The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1872-02-27
XLITd CONGREsS..SECOND SESSION.
SENATE.

| WASHINGTON, Feb. 26.-MT. ConkInS onefed
| the following:
| Resolved, That the President be requested to
| inform the Senate of the number of recOmmen'
dations for appointments to or removals from
office, so far as can be ascertained, made to the
present administration by persons now Senators
from the States of New York, Missouri, Illinois
and Nebraska, respectively, giving such par
ticulars as may be/given in regard to such rec
concentrations and in regard to the persons
whose appointment or removal was proposed,
together with the statement of the number OF
cases in which action was taken i'll accordance
with such recommendation, respectively, and
of the number of such persons so appointed
who have been removed and also whether any
Senators have solicited appointments or remov-
ais in any sense other than by transmitting
papers stating the character and qualifications
of applicants and if so what Senators.
Mr.. Sawyer moved to include South Carolina.
Mr.. Conkling accepted the amendment.
Mr. Upton moved to amend so as to include
all the States.
Mr. Conkling declined to accept the amend
ment, preferring to have this pass unchanged,
but was willing to vote for separate resolutions
embracing the remaining States.
Mr. Upton opposed Mr.. Conkling's resolu-
ton.
Mr.. Ferry said Mr. Conkling's resolution was
manifestly unfair Whatever the motive of
the resolution it would be clearly unjust to
Senators to publish recommendations by them
without publishing also recommendations made
by other Senators.
Mr.. Sumner called attention to the fact that
the two Senators referred to (Trumbull and
Schurz) had just taken their seats. Doubtless
the Senator from New York had failed to OBJ
serve their absence, but it was worth notice
that an attempt had been made to press the
resolution to a vote behind their backs. de
welcomed an investigation of any kind and
every resolution proposing it would have his
support but the investigation must be broad,
equal, and applicable to all and must not be
pressed behind the backs of Senators Hconcrned
Mr.. Conkling said he had not noticed the alb
sence of the Senators. He had seen Mr.. Schurz
in the chamber this morning and supposed he
and Trumbull were here, However, il any
Senator objected he would strike out the OBJ
jector's State, for he would be candid and say
it was his own recommendations he wanted to
get at
Mr.. Schurz-As was absent when this reso-
luton was offered ask to hear it read. The
resolution was again read,
Mr.. Logan observed that this strange resolu-
ton concerned Illinois, and as far as it concern
ed himself he would give some information in
advance. He had recommended great many
persons, probably 200-certainly great many
more than ever got approved. (Laughter.) In
fact he had recommended every decent man
that had asked for Recommendation. Eand he
would do it again. Laughter.) ~r
Mr.. Grandchildren this matter of recon-
mendation to Office was brought to the atten-
ton of the Senate Friday, by the Senator from
Indiana (Mr. Morton) did not think it proper
to reply to his observations and when he stated
he had seen tabular statement showing the
number of recommendations made by me-
thought the business very much beneath the
Senate and beneath any Senator to be providing
about the departments trying to find out how
many recommendations were made by me or by
any Senator as if that had anything to do with
the question then before the Senate. 1 shall
make.no oppos' tion to the resolution. Let us
have an investigation and let it go further Let
us see who those persons are that thus go PROV
ling around departments. Let us know from
the heads of departments for what purpose this
information is sought whether for public pur-
pose or for a personal mean and contemplate
purpose. 1 am willing to have this resolution
pass but trust civil service reform is not to be
defeated or corruption covered up by personal
attacks upon those who attempt to expose them
1t is matter of little concern to the people
whether Senator has Recommended one hum
dred or one thousand men for Office but its great
Importance to them to know whether improper,
dishonest or corrupt persons are put into Office
and whether they are placed there for personal,
improper and mercenary ends. 1 am willing
that this resolution should pass with the
amendment have suggested. If there is any
thing to be made out of it let the Senators from
Indiada and New York have the benefit. As
far as l am concerned say to those Senator's
clay ON Macduff, and id be he who first cries
hold, enough"
Mr.. Conkling would accept the amendment
proposed by Mr.. Trumbull. 7AA
Mr.. Morton.-The statement spoke of Fri
day was not made out at my request. do not
know at whose request it was made out but l
have seen it. L should not have referred to it,
however, but for the insinuations Mr. Trum-
bull had made in regard to myself aud others
hanging on the skirts of power for mercenary
purposes. have right to denounce hyprocacy
whenever find it. If any man comes here and
casts insinuations upon me that l am seeking
fer patronage while he himself has gone as far
as any one in recommending to office, and has
recommended in awriting and verbally has ev-
en- gone to executive and demanded personally
the appointment of relatives and friends, and
been persistent and importunate. If any such
man comes upon this floor and casts imputa-
tions upon me- have the right without being
criticised to call attention to what he has done
himself. In regard to providing around depart
ments have been in only one department dur
ing this session. l do not go to departments
once where i suppose Senator Trumbull goes
twenty times is as far as sneaks are concerned.
