The New York herald., 1871-01-05
G Q NJ 9 r { S s.
a BUSY DAY IN BOTH HOUSES
Another Land Grab Before
the Senate.
OFFICE SEEKERS COMING TO GRIEF.
Proposed Tax on Applicants
for Office.
Spirited Discussion Over Mr.. TrumbuIl's
Civil Service Bill.
The ST. Domingo Resolution
i'm the House.
The Daez Treaty Correspondence
Wanted.
Faruord0 Wood Dro1,sY,or %r,o Nra+
The Haez Treaty Correspondence
Wanted.
Fernando Wood Probing the Mat
ter to the Bottom.
r0RTY-FIRsr CONGRESS.
SENATE.
WASHINGTON, Jan 4. 1871.

WAsHINGTON, Jan a. 1871.
PETITIONS PRESENTED.
Numerous petitions were presented from indi.
vduals for the removal OF political disabilities and
by Mr.. Stewart, from Western miners, asking for
protection against certain railroad corporations
which are claiming their lands by virtue OF alleged
Congressional grants.
BILLS INTRODUCED.
BY Mr. HARLAN, (rep.) OF Iowa, 10 enable honora.
bly, discharged soldiers and sailors. their widows
and orphan children to acquire homesteads on the
public lspds OF the United States Referred to the
Committee on Public Lands.
BY MIR, Ross. repl OF. Kan.-Making grant OF
lands 70 e state o. nans3s p lsnats sssons
State. Referred to the Committee on Public Lands
by Mr. COLE rep Of California. s.-For the relief OF
Committee on Finance Gso encouraging ssa g sne tne
deyeiopmenf or the mineral wealth OF the United
Mining school and Metanrgical Academy sues Re.
lerrea 70 tne Committee on Education and Labor.
vaS hg m q 5repl OF KanAutaorizng the
e. 4os oeSfe tue sqanfe q Referred
BY Mr. HOWE, trep.l OF Wis-Amendng the Bank.
rupt act Of March 2, 1857, as 10 give priority in
the aast.lbuuon OF bankrupts' estate to wages due
20 any operative, clerk or house servant, to an
amount not exceeoing $500, Referred TO me Com
tee on Judiciary
BY Mt, NILSSON, (rer.) of Mass.-Amendng the
Army act oi last session in regard to solders' am.
davs for acquiring homeseads. Referred TO the
Committee on Public Lands.
! BY Mr. SPENCER, lrep.) OF Aia.-To nav for QUAR-.
termasters and commssaries' supplies taken for
the United states Army from citizens OF Alabama
who had enlisted and were dong service IN said
army Referred TO the Committee on CLAIMS.
THE JAPAN STEAM NAVIGATION COMPANY.
tee OF Commerce reported the bl Incorporate the
Japan Steam Navigation Company. The bill pro-
yiaes ior no subsidy, but simply The organization OF
TAXING APPLICANTS FOR orr1cE.
Mr. MoRkti L. trep.l OF W., offered a resolution,
which was adopted, directing inquiry BY the Finance
Committee TO the eXpediency OF imposing tax
OF one dollar upon each application Tor an otiicial
positloa having salary of not less than 81 O9O and
The same upon eaM signature thereto made to the
PRESIDENT or made 20 be presented TO any OF the Ex-
ecutye departments; and where the salary Is in
excess OF 81, COO an additional tax OF nifty cents.
Mr.. THugMAN, tdem.l of Quo, suggested 10 Mr.
morrill, that. as mis- resolution had no title, 1t would
be appropriate as well as candid Tor that gentleman
TO designate 1t uton for The purpose OF raising
revenue Tor tne republican party.
Mr.. MORRILL, declined TO act upon the suggestion.
THE FUNDING ACT.
On motion OF Mr. SHERMAN trep.) OF Ohio, the
Senate TOOK up aud passed The 6lll amendatory OF
the Funding act OF last session authorizing an IN
900 70 s5O 600 600 and making the interest
on the same payable quarterly
NOTICES BILLS.
Notice was given by Air. MORTON, (rep.l OF Ind.
that he would. on Monday next, call up the bill for
relmbursng states Tor moneys advanced during
the rebelnun; and similar notice for tomorrow by
Mr. SHERMAN, respecting The bill relative TO mlnts
Assay office and coinage Of the United states.
