Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1871-12-13
FORTY SECOND CONGRESS.
This Afternoons Proceedings.
WEDNESDAY, December Is.

SENATE.-Mr. Sumner presented the me-
mortal Of the 21st district club and executive
committee Of the workingmen's Association of
Washington in favor Of his supplementary civil
rights bill. He expressed his JOY that the work
ingmen of the country were uniting with the
colored men of the country in the demand for
equal rights. Referred to Committee on Dis
trict Of Columbia.
Several petitions were presented PRAYING for
| the removal Of the duty on salt.
Mr.. Conkling introduced bill to provide for
| and other public buildings at Utica, n. Y. Re
ferr.d to Committee on Public Buildings and
Grounds.
Mr. SAWYER, from Committee on Appropria-
tons, reported the House bin making appropri-
atoms TO supply deficiencies in the last census;
which was passed.
the erection of puple buildings in Chicago. Re-
Grounds.
Mr.. Fenton, from Committee on Contingent
Expenses, reported resolutions to paw $50
each to the families of John e. Burch late Jour
nal clerk of the Senate, and John W. Jones,
penses, and, in addition, three months pay for
each.
INVESTIGATION AND RETRRNcHNBNr
Mr.. Anthony introduced a resolution to create
standing Committee of Investigation and Re-
trenchment to consist of seven members, and
to be elected by the Senate, whose duty it shall
be TO investigate and report upon such subjects
Mr.. Wilson hoped this committee would be
created, and that it would last as long as the
Senate lasted, He believed it would take all the
vigilance Of the President, and of his Cabinet,
and Of the Senate and the House to keep the
hands OF thieves out Of the Treasury of the
United States.
Mr.. Trumbull moved to add proviso that the
committee be directed to inquire into the ex-
pendtures in all branches Of the public service;
whether any. and, IL so, what offices Ought
to be abolished, and what salaries and allow
ances ought TO be reduced, and with power to
sit during the recess, and to send for persons
MIR Anthony did not think it was necessary
to adopt the proviso because after the commit
tee was appointed 1t would be perfectly peril
nent to refer to it any inquiry at any time.
Mr.. Thurman said II this resolution was passed
without the proviso 1t would not be worth the
paper on which it was written. Because before
ii was directed to make an inquiry into any
abuse, specific charges would have to be brought
in open Senate. Not to pass the provisO would
be to refuse the whole policy of the Senate for
years past. The Committee on Retrenchment
had the power to institute any investigation
which they might deem proper, and this new
committee should of course have the same
power.
Mr. Trumbull wanted this committee to find
out things tor the Senate, not the Senate TO find
out things for it.
Mr.. Sherman said it wasa very serious matter
to entrust this committee with powers not pos
sessed by any other committee OF the Senate. 1t
MOST GRAVE AND SERIOUS QUESTION
as to the propriety OF giving a committee the
sacred affairs, and this power should never be
given, unless in case of dire public necessity.
Mr.. Edmunds said the present administration
in its conduct of the public service compared in
integrity and fidelity with any administration
that had preceded it from the days of George
Washington down. Say there had been even a
dozen defalcations among the public employees
of the government, was there anything very
dreadful in that, except as an evidence that
the millennium had not come. He would tell
the Senator from Illinois (Mr. TrumbulD
that the ratio Of defalcations and unfaith-
fulness was much greater in private than
in public employ. If he had been stranger
and had come in here the other day, and heard
the speech (Mr Trnmbull's) on this subject, he
would have thought 1t was the opening of the
Presidential campaign. He denied explicitly
RESERVATIONS which had been made here and in
the public press as to abuse in the civil service
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Hooper, (Utah,) on leave, introduced several
bills, appropriating lands for the reclamation of
desert lands in Utah and to aid i'm the construc-
ton Of certain canals in Utah; which were re-
ferred to the Committee on Public Lands
Mr.. Conner (Texas) asked but failed to obtain
leave to introduce a resolution calling upon the
President to inform the House as to the names
of the several Governors of the territories the
date of their appointment, and the time they
have been absent since their appointment: also
whether any Of them are nov travelling in
foreign countries, and whether tbey are receiy-
ing salaries while so absent or travelling abroad
The regular order of business being demanded
the House proceeded to the consideration of
REPORTS FROM COMMITTEES
during the morning hour.
Mr.. Banks, Mass, > from the Committee on
Foreign Affairs, reported bill appropriating
to seventeenth sections of the Treaty of WASH
the Whole.
Mr.. HOar, from the Committee on
EDUCATION AND LABOR,
reported bin to provide for a commission to
examine the subject OF the hours OF labor and
States, and endeavored to have a day after the
recess fixed for its special consideration, but,
objection being made, he proceeded to address
the House in support of the bill.
Mr.. Hoar urged that the subject was one of
the greatest importance, involving the interests
OF large class, and deserving of q careful con-
ment of a commission to make an investigation
was preferable to the establishment of
A BUREAU OF LABOR,
as had been proposed. He claimed that this was
not, and could not be made party measure, Cor
all parties had avowed themselves in favor of a
measure of this kind.
the other side of the House had refused to allow
day to be fixed for the full consideration of the
bill, and appealed to Messrs. Wood IN. W and
Kerr lInd.) to withdraw their objection to such
| Mr.. Kerr Qnd.) said it had been intimated
that he and his political friends were iniRical to
this bill. This was not true, and he askeda fair
| opportunity for hearing.
| Mr.. Hosr yielded to MIR. Shanks, (lnd.,) who
| advocated the bill.
MIR. Kelley (Pa.) followed also in advocacy OF
| the bill, and thought no more important q1es-
| ton could occupy the attention of Congress.
| THE RIGHTS OF THE LABORING CLASSES
| must be regarded and cared for, and we should
be warned by the history OF the countries of the
/ old world. 1t was because Of Eagland's failure
| to care for the laboring classes that her power
| was decaying. 1t was the failure OF imperial
France to regard the interests of labor that led
| to the revolution and the organization OF the
commune; and it was the condition of the labor
ing classes here that led to the formation of
| INTERNATIONAL SOCIETIES,
and kindred organizations. He thought this an
opportune time therefore to start this inuuirr.
in order to save our laboring men from the tate
OF the pauper laborers of Europe.
Mr.. Storm Pa. said he would vote for this hill
because 1t only proposed an inquiry and did NOT
propose an enactment of law. This was sub
Ject OF importance, and q commission he
thought, could elicit interesting and important
facts, which would be of value in future ieeislar
ton.
number of Amendments to the bill were
authorized to be printed, and pending further
the bill went ever. - : = - : =
The Committee on Public Buildings and
Grounds reported bills for public buildings for
in o.