Who is the sneak? Is it the man who comes
here and casts imputations upon Senator'S I'M
pugns their motives, talks about their hanging
on to the skirts of power and attempts to make
party capital by the charges of that kind when
he has been one of the most importunate seek
ers for office and urged the appointment of his
friends personally in writing, time and again.
that the Senator had made 103 recommends
lions in writing to this administration. q be
leve that statement true, and that it will be
verified under the resolution offered by the
Senator from New York.
Although Senator Trumbull said he had not
made dozen. [ do not know who called out
that statement, but / have no objection to the
Senator saying I did if he wishes to say it.
Bills introduced-By Mr.. Conkling directing
the Post Master General to contract with the
Atlantic Mail Steamship Co., for the transpor-
tation of mails to Havana at least once a
xUaa fprI moi tva Ino faT1 nj nor
round trip; also bill to regulate the weighing
of imported merchandise for ascertainment OF
the duty and other purposes. The bill abolishes
the office of weigher as now constituted by law,
and provides that weighing of goods to ascer-
tain the amount of duties payable, shall be
done by Inspectors of Customs detailed for the
purpose, and the classification of grades be
made by the Surveyor; by Mr.. Rice, providing
that persons held as prisoners of war or in hos
pitfalls at the time or subsequent to issuing their
commissions, shhall have the same pay and
emoluments as if mustered at that date; by Mr..
Spencer, removing political disabilities from all
persons engaged in the rebellion on condition
that they will not be enabled to maintain any
claim or right against the United States before
snch removal of disabilities unless the same was
accrued prior to April 18th, 1861 or subsequent to
April 10Th, 1865. .4-h
THE OLD HUMBUG.
The resolution went over at the expiration OF
Gne morning HOur anu Gne SENATE resumed Gne
consideration of the resolution to inquire into
the ale ged sales of arms to the French govern.
ment.
Mr. Nye addressed the Senate at length, the
feature of his remarks being the charge that
Mr.. Sumner opposed the President for person al
reasons. F -ae
Mr.. Frelinghuysen followed, contending that
the attempt to sustain the charge of fraud
against eminent American officials had COM
pletely and confessedly failed and yet the
charge itself remained unretracted.
Mr. Schurz said that in his opinion no charge
of fraud that had been made that has been
dispproved.
Mr.. Frelinghuysen-It was the Senators opin-
ion there was a discrepancy the report of the
Secretary of War and the Secretary of the
Treasury, but submit that the Senator from
VT, (Mr. Edmunds) with copy of the report
of the Secretary of the Treasury in his hands
silenced the Senator from Missouri.
Mr. Schurz-Does the Senator refer to what
was called discrepancy between the War De-
partment and the Treasury Department ac-
counts?
Mr.. Frelinghuysen-Ido.
Mr. Schurz-Then I understand.
Senator-I never made that charge and there
fore did not retract it.
Mr. FrelnghuyseD-Well, sir; there are a
great many things in this world not done by
the Senator from Missouri. That charge was
made in the preamble and an investigation ask
ed upon it, and l do not understand why the
very charge on which an investigation has been
held and disproven it is again repeated.
Schurz-Does the Senator say reiterated
the charge?
Mr.. Frelinghuysen-I say there is distinct
charge made in the resolution; that there is a
discrepancy between the amounts of the Sec
rotary of War and the Secretary of the Treas
70 I,o tofS1 hot hate