Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1872-01-18
FORTY SECOND CONGRESS.
This Afternoons Proceedings.
THURSDAY, January Is.


SENATE.-Mr. Conkling presented memor al
of New York Chamber Of Commerce relative to
the depression of the American shipping inter
est, recommending the payment Of liberal com
peDsation for mail service i'm American steamers
to foreign ports. Referred to Committee on Post
Offices.
Mr.. Trumbull, from Judiciary Committee,
reported in reference to the memorial OF Mrs
Isabella Hooker and other women, claiming the
right to vote under the constitution, and asking
to be heard at the bar of the Senate in support
OF their claim, reporting adversely to the re-
quest to be heard before the Senate, and on his
motion the committee was discharged from the
further consideration OF that part of the memo
rial. He stated that the committee would short
ly report in writing on the first part of the me-
mortal.
MIR. Chandler, from the Committee on Com.
merce, reported the bill exempting from inspec-
ton by the United States the steam ice boats
built by the city OF Philadelphia.
Mr.. Scott stated that the object was TO allow
the roats to carry more steam than allowed BY
the United States law, otherwise they could not
be driven with sufficient power 10 break the ice
The bill was then passed.
Mr.. Morrill,, of Vermont, reported back from
the Committee OF Finance. the House bill de-
timing the meaning Of the eight-hour law, the
object being to equalize the pay of laborers in
government workshops.
Mr.. Vickers. from the Committee on Com
merce, reported the bin appropriating $4,000
tor the erection of range lights around the
Craighill channel in Chesapeake bay, which, at
his request, was passed.
MI. Thurman presented the CREDENTIALS OF his
colleague, Mr.. Sherman "a Senator from Ohio
for the term commencing March 1, 1873
Mr.. Blair, from the Committee Military
Affairs, reported the bill amen1atory of the act
providing for the furnishing OF artificial limbs
tor disabled soldiers and sailors, extending il,
application to all officers above the grade OF
captain. ~.
Mr.. Conkling moved to amend to include ali
officers below the grade of captain; which was
agreed to, and the bill was then passed.
Mr.. Davis, OF Kentucky, said that tomorrow,
h.ar "A
the Senate TO permit him to reply TO the denun-
citation which had been heaped upun his resolu-
ton directing the Judiciary Committee to make
certain inquiries relative to the President.
Mr.. Wilson introduced hill granting 1900 900
acres Of public lands for educational purposes in
the District OF Columbia. Referred to the Com
mi'tee on Public Lands. Also, bill authorizing
women TO vote and hold Office i'm the territories
of the United States. Referred 20 Committee
on the Judiciary.
MIR. Summer ;, ated that he had considered the
| suggestions made by Mr. FrelDghuysen ia
reference TO his civil rights bill amendment %
| the amnesty bill, and had decided TO make the
notifications suggested
In accordance with notice previously given
Mr.. Carpenter at one O'Clock called up his reso-
luton in refertnce TO
CIVIL SERVICE REFORM,
and proceeded TO make his promised remarks
he said that certain Washington correspondents
sent ont statements that he intended TO attack
| civil service reform in a spirit of irony and
ridicule. This he said was not so, the subject
| lie didn't think was one to be approach al in any
hut the most serious spirit He then went on 10
say that he regarded the measures proposed in
this civi! service reform were fiagrantly uncon-
| stituional, and he regretted exceedingly that
| the President had sent such a message a.
he did to Congress on this subject.
After stating that he understood that il was the
| intention OF "a Senator to offer an amendment to
| Mir. Summers proposition limiting the President
| TO one term. providing that no person who has
served one term in any public office shall be ELI
| gible to reelection, he said that when this Wa
passed, he did no doubt that Mr.. Sumner in
Difference 10 the principle for which he stouty
| contended, would take his hat and leave the
Senate chamber without waiting for a vote oil
| the Senate. laughter He then described in
humorous strain the departure of Mr.. Sumner
| from public life. He expressed the opinion that
tue rev cry OF civil service reform was a mere
catchpenny.
He sent TO the desk to be read the rules recon-
mendcd by the civil service commission, and
which the President says he has adopted to take
effect after January 1, 1872. The first thing he
said which struck the mind was that the most
important officers of the government were MOI
affected by the rules. copying clerk in the
State Department must be an American citizen,
but the head OF that department need not be. A
keeper of a light house in Lake Michigan must
be able to read and write, but the Attorney Ger
eral of the United States need do neither.
[Laughter.l He continued to point out incon-
gruties in the rules ar contended that the reg
niatiohs i'll their practical effect were uncOnst-
tutiohal.
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
the House on account OF sickness in his family.
| and that the Chair would be occupied by Mr..
Dawes (Mass.) as Speaker pro ten. to day and
tomorrow.
MIR. Sawyer (Wis.) introduce a resolution re-
questing the Secretary OF War to transmit to TIE
House copy Of the supplemental report of the
survey for the Sturgeon Bay and Lake Michi-
| gan Ship Canal. Adopted.
Mr.. Clark (TeNas) introduced a resolution,
| which was adopted, directing that the Secretly
l OF War be directed TO inform the House why the
| money appropriated March 3, 1869, and june %
leIO, had not been paid to the State Of Texas a.
provided in said acts.
| The regular order was demanded, and the
| Speaker, in the morning hour, resumed the call
l OF committees ior reports.
Mr.. Peck, (Ohio) from the Committee on In
/ valid Pensions, reported bills granting pensions
to Sarah Whitney and Martha A. JONES, which
| MIR. Spear (Pa.) reported bills granting PEN
| sions TO VIM. II. Bridges and Mary Weaver;
| which were passed.
| Mr.. Spear also reported bill granting pen
| sion to Ann q. Barlen, widow OF Thomas q.
Barlen.
| Mr.. Garfield Ohio opposed the bill a. being
of class similar to that passed yesterday, Civ
ing pension for past period Of time. He said
| the name had been on the pension rolls for nine
teen years, and now it was proposed 10 60 back
| fourteen years. He said that he had found that
| the bill passed yesterday was an old customer
| having been first introduced in 1854.
| MIR. Spear said that this case was worthy one.
l The woman was the widow Of a soldier who had
| been killed In the Florida war, and her claim
was just one. If the chairman of the Commit
tee on Appropriations would turn his vigilant
eye to the larger leaks, and reserve his scruples
in relation to these few destitute and deserving
| widows, the country would not suffer.
1 Mr.. Willard (Vt.l urged that the principle was
| wrong. and that if back pensions were TO be
| granted it should be done by q general law.
The yeas and nays being demanded, the bill
was passed-yeas los, nays 50.
~ to f s,s Of tSe
nth Missouri volunteers, was reported by the
| same gentleman.
MIR. Blair (Afo.) moved to strike out the words
"date Of this act" fixing the time when the
| pension shall commence, and inserting "time of
| the death Of her husband" The amendment
| was adopted and the bill passed.
Mr.. Spear also reported q bill granting pen
l sion the Martha B. Williams, the payments to
| date from February 8, 1860.
Mr.. Garfield moved to amend by inserting
| fiom the passage Of this act;" which was
| agreed to.
Mr.. Garfield then opposed the bill ON the
l ground that it was AN effort Of the House to
| 0verrule the Commissioner Of Pensions on a
| medical question which 1t did not think IL was
| sufficiently informed to do.
Mr.. Moore (Ili.,, chairman Of the committee
1 said that the medical testimony was abundant
and that the admission Of IL man to the service