Worcester daily spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1850-1888, 1872-05-24

been clerk of the military committee. From day
to day during the examination in committee,
ialsehoOds had been uttered. and his only OBJ
lect now in making this statement was to show
that the committee, as well as HIMSELF had been
uniformly in favor of getting at all the truth in
he matter.
To a question of Mr., Townsend, Mr.. Coburn
replied that the clerk of the committee, who was
a reporter for the New York Tribune, had been
discharged because he wa not in harmony with
a majority of the committee and was a poor
clerk, and Kept no records or minutes,
Mr.. Brooks remarked that this was not aScer.
tanned till alter the Cincinnati convention.
(Laughter)
Mr.. Coburn said the Tribune charged him
with gross violation of the rules of civil service
reform, because hc discharged an old and faith
full servant, when in fact he only discharged a
deputy clerk who was paid two dollars per day.
Mr.. Garfield, as a matter of justice to the
clerk (Air. Smallcyl said he bad been a faithful,
intelligent and honorable emplOye for four years.
few DAYS after the Cincinnati convention it
seems TO have been discovered that he was an
untaithful and Inefficient clerk, and he was
given notice 10 quit.
MIR. Garfield did not believe that was quite the
way to transact public affairs, or thar it was
quite wise for the republican party to begin to
cut off heads on an occasion OF this sort.
MIR. Hay bore testimony TO the fidelity and
ability of the clerk.
Mr.. COburn again commended that he was
worthless clerk and spent most of his time as
reporter for the Tribune, and said that Greeley
may now pay him a full days pay for full
days work; amendment agreed to.
On motion of Mr.. Starkweather, after long
discussion, the appropriation for the naval sta
ton at New London, Conn, was increased from
$4,000 TO so 600.
On motion of Mr.. Garfield, an appropriation
OF S160,I72 was inserted to pay the officers and
crew OF the Kearsarge by way of prize money
fln 1auf gsf,., NE 81, l,I, 4.
preparation of $4,000 for pneumatic tube be-
tween the capitol and the government printing
office; also an appropriation of $50, 900 for ex-
penses of recoinage; also an appropriation Of
S250,OO0 TO pay unsettled claims for carrying
mails in southern states.
On motion of Mr.. Pierce, ii was ordered that
in payment of the cotton claims the internal
revenue tax on cotton shall not be deducted
The committee then rose, and the bill, as re-
ported from the committee of the whole, was
passed.
The house took recess the evening session
to be for business of the committee on naval
affairs.
EVENING SESSION.
The senate amendments to the house bill for
the appointment of shipping commissioners,
and to the house bill supplementary to the APP
pOrtlOnment act, were nOn-cOncurred in and a
conference committee ordered
Bills were reported from the committee on
naval affairs as follows: House bill to promote
the securing of sufficient seamen for the navy,
and authorizing the appointment of apprentices
to the number of three hundred a year, was
passed; the senate bill granting a pension of
$1,000 a year to the widow of Admiral Farragut,
passed; the house bill to pay S2S $40 to j. II.
Underhill, in full of claim for work and material
on iron clad Keokuk, passed; the house bill to
abolish the grades of admiral and vice admiral
| in the navy, and providing that vacancies hap.
pening shall not be filled, passed.
Mr.. ketcham reported bill authorizing the
| president to appoint G. w. Crook a first assist
| ant engineer in the navy; passed
Several other like bills, and bills Transferring
officers from the retired list to the active list
were reported. Some passed and some were re
| jectcd.
Mr.. Archer reported bill providing that nc
officer on the retired list of the navy shall bt
employed on active duty except in time of war
passed Also bill TO pay Charles w. Whitney
for work and materials on the iron clad battery
KeOkuk $4,000 in full of ali claims Aftcl
much opposition by Mr. Holmes, the bill
passed.
Mr.. Scofed reported bill for the construc
ton of ten steam vessels Of war of iron or wood
as the secretary of the navy may decide, each
| carrying ten or more guns of large calibre, and
| appropriating three millions for the purpose. A
| vote on the bill was prevented by datory mo
tons by Messrs Holman aud Beck, and the
| house at $3.50 took recess until the same hOui
| tomorrow morning.