The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1872-04-20

oo%oins Cne reasons therefor, and such reasons
to be regarded as official, and to be at ali times
open to the inspection of members of Con.
In the course of his remarks Gen. Butler
sara, tne country had the best civil service in
the world, and pointed to the fact that the
losses o IRON army paymasters during the
france during the Napoleonic wars were 81 per
cent and by England during the American
war ~ per cent? and that the loss on all the
millions that had passed through the Treasury
dOr the last ten years was one on every $778,-
000. 49,
SENATE. ea
WASHINGTON, April 19-The deficiency ap-
preparation bill was taken up.
MT morrill,, OF Vermont, offered an amend
ment, providing that the jurisdiction of the
Court of Claims shall not extend to or include
any claim for abandoned or captured property
received or collected either by civil or mifitary
authorities in cases commenced within two
years after the suppression of the rebellion.
and where the claimants have proved to the
satisfaction of the Court that they had never
given aid or comfort to the rebellion.
Mr.. Cole moved to lay the amendment on the
table on the ground that it was not germane to
the bill LOst-yeas 16, nays %.
Mr.. Window, from Committee on Appropria-
lions, reported the postal appropriation bill with
amendments, doubling for ten years the pres
ent mail service and subsidy On the Pacific Mail
Steamship line between San Francisco and
China so as to provide for semi-monthly trip
at VI, 900 per year, requiring that all steam
ships hereafter accepted for said service shall
be OF not less than 1000 tons register and wholly
OF American construction, and giving the Gov
eminent right in case of war to take any of
the steamers upon payment of a reasonable
compensation, and providing that the United
States mails be carried without further charge
on all the steamers of said line or in extension
thereof beyond Yokohoma; also doubling the
present service and subsidy of the steamship
line between New York and Rio Grande so as
to provide for sem-monthly trips at $1,000
per annum. nv
Mr.. Sumner introduced the following bills
To authorize inquiries into the causes Of steam
boat explosions; appropriating 100000 to be
expended under the direction of the President,
in making such experiments as may in his opn-
ion be useful and important to guard against
steam boiler explosions. rtrrr
Mr.. Sumner called for unfinished business,
which was the bill prohibiting distinctions ON
account of race or color in the public schools of
the district of Columbia
MIR. Stewart moved to lay it aside for the pur-
pose of taking up the bills reported from the
Committee on Pacific Railroads, to-day having
been assigned for their consideration. Agreed
to-yeas q, nays 10. rt9eI
Mr.. Stewart called up the bill supplementary
to the act to incorporate the Texas Pacific
Railroad Company.
Mr.. Hamilton, of Texas, opposed the bill
He said the land along the road for 400 miles
from its eastern terminus was valuable, and
that the probable traffic would be sufficient to
warrant the construction of the road for that
distance without any land grant and there
would be no difficulty in finding capital for so
profitable an investment. But the land along
the other part of the route was barren and
STERILE and no one would be so foolish as to buy
bonds based on such security. These enter
prises were got up in the interest of Spectators
and he would not be surprised to see even the
exploded Memphis and FL Paso'' project re-
vived. A 4frslI Z. eri 1.t
Mr. Stewart defended the bill, and said its
passage was necessary to enable the company
to build the road.
The bill was discussed at length, and several
amendments offered but no action taken
Mr.. Ramsay, from the committee of confer
ence on the bill to prevent straw bids for mail
contracts, made report, which was concurred
in. ,7A .H A.tt-w
HOUSE.
The House resumed the consideration of the
Civil Service bill srstJ ~. -
Mr.. Banks admitted there were great evils
connected with the civil service but in his opin-
ion this bill did not reach the difficulty. 1t
was not a remedy. The foundation of the diff
ficulties connected with the civil service reform
was in the fact that of late years people had
come to believe that the only good for them
selves or their successors was in obtaining Of
tce. The remedy for this was a change in their
opinions on the subject and experience would
effect that change.