MI. summers resolution calling for Information
upon ST. Domingo matters was adopted without oh.
lection.
THE SPRAGUE INVESTIGATION.
Mr.. THURMAN moved 10 discharge the Joint COM
mittee on Retrenchment from further consideration
OF the resolution previously introduced by MIR.
Sprague directing an inquiry into the alleged COM
pliciIy OF Senator Sprague with the blockade
ners IN Texas during the late rebellion The reasons
Tor the motion were stated by bir. Thurman TO be
supposed iDadyertence In The reference and the fact
that inquiry into the conduct OF Senator did not
properly belong to a joint committee representing
the House, but was the exclusive province OF the
The motion was agreed TO, when the resolution,
together with 4 communication from the secretary
oi War on the subject, were referred 70 select CON-
mittee ot five.
Mr.. TRuMBuLL's CIVIL SERVICE BILL.
The Senate then briefly considered the Dill intro
duced BY Mr.. TRUMBuLL trep.l OF H., to relieve
congressman from opportunities in appointments
TO once, The Question being upon an amendment
offered bT Williams to extend the prohibition
against soliciting appointments In the case Of mem
bers o Congress to include all Judicial, militar ami
naval Officers OF the United States
Mr.. TRMBCLL thought the amendment might
operate 20 prevent promotions in the army aud
navy. The change IN the bill proposed 10y the sub
stitute OF the judiciary Committee to strike out the
clause authorizing member. ia response to re-
quest from the President, TO give Information in
wrtng IN regard 10 an applicant for Office would
make The bill more absolute. He tnen referred TO
the apparent puOlic demand for civil service reform,
the eys OF The pr sent system ana ecesstty
medal legislation on the subject
Nil SHERMAN spoke OF tie necessity OF maintain.
ing the independence OF the Executive IN making
his appointments, subject TO the constitutional
power OF continuation by the Senate. In this view
lie favored a more specific definition OF the powers
OF the President. lie regarded The bin as objection
able in far as Ii prohibited the President In his
discretion, irom obtaining local Information from
Congrcssmen n Governors OF States and others
cospetent to give II As an entering wedge
80 the civil service reform some sucn bill
might be important: but no sufficient reform would
be secured until members OF Congress relinqushed
the unconstitutional power they mad OF lare assumed
In controlling appontmen For one he tMr. Sher-
mani would cneerfuiy surrender what little OF that
power might have accrued 10 him.
Mr. MORTON regarded the bill as unconstitutional
and based upon false principles. He was surprised
tnat IL was seriously pressed. The bill would make
IL penal offence for him thr. Morton) or any Sena
oiice Yet this was a right whicn be.
ionged TO every citizen. Sucn recommends
ton by Congressman was TO render him
III far IL violated the clause specifying qualli-
cations for oce Upon Its very face the proposition
that members or Congress themselves should say
they the only men In the country VINO could
not be trusted. lie knew IN certain quarters II was
believed that every man IN Congress was corrupt.
This bill would give color 70 thar belief. Senators
complain OF the annoyance from office-seekers, but
no one OF them wanted TO retire from his seat on
that account: but they we're all anxious
70 return for second, third ana even
for fourth term, lie tMr. Mortonl would
be glad TO be relieved from opportunities
Tor once, but he knew that the burdens OF oDcial
station were legitimate as It's duties. lie believed
the present system vi appointments, under the ad-
vice 0! congressman, was mutually advantageous
20 The member making the Recommendation, and
the President inasmucn as the former was held re-
fpOnslDie Dy has constituents Tor the character OF ms
0ppOinleer, his interest being, therefore, TO secure
good men, While President could rely Tor his Sc
rurity NJ on ms political friends IN either house,
mir. NYE, trepl OF New, bf way OF indicating the
effect OF tne Onl, sugges ed q case in which TWO
men, one an honest citizen ani the other tfiei
quired whether the Congressman VINO uerp0sed "
prevent the an continent or lae thie himself would
be put ln TIE pententlary.
Mr. MORTON replied py repeating the case just
CllGd a. practical ILLUSTRATION oil the operation OF
the BIN adding that not only the member VINO ad-
Sised tns President agnst the ieion would be ila'e