The New York herald., 1871-12-20

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House or she Iaternasisnal Society BILL.
The civil service reformers in the Senate
seem determined to follow out the scent on
which they have been running for the last
week In pursuit of official corruption. Senator
Conkling, apparently realizing that the oppo-
sition to Senator TrumbulIs demand for an
investigation was placing the administration
and those who sustained it In false and un-
tenable position, took up his own stand among
the reformers, and went for full investiRa-
tion of the General Order Business" in the
New York Custom House, and to find out
of that bnsiness-shares his profits with other
officials. Mr.. Conkling was even in such
an amiable mood as to accept an amendment
to his resolution, offered by Mr.. Schurz,
directing the same committee to inquire
whether unauthorized charges are made for
storage and carting in the Custom House
business in New York, and as to the accept
ance of presents by officers from their subor-
dinates, and as to connivance at frauds in
passing passengers baggage, and as to various
other actual or supposed peccadilloes on the
part of officials. With his amiability still un-
exhausted Mr.. Conkling accepted another
amendment, suggested by Mr.. Bayard, of
Delaware, instructing the committee to In
quire also whether Custom House officers
have been or are being used as instru-
ments of political or party patronage. He
also accepted proposition, offered by Sem
ator Upton, of Nebraska, to inquire as
to whether New York Custom House en-
ployes have been used to influence or control
State Conventions. Mr.. Blair, of Missouri,
also got in without objection q resolution to
inquire into the propriety of Minister
| Schenck's connection with the Emma silver
mine. But when Senator Sumner, presuming
on the more manageable temper exhibited by
the administration Senators, raked up his old
st. Domingo troubles, and wanted an investi-
| cation into that subject, Senator Conkling's
tolerance suddenly gave way, and be OBJ
jected absolutely to the resolution being
offered. If all the other scents, however,
are honestly and persistently followed out,
will be bagged.
Apropos of this subject it may here be
stated that the report of the Civil Service
Commission was sent to both houses yesterday
by the President, with an approving message.
OF other subjects that came up In the Senate
yesterday it is enough to allude to resolu-
ton, offered by Senator Chandler, Of Michi-
gan, to refer to the Committee on Commerce
that portion of the Presidents annual Message
relating to the telegraph postal system, which
resolution lies over; to bill, introduced by
Senator Edmunds, of Vermont to punish stock
gambling by public officers, and to proposed
amendment Of the constitution, presented
by Senator Stewart, of Nevada. This
latter, which was referred to the
Judiciary Committee, proposes that the
constitution shall. be 30 amended As to
provide that there shall be maintained
in each State and Territory system Of free
common schools, and that neither the United
States, nor any State, Territory or municipal
corporation shall aid in the support Of any
school wherein the peculiar tenets Of any de-
nomination shall be taught.
The House bill, appropriating four millions
Of dollars for the Chicago Custom House, was
passed In the Senate, and new Georgia
Senator (Mr. Norwood, native article, not
carpet-bagger) was admitted to seat, in dis
regard Of the opposing claim Of Foster Blodg.
EFT, who was ruthlessly sacrificed In the
house of his friends.
In the House the entire day was occupied
In the discussion of the bill reported last
week, either from the Committee on Education
and Labor or from the International Society,
for the creation Of q commission to inquire
into the relations Of capital and labor. Those
who opposed the bill put their opposition prin-
cipally on the ground that it was q subject
which came properly within the jurisdiction Of
committees of the House or Of bureaus Of the
government, and that there was no propriety
in getting up q needless and expensive COM
mission. Mr.. Kerr Of Indiana, strict con-
structionist of the constitution and an old
fashioned democrat and free trader, ar
gued that Congress had no business
whatever with the question; that the
proposition was hypocritical attempt to gain
proselytes to the republican party from the
ranks of the laboring classes, and that the
practical way of serving those classes was by
abolishing high tariff duties, and thus reduc-
| ing the cost of all articles consumed by the
people. Mr.. Wood and Mr.. Cox, Of this city,
and Mr. Slocum, of Brooklyn, enforced some
what similar views, the latter naming for COM
missioners three well known citizens connected
with the labor movement. The discussion was
not closed at the time Of adjournment, but
will be resumed to-day, and very probably o
vote reached on the bill itself.
The House had also it's propositions
for investigation. The Committee on Bank
ing and Currency was instructed, on the
motion Of Its Chairman, Mr.. Hooper, Of
| Massachusetts to examine into the causes Of