Mr.. Garfield Of Ohio made the closing speech
During his remarks Mr. Butler of Mass. ask
ed if what he saw in the Tribune was true, that
the chairman of the Committee on Appropria-
tions refuses to endorse the administration.
Mr.. Garfield do not propose to be marched
over anybodys race course at anybodys be-
hest. M na ,sr6g. .t4
Mr.. Butler-I would take very different
horse. Laughter.
Mr.. Garfield-The same paper says also that
the entire Massachusetts delegation in Congress
refuses to endorse the administration.
Mr.. Butler-And / am ready to DENY it /
am ready to deny it. say that 1t is lie? Does
he say SO? ~ tn
!, Mr.. Garfield will have few words with
ter now in hand@ The impression was made on
my mind yesterday that the gentleman did as
sumo to speak by authority on this floor and to
represent that this civil service reform move
ment was thrust on an unwilling President and
that the men who defended it were the Presi-
dents enemies and not his friends. have re-
counted here the steps by which this movement
has reached its present stage. L have shown
you that it began with the President, and that
it has been followed up by the President; but
to make myself d0ubly sure l called last eve
ming with colleague on the President himself
and conversed with him on this matter of civil
service REFORM and am at liberty to say, and
will say whether I am liberty or not.
Mr.. Butler-I call the gentleman to order
The utterances OF the President, except when
brought here in form by message to the
House are not to be stated to influence ques-
ton of legislation. @
Mr.. Cox of New York-They do not influence
us very much. Naughter.)
Mr.. Butler-The gentleman say that he call
ed upon the President and that he was at liber-
ty to say
Mr. Garfeld-The rules of the Middlesex bar
do uot apply here, this is not a criminal
court
! Mr. Butler--No, Sir: because there is some
decorum and propriety in criminal courts
daughter -
Mr.. Garfield was in hopes there would be
some here, but 1 see there is not. Uaughter.)
l desire to say to the House that have had no
impression made on my mind from any CONVEX
sation with any man more strong or more clear
than this matter of civil service reform. The
President is not only sincere but he is in earn
est Every message he has sent us makes me
more certain that it is so, and nothing have
ever heard him say detracts one whit from that
The Speaker-The chair regards it as an in
decorum to refer in any manner to the CONVEX
sation with the President of the United States.
Ii Is clearly against the spirit of the rules and
agaldst the indepence of the House.
Mr.. Butler to Garfeld-Now don't you wish
this was criminal court so as to avoid that
rule. (Laughter.) II, trs tlttli
Mr. Garfield call the Speakers attention
to the fact that have only stated my impress
sion.
The Speaker-The wording it in that way
does not relieve it from objection or escape the
parliamentary point
MI Garfeld-I have only to say that If any
thing have said trenches ON the line of pro-
pretty and parliamentary debate it is because
the assumption was made here in a matter ut
Jerry unparalleled in my experience. / have
heard here iii the form of an insinuation that
those who defend civil service reform are an
tagonists of the Executive.
Mr. Butler-I did not say that / said the enc
mics OF the President were the friends of civil
service reform. 1 did not say that all the
friends OF civil service reform were enemies of
the President.
MI Perry-Did not you say yesterday that
those who supported this bill would require
certlhcate that they were not going to Cincin-
natl.
Mr.. Butler-Yes, and have been trying to
get such certificate from the gentleman from
Ohio Garfield and he will not give it. laugh
ter.)
Mr.. Garfeld-The gentleman from Massa-
chusetts is not the keeper of my political con-
science ----... - -
MIR. Butler-I never knew that you had any.
(Renewed laughter.)
Mr.. Garfield, emitting adrift from this per-
sonal colloquy, addressed himself to the subject
before the House, and urged that it was a mat
ter OF imperative necessity that Congress should
aDdicate Its usurped and pretended right to die
tate appointments to the Executive
Arguments In support of the bill were also