Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1868-1875, 1872-03-07
CONGRESSIONAL.
Lively Debate in Both Houses.
Reception Of the japanese Embassy
SENATE.

SENATE.
WASHINGTON, March 6.-Mr. Morrill, Of
Vermont, had document read signed by
Giles A. Smith, which is being sent to ali
the leading railroad men in the country
urging them to unite in demanding so pe1
cent advance for carrying the mails on their
roads, without reference to existing con.
tracts. 1t shows that Vanderbilt Tom
Scott and Jay Gould had agreed to the
plan. Mr.. Morrill, said he hobed an expla-
nation Of this matter would be made.
Mr.. Morrill, said that Smith, one of the
signers of the circular, was formerly a dis
tinguished officer in the army, and after
wards an officer in the Postoffice Depart
ment, and that he appears to have resigned
to go into this business.
Mr.. Cameron said he was confident that
the statements Of the circular so far as they
related to
Thomas A. Scott,
were. false In every particular; because
! Scott had too much sense and too much in
tegrlty to enter into any such combi
nation of railroads that wished to have rates
increased, and the author of the circular
had probably attempted to take advantage
OF report to make money for himself
Mr. Wilson said that one of the greatest
evils in this nation was the practice of per
sons who have been in Congress or in the
Departments afterwards setting up in
Washington as
shysters
and using knowledge acquired in public life
to cheat the Government and that the aboli-
ton OF this evil would be one of the most
necessary and important reforms.
MIR. Cameron mOVedt to lay the circular on
the table.
Mr.. Morrill, concurred in the motion.
Corruption Must Remain Covered,
MIR. Bayard gave notice that at an early
day he would move to take up his resolu-
ton asking the President tc transmit tie
instructions given the United States District
Attorney in New York u relation to the
prosecution of persons who have given
gratuities to Customhouse officers
Mr.. COnkling said he had no objection
whatever to its adoption. His only desire
was to show that that the instructions given
to the District Attorney were given in obe
dience to the imperative mandate of the
statute, and their form was determined by
the statute.
Star.Gazers.
A petition from members Of the Pbilo-
sophical Society of Philadelphia, was pre-
sented asking Congress to make an appro-
priation to enable American Astronomers
to join those of other nations in observing
the transit of the planet Venus across the
Suns disk in Dec. 1874. Referred to the
Committee on Library.
Bureaucracy.
Mr.. Sawyer, from the Committee on Ed
ucation and Labor, reported an amendment
increasing the appropriation for the Bureau
Of Education from S26,500 to S36,95O.
Mr.. CarpeBteT said he thought that neither
the Bureau of Education or the Bureau of
Agriculture had any warrant under the con-
stitution. We had no more authority to
establish such bureaus than a
Bureau of Boots and Shoes,
or ary other industry in the country. He
never had and never would vote for an ap-
for either of these bureaus.
The Senate resumed the Legislative ap-
bill.
Mr.. Thurman said the central Govern |
ment was gradually encrOaching on the |
powers of the States. The next thing would |
probably be that the head of the Agricultu- |
raj Bureau would be made a Cabinet Off |
Ger. So too with the Bureau of Education. |
Unless the people put stop to the central
izing movement, it would never end until |
it had absorbed every power of the States, |
and assumed the right to regulate every in
dustry of the country. This federal edu-
cation scheme had another phase. The
people of this country were already more
heavily taxed by the States for educational /
purposes than any other people Of the
world. But if the Federal Government
should levy on them for the same purpose.
then they would be dOubly and unsupporta-
bly, taxed for education. Further, even if
the Federal Government had the constitu-
tional right to take charge Of the subject, it
would be unwise for it to do so, because it
would place the whole country on one uni
form dead level, which would be a great
mistake.
Mr.. Frelinghuysen thought there was
in the Constitution for esra blish-
ing the Bureau of Agriculture.
After some further discussion of this sub
ect by Carpenter, Edmunds and Freling-
nuysen, the amendment was rejected-yeas
II, nays %.
Mr.. Frelinghusen offered an amendment
salaries in the Agricultural De-
9artment. LOsL-yeas 20, nays II.
The Civil Service Sham.
To the item apprOpriating $4,000 to
enable the President to carry out civil ser
7ice reform, Mr.. Frelinghuysen offered an
authorizing the President to
make suitable compensation to such mem
)ers of the civil service commission as are
otherwise in the service of the United
States. He said three members of the COM
mission were also employees of the Depart
nents, and that this amendment was de-
igned to enable them to receive pay for
heir extra service on the commission.
Mr.. Sherman-That is the best comment
Try on civil service reform we have had yet.
Laughter.)
Mr.. Carpenter also thought it a striking
Illustration of reform as it was being car
led out ,and said that with an appropriation
II $4,000 for this purpose TO be spent at
he pleasure of the President and with the
'recedent set for its expenditure by allow
ng each Of these three reformeTs TO draw
wO salaries from the Government for some |
lme, the prospect was very good that the
'eople would be delighted with civil service
efOrm. (Laughter.)
Mr.. Frelinghuysen said these gentlemen
ad had to do three or four hours extra
york daily while on the committee and ar
ued that they ought to be paid for it.
The amendment was declared out of or
er and was withdrawn.
Mr.. Logan gave notice that when the bill !
hould get out of the Committee and come
efOre the Senate he would move to strike
ut the appropriation of $4,000 and insert
provision repeating the law under which
be Civil Service Reform Com
mission has been created. He
7as as much in favor of reforming the civil
ervice as any one, but not in this way.
he fact that reform as organized now is a
HumbuS
-as well illustrated by the appointment of
ne of the Civil Service Commissioners to
mother office without undergoing exami-
alton according to the rules drawn up by
be Commission.
S,.-,-. Ssov,ooY. To,. a. -.