Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1872-04-19
FORTY SECOND CONGRESS.
This Afternoons Proceedings.
FRIDAY, April II.

the question being on the amendment OF NJ
Sawyer approDriating s17 ,ON0 10 enable the Sec
Rotary OF the Treasury TO pay the Judgment en-
tered in the L. =. circuit court for South Caro-
lima in the case OF Alexander Mcleod vs.. I. G
Callicott, late supervising special agent OF the
Treasury in South Caro- ina; which was adopted
Mr.. Morrill,. of Vermont. offered an amend
ment providing that the jurisdiction OF the
Court OF Claims shall not extend 20 nor include
any elalm ior abandoned or captured property
received or collected either BY the civil or mill
tary authority OF the United States under the
act OF March II, 1853, unless in cases commenced
WITHIN WITHIN two years after the suppression of the
rebellion, and where the claimants have proved
70 the satisfaction OF the court that thew have
never given aid or comfort to the rebellion
Mr., TrImbull said he was opposed to throwing
open the Treasury TO rebel Claimants. but that
the erect of this would be TO exclude loya al men
from The Court OF Claims.
Mr.. Cole movedto lay the amendment on the
table, ON the ground that il was not geTmane TO
the bill. Iost-ayes 16, nays 25.
The bill then went over, and the unfinished
business, which was the bill to secure
EQUAL RIGHTS IN THE PUBLIC SCHOOLS
OF w ashington and Georgetown, came up.
Mr. Stewart stated that to-day had been
specially assigned for the consideration of bills
and for the purpose Of proceeding with business
from that committee, he would move TO Law the
unfinished business on the table.
MI Sumner called the yeas and nays on the
motion, whenit was carried; ayes q, nays 10.
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES.
Potter, N. " from the Judiciary Committee,
by unanimous consent. reported bill authoriz-
ing the Secretary OF the Treasury to settle the
accounts OF joint debtors; which was passed.
The regular order was demanded, and the
house resumed the consideration OF
THE CIVIL SERVICE BILL.
Mr. Mccormick (Mo.) supported the pending
bill, urging that the members of Congress ey
being compelled to ask OF the President the ap-
continent OF those to whom they had pledged
themselves for assistance in their election
placed themselves under obligations to the
executive which impaired their independence
MIR. +. ii. Roberts IN. W said, though not
worthy, cur civil service compared favorably
with those of other nations. He cited our rem
resentatiyes abroad, who, in character aud
to our country by foreign nations, and said that
our Internal Revenue, notwithstanding the
great extent OF territory. was collected at less
cost than that of Great Britain, and our Gus
toms revenue was collected at a cost of s. n per
cent, while that of Great Britain cost 40 per
cent Yet he thought there might be an i'm
proyemeht, and he was
WILLING TO MAKE THE EXPERIMENT.
Preliminary failures often lead TO final success
and II this should prove failure the result
MIR. Finkelnburg MOI advocated the pas
sage OF the bill. His experience had been that
the bestowal OF patronage had been a great an
mics were made.
Mr.. Bingham (Ohio) fercely attacked the bin.
He repealed the insinuation made by Mr.. Nc
Cefmick, that members pleged their patronage
for nomination and election. He had never
done such a thing. and were he TO do so he would
consider himself unworthy to occupy his
seat in the House. III members could not be
yirtuous without being forced TO be so, they
should abrogate the offices they were unfit to
ill. The bill, he argued, was
FOREIGN To THE GENIUS OF OUR INsTITr-
TONS,
and at varience with the provision of the con-
stitGton which guarantees the right OF petition,
republicans as the advance guard OF liberty, not
70 90 backward, but 20 maintain the integrity
the duty and the honor OF the Executive OF
Congress. and the people. He asserted that
every department was a. honorable as ever be-
fore in the history OF the~govefnment.
Mr.. Banks (Mass.) saidthis bill did not reach
the case. III gentlemen wished to escape an
noyance they must escape the service. III was
not so much the rights of Congress as the rights
OF the President i'm the administration OF the
government. He had right to all the advice
mipistration, and there were none so well quail
ned TO advise him Is 10 his appointments in
their districts as the members Of Congress.
Mr.. Garfield (OhiO) said that there were
THREE THINGS
which had been put at the friends of this bill
all through the debate. These were: First the
constitution; second, the interest of their great
party; and third, that the civil service was SO
pure that there was no need to make il better.
He argued to show that the theory OF the con-
stitution and the opinions OF the fathers were
that the three branches OF the government were
coordinate, and each was designed TO be in
dependent of influence from the other.
AS to the perfection of the system, he read an
extract from the Presidents message, saying
that "the system does not give the best men,
and it can hardly be expected to give us reason
ably good men," The gentleman from Massa-
ehusetts (Mr. Butler) had shown the wonderful
economy OF the pay department. 1t Was 80
because ii was administered on a grand system.
Did any one suppose the results would have
been the same had that department been con-
trolled by politicians? The same was the case
with the Coast Survey and the Lighthouse
Board, and he desired to see the other branches
OF the government placed on this plane.
Mr.. Garfield said that during this debate IL
had been insinuated that the friends of this bill
were inclined towards Cincinnati; that the
President ha0 been
CAUGHT In TRAP
set by Congress; and the gentleman from Mas
sachusetts said that this measure originated in
the Senate at the close OF a session, having been
put on an appropriation bill; A plain tale
would answer this. On the 9Th of December,
$780, the President, in his message, called atten-
ton TO an abuse OF long standing, which he de-
sired to have reformed. This was four months be-
fore the amendments were offered IN the Senate.
At the end of ten months the civil service COM
mission made its report, and with il came the
message OF the President asking all the strength
this reform; and now, on the 10th Of April,
he sends an executive order which ex-
perience had enabled him to issue,
and ana called upon Congress to support him.
his remarks yesterday said that if he had been
The chairman of a leading committee of the
house ne would have been the friend of the
President, and not, as he minated, the sup
pcrters of this measure were, his enemy.
Mr.. Butler asked if the chairman of the Ap-
preparation Committee endorsed the admins
trafion?
Mr.. Garfield replied that he did n IT prorose
TO allow himself to be brought out on any body's
race course in this way.
Mr.. Butler read from the Tribune to the effect
that Mr.. Garfield sympathizes with the Cincn-
natl movement
Mr.. Garfield replied that the same paper said
the same of the Massachusetts, delegation.
Mr.. Butler denied the truth of the allegation
regarding the Massachusetts, delegation.
After some further sharp debate between
those gentle men, a vote was taken on Mr.. But
ler's motion to recommit, and the bill was re-
committed-yeas 81, nays 70.
DISTRICT BUsINRss.
At two O'Clock the House proceeded to the
consideration of business from the District Of
Columbia Committee.
Mr.. Sfarkweather Conn reported the bill 20
Tx the salaries of the members OF the Bosrdo OF
Health. Passed. Also, reported bin TO extend
the Point Lookout railroad into the District Of
Columbia Passed.
Mr. Poland (Vt) reported adversely on the
bill relative to mortgages in the District OF Co
MI. Poland also reported adversely on the bill
for line OF coaches to Arlington. Laid on the
table.
Also, reported bill to cure defective titles in
the District OF Columbia favorably. p assed.
Also, rep0rted q bill 70 authori n the exteu