Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1874-06-24


labors Of the body commenced on the first Mon
day in December, it being the first day of the
month and with the exception of the holiday
recess has been in session without Interruption
making the session SIX months and twenty-five
day in length. In the Senate the entire number
OF bills and joint resolutions introduced foot up
SEQ. The first bill was introduced on the first
day OF the session by Senator Sumner known as
the Civil Rights Bill, which remains on the
Speakers table in the House having passed the
Senate with material amendments. The last
bill introduced in the Senate was by Senator
Morflll, OF Vermont, on the Goth inst, it being
private relief bill. The number of petitions
presented foot up 2, 400 from ali sections OF the
country.
In the Hcuse 3,7s1 bills were introduced and
1l6 joint resolutions, in addition to an army o
petitions on all subjects.
THE WORK ACCOMPLISHED.
Aside from passing the necessary appropria-
ton bills, the first session of the 43d Congress,
has not been marked with any extraordinary
legislation. The House when it assembled gave
evidences OF many practical reforms. The out
look was promising for a settlement of the
cheap transportation problem; for a speedy ad-
Justment OF values, and legislation which would
sohcitous did the representatives of the people
feel on this subject that the length of the usual
holiday recess was curtailed in order to enable
Congress to arrive at, on a. early a day as prsc-
ticabIe, suitable legislation, calculated to in
spire our dropping commercial and monetary
Interests. And yet the spectacle was pre-
session.
being farther away from a solution of
the question than in the first. True, a currency
bill was passed, but not in such a shape as
proved acceptable to the various sections of the
country. Perhaps as wholesome a piece of
legislation as has been contaminated are the
amendments TO the bankrupt law. Another
subject OF vital moment which received its due
share of debate was the Geneva award. After
tedious labor, Congress consented to paw claims
which admitted of no dispute, and reserved TO
lay In It's Treasury about twelve millions of this
n a hal tunVa frr1
companies seeking relief Jared badly, all bills
relating thereto being snugly blanketed on the
Speakers table in the House, or on the calen-
der in the Senate. The tariff bill failed in the
senate. The InOety bill, after len ythened de-
bate and investigation, passed both Houses.
APPROPRIATION BILLS.
Whether it be true economy or not to stint
public officers in administering the affairs OF
government, is best known. perhaps to the law
makers, but at all events the appropriat,ons
made largely fall under the amounts estimated
The lie gisl6tive appropriation bill this year ag-
gregates S23 $50 coo against $50 500 900 for the
lsst hscai year. The army bin last year aggre-
gated SCI $50 GEO, while this year there is appro-
pTiated 81 COO The fertilization bill appro-
PIRATES S90f 600 as against S1,sS9 600 last yasr
lie indian bin is about the same for each year,
e0soOO,OCO. The appropriation for the military
academ was last year S3i4,OCO, this wear
$4,000. The deficiency bill last year was Sill
Zis,toO, this year less than S1l,OO0,0OO. The
naval bill last year was So, $50 900, this wear
Si6,750,0G0 The Post Office deficiencies is re-
duced SOC, 900. The consular and Diplomatic
Dill Is increased by about two millions all of
which increase goes to pay the awards of the
British claims commission. The pension bill is
half a million less than last year. The sundry
civil appropriation bill last year was $50 iS2 OO0
this year $40 Cos, goo. The river and harbor bill
last year was S5,1l2 600, this year s., 24S, OOO
The total OF these appropriations show a reduc-
uon THIS year OF So ,i63, 75I As. Making all al
l0Wances for deficiencies, the expenditures for
the fiscal year coming are SIS ,OOO, 600 less than
the preceding year.
CIVIL SERVICE REFORM.
Reform in the civil service has engaged no
little attention and thought from Congress The
action of the conference committee on that
clause in the sundry civil bill leaves the civil
service clause In this position: The House had
absolutely repealed it. and abolished the civil
service commission. The Senate disagreed and
made an appropriation for its continuance. The
conference being unable to agree, struck out
both the Senate and House propositions, thus
leaving the civil service in force as before; but
with no appropriation to carry it out. There is
however, an unexpended balance OF $4,000 to
the credit of the commissioners, but if they do
not avail themselves of it before July 1St it
Will, under the law, be covered into the Treas
uTy.
THE EXECUTIVE DEPARTMENTS.
Congress, in its spssm OF economy, has seen fit
to materially reduce the clerical force in nearly
every bureau Of the several executive depart
ments. We print herewith the number OF clerks
allowed in each bureau under the provisions Of
alton bill:
Department Of State.-Chief and forty-two
other clerks, with six chiefs Of bureaus, at
salaries OF 81 400 each.
Treasury Depdrtment.-Secretary's office-One
hundred and twenty nine, including chief, dis
bursting and female clerks. Supervising archi-
photographer and assistant not enumerated.
First ContrOller@6 clerks, including chief aud
copyists. Second Controller-73 clerks including
chief and copyists. Commissioner of Customs
80 clerks, including chief. First Auditor-33,
including chief Second Auditor-Is6, Including
chief. Third Auditor-174, including chief and
copytets. Fourth AudtOr-5O, including chief
and oopyist. Fifth Auditor-34, including chief.
Sixth Auditor-1SS, including chief and Is
sssorters, in addition ten assorters OF money
orders. Treasurers Ofice-1l7, including chief,
cashiers and assistants, teller and assistants
principal bookkeepers snd female clerk. Regis
ter's Objects, including copyists. Controller
Of the Currency-S5, including deputy and fs-
male clerks Commissioner OF Internal Reye-
nue-229, including two deputies, seven heads of
division, and female clerks. Light house
Board-s, including chief and copyist, Bureau
OF Statisttcs-37, including chief and copvist
Director of Mint, including computer of bull
lion, translator and copyist.
Ror Department-Seeretary'so office 3s, in
GLIDING chief ana disbursing clerk. TSix thou
sand six hundred dollars is appropriated in
addition fer examining rebel archives.l Adiu-
tant General-2S9, including temporary clerks.
Inspector General-One clerk OF class fo1r
Quarter master General-1iS, including tempo
rary clerks and cSpylsts. Psymaster General
~. including temporary clerks and chief. Com
misssry Generate, including chief. Surgeon
GeneTal-13i, including chief and chemist at
Army medical museum. ONCE Chief Engineer
Is, including chief. Chief of Ordnance-1S, in
GLIDING chief. Military Justice-9 Signal
ofiice-2 OF class four. The law provides With
reference to enlisted men in the War depart
ment, that 1t is made the duty Of the Secretary
of War, when the reduction of clerks now en-
ployed shall take effect under the provisions OF
this act, to retain, as far possible such of the
enlisted men and discharged soldiers as are now
employed in the several bureaus Of said depart
nent where the same can be done with a due
regard 70 the dispatch Of public business; and
IT is hereby made the duty of the Secretary of
War to place such enlisted men so retained
upon the civil list, so as to entitle them to pro-
motions under the civil service regulations.
Macy Department.-Secretary's Office-15, in
GLIDING chief and discussing clerk Bureau OF
Yards and Docks, including chief and
draughtsman. Equipment and Recruiting,
including chief. Navigati0n-3, including
chief. Ordnance-, including chief and
dIaughtsman. Construction and Repair. in.
GLIDING chief and draughtsman. Steam En-
giDeeripg-4, including chief clerk, draughts-
man and assistant. Provisions and CLOTHING
o, including chief. Medicine and Surgery-S.
Department Of The Interior. Secretary e OH ce-
81, including chief, secretary to sign patents for
public lands, and oopyifts. General Land Of
hce-154, including chief, recorder, principal
and temporary clerks. Indian otfice-a3 In.