Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1872-04-20
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..1i.. TO THE
Daily Kennebec Journal.
WAsHISGroN, 10.
SENATE.

SENATE.
Mr. Window, from the committee on APP
priations, reported the postal appropriation
bill with amendments, doubling for ten years
the present mail service, and subsiding on the
Pacific mail steamship line between San
Francisco and China, so as to provide for a
semi monthly trip, at 81 100000 per year !;
requiring that all steamers hereafter accepted
for the said service shall be of not less than
400 tons register, and wholly of American
construction; and giving the government q
right in case of war to take any of the steam
ers upon the payment of q reasonable COM
pensation, and providing that the United
States mails be carried without further
charge on all of the steamers of said line, or
in extension thereof beyond Yokohama.
Also doubling the present service and subsid-
ing OF the steamship line between New York
and Bio Janeiro, SO as to provide for semi
monthly trips at $500, 900 per annum.
Bills introduced by Mr.. Chandler to author
ize inquiries into the causes of steamboat ex-
plosions; appropriatng 800, 900 to be ex-
pended under the direction of the President
in making such experiments As NAV in his
opinion be useful and important to guard
against steam ',oiler EXPLOSIONS.
MIR. Sumner called up for unfinished bust
ness the bill prohibiting distinction on &C.
count of race or color in the public shoots of
the District of Columbia.
Mr.. Stewart moved to lay it aside for the
purpose Of taking up bills reported from the
committee on Pacific railroads, to- day having
been assigned for their consideration. Agreed
to-yeas 81 nays 10.
Mr.. Steward called up the bill supplement
tary to the act to incorporate the Texas Pa
cifc Railroad Company.
Mr. Houi1tor of V,o~.. ocoa.oJ xbo LII
He said that the land along the railroad for
four hundred miles from its eastern terminus
was valuable, and the probable traffic would
be sutiicienti 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 invest
ment. 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 enterprises were got up
IN the interest of spectators, and he would
not be surprised to see even the exploded
"Memphis and Elpaso" project revived.
Mr.. Stewart defended the bill and said that
its passage was necessary to enable the COM
pany to build the road.
The bill was discussed at length and sew
eral amendments offered, but no action was
taken.
MIR. Ramsey, from the committee of con-
ference on the bill to prevent straw bids for
mail contracts, made q report which was
concurred in.
HOUSE.
The civil service reform bill came up for
discussion.
Mr.. Banks admitted that there were great
evils connected with the civil service, but in
his opinion this bill did no reach the diff
Guilty 1t was not a remedy. The founda-
ton of difficulties connected with the civil
service reform was in the fact that Of late
years people had come to believe that the
only good for themselves or their successors
was in obtaining offices. The remedy for
this was change in their opinions on the
subject, and experience would effect that
change.
Mr.. Garfield Of Ohio made the closing
speech in favor Of the bill. During his re.
marks Mr.. Butler Of Mass, asked if what he
saw in the Tribune was true, that the chair
man of the committee on appropriations re-
fuses to endorse the administration.
Mr.. G.-I don't propose to be marched at
over anybody's race course at anybody's be-
hest.
Mr.. B.-I would take very different
horse.
Mr.. G.-The same paper says also that the
entire Massachusetts, delegation in Congress
Mr.. B.-And am ready to deny it. Is
the gentleman? l say that is q lie. Does he
say SO?
Mr.. Perry-I call the gentlemen to order.
These Interruptions are intolerable.
Mr.. CT will have a few more words with
the gentleman from Nassachusetts on the
matter now in hand. The impression was
made on my mind yesterday that the gentle
man did assume to speak by authority on
this floor, and to represent that this civil SER
vice reform movement was thrust on an I'M
willing President, and that the men who de-
Tended it were the Presidents and not his
friends. have recounted here the steps by
which this movement has reached its pres ent
stage. have shown you that it began with
the President, and that it has been followed
up by the President; but to make myself
doubly sure, called last evening with col
league ON the President himself and con-
versed with him on this matter Of civil SER
vice reform, and l am at liberty to say and
l will say whether am at liberty or not.
Mr.. B.-l call the gentleman to order. The
utterances Of the President, except when
brought here in form by 4 message to the
House, are not to be stated to influence
question of legislation.
Mr.. Cox of New York.-They don't influ-
ence us very much.
Mr.. Butler.-The gentleman says he called
upon the President, and that he was at liberty
to say.
Mr.. Garfeld.-The rules of the Middlesex
bar don't apply here, this is not criminal
court.
The Speaker submitted a message from the
President in regard to Ku-Klux outrages in
South Carolina, which was referred to the
joint committee on the subject.
Mr.. Breck of KY, declared that part of the
statements contained in the message we're
not true, (referring to the statement that the
facts were got from the select committee).
Mr.. Cox.-It is not a true statement and
we will debate it any time.
w. r. Roberts made remarks to the same
effect.
| Mr.. Dickey of Pa, asserted that the state
ments were true.
Adjourned till Monday.