The Wheeling daily register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1864-1878, 1872-01-25
CONGRESSIONAL.
WASHINGTON, January "A.
SENATE.

Mr.. Sherman, from the committee on
Finance, reported bill to authorize the
payment of duplicate checks by dis
bursting officers, with an amendment
Passed. ,.,,
MI. Frelinghuysen introduced bill
making an appropriation to enable the
President to perfect and carry into
effect such rules regulating the civil
service as may be from time to time
adopted by him. Referred to commit
tee on Judiciary.
Mr.. Conkling offered resolution
requesting the President to give the
Senate the following information: The
amount Of money received and dis
bursed by the government since March
4, 1869 amount embezzled or appro'
priated by agents or officers, with the
amount remaining charged against the
internal revenue officers; the number
of defaulters, and how many of them
have been prosecuted; a standard OF
the criminal prosecutions that have
been instituted lor offense7 against the
internal revenue laws; the number OF
officers or agents OF the government
receiving pay from the government, IN
any branch of the public service, who
have been dispensed with since March
5, 1869, and the amount OF the aggre-
gate paid thereby; also the same in'or-
nation with reference to the last ad-
ministration. Adopted
Mr.. Morton called up tue resolution
for the final adjournment OF Congress
on the third Monday in May.
Mr.. Sumner opposed taking It up
and called for the yeas and nays.
The Senate voted to take up the
resolution. Yeas, 81 nays, II:
Mr.. Morton, by request, modified the
resolution so as to fix upon the 29th day
of May for adjournment.
There were adjournments pending
Mr.. Summers providing that Congress;
shall not adjourn until after it shall
have passed the supplementary civil
rights bill, and Schurzs & providing that
it shall not adjourn until after the re-
vision of the tariff and internal revenue
laws, and the reform of the civil service.
Mr.. Sherman opposed the resolution
He thought it an extraordinary resoiu'
ten, inasmuch as it originated in the
Senate. Heretofore such resolutions
had come from from the House, and 1t
was perhaps natural that the members
of the House should be impatient to get
back among their people, but the Senate
had ALWAYS insisted upon finishing their
business before. 1t was established,
and would do go in this case. There
was no reason for the resolution, he
cause the majority could adjourn at any
time when they were prepared to do so,
If any Of the Senators supposed that
fixing day so long beforehand would
hasten legislation they were mistaken.
Messrs. Cole and Corbett thought
Congress ought to adjourn at even an
earlier day than that named In the res
olution.
Mr.. Thurman thought Mr.. Sherman
reasons conclusive against the resoIu
ton, but there were others. If Congress
would hamper itself by the passage Of
this resolution now people would come
to the conclusion that there Is 10 he no
reduction of tax; also no civil service
reform. These were great and pressing
subjects and the people would know
verv well that if nothing was done IN
the way Of reform it would be because
Congress did not want to do anything
but wanted to keep civil service reform
mainly as subject for stump speeches.
He also protested against the practice
of postponing the appropriation bill to
the close of the session and remarked
that in the British Parliament and tor
merly in Congress the greatest debates
of the session generally occurred upon
the appropriation bills.
Mr.. Morrill,, Of Vermont, said that
Mr.. Thurman was evidently striking
the key note Of the Democratic cam
paign and that he (MorrilD would vote
for the resolution simply as a business
measure.
Mr.. Chandler thought Congress need
not delay its adjournment for the sake
OF civil service reform. In 1860, when
the Republican party came into power,
it found the offices filled by traitors.
The bill for the relief OF the Chicago
sufferers came up as the regular busl,
ness of the day, and was debated at
considerable length. A large NUMBER
of amendments were offered, but were
all rejected, and the bill was passed as
il came from tie House.
M co,o ,t S.OO o'clock p NJ