The Wheeling daily register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1864-1878, 1872-01-19
CONGRESSIONAL. IL.
WASHINGTON, January Is,
= SENATE.

| SENATE.
Mr.. Cole, Of the Postofice commit,
tee, reported favorably on the bill for
subsidizing mail steamship service to
Australia via Honolulu.
Mr.. Conkling presented memorial
of the New York Chamber OF Com
merce, recommending a liberal COM
pensation for the mail service performed
by the merchant steamships.
The bill to exempt Philadelphia ice
boats from the usual inspection pre-
scribed by law for steamboats,, was
passed.
Mr.. Trumbull, from the committee
on Judiciary, reported adversely upon
the part OF the committee on the
memorial in favor of woman suffrage,
signed by Mrs. Isabella Beecher, Hooker,
and others, asking to be heard before
the Senate in support OF their claims,
and asked that the committee be dis
charged from its further consideration
as to the view of the memorial, claim
ing that under the amended Federal
Constitution women have no right to
vote. He said the committee would
report in writing at an early day.
Mr.. Morrill,, OF Vermont, from the
committee on Finance, reported the
House bill to define the construction OF
the eight hour law. The bill has special
reference to the Springfield armory and
eaualizes the pay of laborers in the
Government workshops.
Mr.. Blair, from the committee on
Military, reported favorably on the bill
amendatory Of the act providing artifi-
cial limbs for soldiers. The act ex.
tends the provisions. OF the act to all
officers above the grade Of captain.
Mr.. Conkling moved to amend by
extending the provisions to all men
in the army and navy, regardless OF
rank, which was adopted, and the bill
then passed.
Mr.. Davis, Of Kentucky, gave notice
that tomorrow or at some early day he
would call up his resolution directing
the committee on Investigation and
Retrenchment to inquire into the pres.
ent d;reclictions Of duty, and would
submit some remarks upon it.
Mr.. Wilson introduced a bill to
grant two million acres Of the public
lands for educational purposes in the
Territory of Columbia; also, a bill to
allow women to vote and hold office in
the United States.
At one o'clock the amnesty bill was
called up as unfinished business. Mr..
Sumner, of Massachusetts,, announced
he had decided to accept the amend
ments suggestedby Mr.. Frelipghuysen,
in the latter's remarks yesterday.
The amnesty bill was then laid aside
unfortunately, and Mr.. Carpenter, Of
Wisconsin, proceeded to address the
Senate on civil service reform.
Mr.. Trumbnll quoted the report OF
the civil service commission. Ninety
millions or one-fourth OF the annual
revenue OF the government was lost in
collecting them by unfaithful officials
He said boldly that the Republican
party was not fit to live day if it
could only be kept up by the abuse Of
government patronage, and asked Mr.
Carpenter to name men who had
threatened the President for not
acceding to their demand for offices to
their friends. He alluded to the cor
ruption in the New York Custom
House.
Mr.. Sherman said the Finance COM
mittee had reported Mr.. Fenton's bill
which would 60 far toward correcting
custom house abuses. He also said it
was a gross exaggeration that ninety
millions OF revenue was lost in collec-
ton. 1t only cost per cent to collect
our revenue which was less than it cost
any other government on the globe.
He was in favor Of any proper reform
in the civil service.
Mr.. Morton, Of Indiana, also sad the
abuses in the civil service had been
grossly exaggerated and challenged
proof Of the assertion that $90.O00,000
were lost in collecting the revenue or
that 5 per cent of the amount was lost
No matter what the President did, his
enemies would find fault. The subject
was then laid aside.
Mr.. Corbett, of Oregon, from the
committee on Commerce, reported a
joint resolution requesting the British
Government to give a statement Of the
amount levied upon American shipping
for the expenses OF the British light
house system, and requesting that Gov
ernment to follow the example of the
United States, which provides light
houses, buoys. &c, at its own expense
for the benefit OF the commerce Of the
world. Passed.
The Senate then, after an executive
session, adjourned till Monday.