Worcester daily spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1850-1888, 1871-01-24
Forty-First Congress Second Session.
WASHINGTON, D. c., Jan. %.
SENATE.

tue du0bAuLlOU OF DOMINICA.
Mr.. Morton reminded the senate that the reso-
luton was passed by democratic majority.
The Joint resolutions were ordered TO be printed
and laid on the table
Mr.. Trumbull from the judiciary committee,
made report upon the Georgia senatorial queS-
ton, accompanied by resolution declaring
Joshua Hill elected. The minority report was
also submitted by Mr.. Stewart, reviewing the
claims of the various senatorial applicants, and
concluding with q resolution to admit Messrs.
Farrow and Whitley. The reports were ordered
to be printed, Mr.. Trumbull giving notice that
he would ask early for the disposition of the
subject.
The bill to reimburse the states for interest,
&C., on their war loans, was referred to the
finance committee.
Mr.. TrumbuPs bill, to relieve congressman
from importantly, and to procure independence
of the departments of the government, was
taken up, and Mr.. Morton submitted and had
read communications from the heads of depart
mentS, setting forth that there is no excess of
clerical force in any of the departments. In
some instances an increase was demanded, and,
as rule, the clerks were attentive and compe-
tent.
Mr.. Trumbull said, instead of attacking the
heads of departments, as enormously represent
cd by Mr. Morton, he only objected TO a system
which had compelled the state of things to eX-
list under such a system. He believed the heads
of departments could not have done better
the useless and supertluous employees retained in
the New York custom house, through political
influence, and, after quoting from the remarks
in the senate by Mr.. Sherman on May 20, 1870,
to the effect that one-half of the department
clerical force could be cut off, and yet enough
be left to do business, he called upon the SEN
ator from South Carolina, Mr.. Robertson, to
state his knowledge on the subject.
Mr.. Robertson stated that business frequent
ly called him to the departments. Those with
which he was most familiar were the treasury
and the post Office; that, in the rooms he visited
there were not on an average, more than one-tilth
OF the clerks present actually at work, but were
generally engaged either in conversation or
reading newspapers. In the post office depart
ment, one clerk was drawing his pay regularly
without having been at the department for
twelve months. Upon complaining of this to
the head OF the department, Mr. Robertson said
ne was informed that the man was kept in by
political influence, though that official admitted
the thing to be wrong. His, Robertson's, reply
was, If the clerk was not put to work. he would
make an effort in the senate for an official in
curry, SO as to apply remedy whereby worthy
men, willing to work, should not longer be de-
prlVed OF government employment by those who
give any equivalent for their compensation
MIR. Wilson, in advocacy Of the bill, argued
that by preventing senators from committing
themselves in advance to nominees, it would
secure more intelligent and conscientious con-
nations, He attributed the responsibility of
the present system, that "to the yictOrs belong
the spoils," to the democratic party, by whom it
had been inaugurated in 1929, and spoke on the
necessity of proper remedy for what had been
called an odious, dstasteiul and intoerable
system. The presidents power of making APP.
polntmentS, instead of being exclusively eX-
ercised, had been practically mOnopOlized by
senators and representatives. The admirable
management of the interior department, and the
incomparably superior business qualifications
of the clerks, were then dwelt upon, as also
the fact that the force were susceptible of a
slight reduction, aud any possible reduction
should be made. Referring to what had been
said about the late Secretary Cox, in connection
with detection in the civil service, Mr.. Wilson
mentioned the peculiar difficulties always APP
pertaining to the interior department He be-
lieyed that officers would have made many val
liable reforms; but, as it was, abuses were to
be found there, still existing, when he left the
department. By the competitive examination
system, officers would be appointed for a num-
Der of years, and the practice of throwing one
man out of office to make way for another who
could help carry congressional district would
be stopped. The grievances of the republican
party, in the main, he thought, were due to this
practice.
Mr.. Nye said the bill was founded upon the
ldea that congressman were dishonest, and that
idea had so far received congressional counte-
box of matches, or penknife, member had
to have written order. Had his constituents
believed he would steal q sheet of paper, they
would never have sent him here. He gave no.
tice, that, after other senators, who desired to
speak, has been heard on the bill, he would
move to lay it on the table,
After further remarks against the bill, by Mr..
Cameron, the senate, without disposing of the
subject, went into executive session, and soon
after adjourned.
HOUSE.
When the house was called to order there were
very few members in their seats, and calls Iof
states for bills and resolutions were therefore
concludedEin very few minutes.
Only two measures were introduced from New
England. Mr.. Hale presented the resolution Of
the Maine legislature in relation to owners of
lands on the northeastern boundary, which were
coded to Great Britain. Mr.. Starkweather pre-
scented another bill providing for commission
to audit and settle the Alabama claims. Both
measures were referred to the foreign affairs
committee.
The naval rank bill was taken up, and Mr.
Stevens advocated its passage as a matter of
justice to the line officers. He charged in the
course of some remarks, that the line was strv-
ing to build up an aristocracy, and that Admi-
raj Porter, the highest officer in the navy, was
taking the lead in this movement. He also
stated that thecadetS at the naval academy were
instructed in aristocratic notions, and one OBJ
ject of this bill was to make all things more
equal.
Mr.. Scofeld followed in a speech in opposition
to the bill, and denounced the claim of the staff
as an absurdity He took the ground generally
that there was no practical use in establishing
these relative ranks, and the only possible adj
vantage in it was to indicate where officers
should stand in funeral professions or presiden-
tal levees There would besas much propriety
in assimilating the ranks of senators and mem
berS with the federal judiciary The Drinciple
was wrong in republican government, and he
was opposed to carrying it out any further.
MIR. Hale also argued against the bill, which,
after further discussion, was passed
MIR. Dawes introduced joint resolution, for
the appointment of a commissioner of fish and
fisheries of the coasts and lakes, which passed
1877 to 4S.
A motion to suspend the rules, and pass the
bill to extend to all the states lately in rebellion
the provisions of the act of July 4, 1864, limit
ing the jurisdiction of the court of claims,
failed-125 to 67-and the house adjourned.