The Daily state journal. [volume] (Alexandria, Va.) 1868-1874, 1871-12-14
evening State journal.
FORTY SECOND CONGRESS- I'd Session
WEDNESDAY, December Is.
SENATE,

VIDE i0r Inc ereEtlOn OIL u -. COurt-hOuSe,
postoffice and other public buildings ct
Utica, n. Y. Referred to Committee on
Public Buildings and Grounds.
Mr.. Trumbull introduced bill to provide
for the erection Of public buildings in Chi
cago. Referred to Committee on Public
Buildings and Grounds.
Mr.. Anthony introduced resolution to
create a standing Committee of Investiga-
ton and Retrenchment, to consist of seven
members, and to be elected by the Senate,
whose duty it shall be to investigate and
report upon such subjects as arc entrusted
to it.
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 q proviso
that the committee be directed to inquire
into the expenditures in all branches OF the
public service; whether any, and if 50,
what Offices ought to be abolished, and what
salaries and allowances should be reduced,
and with power to sit during the recess, and
10 send for persons and papers.
Mr.. Anthony did not think II was neces-
sary to adopt the proviso, because after the
committee was appointed it would be per-
fectly pertinent to refer to it any inquiry at
any time.
Mr.. Thurman SAID if this resolution was
passed without the proviso it would not be
worth the paper it was written on. Be-
cause before it was directed to make an in
quiry into any abuse, specific charges
would not have to be brought in open Sem
ate. Not to pass the proviso would be to
refuse the whole policy of the Senate for
years past. The Committee on Retrench-
ment had the power to institute any inves-
tigation which they might deem proper,
and this new committee should Of course
have the same power.
Mr.. 1rumbull wanted this committee 10
find out things for the Senate, not the Sem
ate to find out things for it.
Mr.. Sherman SAID it was very serious
matter to enstrust this committee with
powers not possessed by any other commit
lee of the Senate. 1t was a most grave
and serious question as to the propriety of
giving committee the power to inquire in-
10 the most private and sacred affairs, and
this power should never be given, unless in
case of dire public necessity.
Mr.. Edmunds said the present admins
tration 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 dozen defalca-
tons 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 (Afr. Trum-
bulD that the ratio of defalcations and un-
faithfulness was much greater in private
than in public employ. Ii he had been a
stranger and had come in here the other
day, and heard the speech (Mr. Trumbull's)
on this subject, he would have thought it
was the opening of the Presidential CAM
paign. He denied explicitly that there was
any Just cause for the doleful representa-
gions which had been made here and in the
public press as to abuse in the civil service.
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES,.
Mr.. Hooper, on leave, introduced several
bills, appropriating lands for the reclama-
tion of desert lands in Utah and to aid in
the construction of certain canals in Utah !;
which were referred to the Committee on
Public Lands.
The regular order Of business being de-
handed, the House proceeded to the con-
sideration Of reports from committees,
during the morning hour.
Mr.. Banks, from the Committee on
Foreign Affairs, reported a bill appropriate
ing S62 ,225 to carry out the provisions Of
the twelfth to seventeenth sections of the
Treaty of Washington. which was referred
to the Committee of the Whole.
Mr.. Hoar, from the Committee on Edu-
cation and Labor, reported bill to provide
for a commission to examine the subject of
the hours OF labor and the division of the
profits on labor ID the United States, and
eudeavorad to have day after the recess
fixed for its special consideration, but, OBJ
lection being made, he proceeded to address
the House il support of the bill.
Mr., Hoar urged that the subject was
oz~ Of the greatest Importance, involving
che interests of large class, and deserving
of careful consideration OF Congress, and
that the appointment of a commission to
make an investigation was preferable to the
establishment of bureau Of labor, as had
been proposed. He claimed that this was
not, and could not be made, party meas
mre, for all parties had avowed themselves
i'm favor Of measure Of this kind.
Mr.. Dawes expressed his regret that the
other side of the House had refused to al
low day TO be fixed for the full conside-
ration of the bill, and appealed to Messrs.
Wood New York; and Kerr Qndianal to
withdraw their objection to such an ar
rangement.
Mr.. Kerr said it had been minated that
he and his political friends were inimical to
ahis bill. This was not true, and he asked
fair opportunity for hearing.
Mr.. Hoar yielded to Mr.. Shanks, lind,
who advocated the bill.
Mr.. Kelley followed also in advocacy Of
the bill, and thought no more important
question could occupy the attention Of Con-
gTess.
The rights Of the laboring classes mus
be regarded and cared for, and we should
be warned by the history of the countries
of the old world. II was because of Eng
lands failure to care for the laboring classes
that her power was decaying. 1t was the
failure OF imperial France to regard the in
tsrests of labor, that led to the revolution
and the organization of the commune ano
it was the condition of the laboring classc.
here that led to the formation of interna.
tional societies, and kindred organizations.
lie thought this an opportune time, there
fore, to start this inquiry, in order to save
our laboring men from the fate Of the pau
per laborers Of Europe.