorney and marshal
were taken before the finding of the indictment
referred to-
MIR. Blair-"l have equal means of knowl
edge, and say the officers were turned out for
finding an indictment against person for yiO-
latin9 the law of the United States"
Mr. Wilson said he was nouboastful of the
administrations He simply desired TO be just
and, therefore, said the administration was
seeking progress in the right direction, although
a good deal more of ii was necessary. He was
not one of those republicans who thought the
democratic party dead. He expected TO en-.
counter them in full force next year. and warned
his friends against relaxing their efforts in any
degree, in the vain hope that they would meet
no vigorous opposition in 1872.
Mr.. Nye opposed the revival OF the commit
tee.
Mr., Schurz followed in reply, in the course Of
which he said: "The legitimate sphere of the
comedian is generally within the walls of a
theatre; but if the senator is satisfied with the
role he plays here, nobody else has reason to be
dissatisfied. | wish TO say a few words in reply
TO the senator from New York. Mr. Conkling.
He said, yesterday, that the investigation in
the New York custom house was closed up by the
committee on retrenchment last year. The COM
mittee did undoubtedly believe that the case
was closed, for it had reason to believe
that, when such scandals as it exposed
were laid bare, the administration would jump
at the chance to put an end TO the disgrace, but
it turns out that they were vastly mistaken; for